Hardscaping · Barrie & Simcoe County
Retaining walls.
Walls that turn a slope into usable space — built with the base and drainage behind them that keep them standing straight for years.
Overview
A wall is holding back a lot.
Soil is heavy, and wet soil is heavier. Add a Simcoe County winter — frost pushing from behind, meltwater with nowhere to go — and a wall that looks fine in September can lean, bulge or crack by spring.
We build walls from the bottom up: a compacted, level pad for the first course, units set with the right setback into the slope, and a clear-stone drainage zone with a perforated pipe behind them so water drains out instead of pushing on the wall.
- Segmental block and natural stone walls
- Terraces and levelled patio or lawn areas
- Garden walls, raised beds and seat walls
- Steps built into the wall where you need access
What’s included
Walls for every slope.
Landscape walls
Low walls that level a garden, hold back a bank or define a bed.
Terraced yards
Two or more walls stepping down a slope to create flat, usable levels.
Patio & seat walls
Walls that wrap a patio or fire pit and double as seating.
Natural stone
Armour stone and natural stone for a rugged, cottage-country look.
Steps in the wall
Integrated steps that connect levels without a detour.
Wall repair & rebuild
Leaning or collapsing sections taken down and rebuilt on a proper base.
How we build it
Built to drain, built to hold.
The block is the part you see. The pad, the setback and the drainage behind it are what keep it standing.
- 01Cap units
Glued down to finish the wall and shed water off the top.
- 02Wall units
Stacked with setback into the slope so the wall leans into the soil it holds.
- 03Clear stone drainage zone
Free-draining stone behind the wall so water can escape instead of pushing on it.
- 04Perforated drain pipe
Collects water at the base of the wall and carries it away.
- 05Compacted levelling pad
The first course sits on a compacted, level base — every course above depends on it.
- 06Compacted subgrade
Dug below grade so the bottom course is partly buried and locked in.
Signs it’s time
Signs a wall is failing.
Leaning or bulging
The wall is being pushed by soil or water pressure it wasn’t built for.
Cracks and gaps
Units shifting apart or cracking, often from a settling base.
Soil washing through
No fabric or drainage stone behind the wall to hold fines in place.
Water pooling at the base
Drainage isn’t getting water out from behind and away.
How it works
From first visit to final walkthrough.
- Step 01
Walk the property
We look at the site, the grade and how water moves, and listen to what you want from the space. No pressure, no obligation.
- Step 02
Quote & scope
A clear written quote and scope of work — materials, layout, what’s included. No vague numbers.
- Step 03
Build it right
Excavation, base and finish done in the right order, with the site kept tidy while we work.
- Step 04
Walk it together
We review the finished work with you before we call it done.
Service area
Across Barrie and Simcoe County.
Retaining walls across Barrie and Simcoe County.
Brands we install
Pavers, slabs and walls from six of the main makers in Ontario — and not only these.
About the brands
Questions
Good to know.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
Taller walls and walls near property lines or structures can need approvals or engineering. We’ll flag it when we see the site, and you can confirm requirements with your municipality.
Block or natural stone?
Segmental block gives clean lines and consistent strength; natural and armour stone give a rugged look. We’ll show you both.
Can you fix a leaning wall?
Usually the fix is to take the failing section down and rebuild it with a proper base and drainage. We’ll tell you honestly what it needs.
Is the work guaranteed?
We’re fully insured, and all of our work comes with a limited workmanship warranty — ask us for details when we quote.
Turn the slope into space.
Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll come out, walk the property and send a clear, written quote — free.
Prefer email? greatnorthoutdoor@gmail.com