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Whether you need a retaining wall to stop a slope or a privacy wall that actually holds up through Eastern Washington winters, we build concrete block walls that start with the right footing and don't move.
Concrete block walls in Cheney are built from individual blocks stacked in overlapping rows and held with mortar, most straightforward garden or retaining walls completed in one to three days, with taller or more complex projects running up to a week once the footing has cured.
The part most homeowners don't see is what makes or breaks the project - the footing poured below the frost line and the drainage system behind a retaining wall. In Cheney's climate, a wall built without those two things will shift and crack within a few winters. Every concrete block wall we build starts with a site assessment to understand what the ground is doing before we mix a single batch of mortar.
If your slope or property line also needs a taller structural solution, our retaining wall construction service handles larger engineered applications alongside concrete block work.
If you see soil moving downhill after summer thunderstorms, or bare patches forming on a slope, the ground needs support. A retaining wall stops that erosion before it gets worse and protects anything downhill - a patio, a driveway, a garden bed - from being buried or undercut. Eroding slopes tend to get worse each season on their own.
A wall that leans noticeably when you look at it straight on has likely shifted because of frost movement, poor drainage, or a footing that wasn't deep enough for Cheney's frost line. Diagonal cracks through blocks or crumbling mortar joints are signs the wall is no longer doing its job. These problems don't fix themselves and get worse through winter.
Many Cheney properties have natural grade changes that make parts of the yard unusable - too steep to mow safely, too uneven for a patio or play area. A concrete block retaining wall can level that space and turn a problem area into something functional. Homeowners often describe this as one of the most satisfying yard improvements they have made.
Timber retaining walls and wood fences have a limited lifespan in Eastern Washington where freeze-thaw cycles accelerate wood decay at ground level. If your wood wall is soft, leaning, or has posts that move when you push them, it is near the end. Replacing it with concrete block means you won't face the same problem again in 10 to 15 years.
We build concrete block walls for retaining slopes, defining property lines, creating privacy screens, and enclosing garden beds. Every project starts with a footing poured below Cheney's frost depth - the step that keeps a wall level and plumb after years of freeze-thaw cycles. For projects that need a larger engineered solution to hold back a significant slope, retaining wall construction handles the full scope with proper drainage and structural considerations built in.
When a project requires a structural connection to a building foundation or needs to work alongside an existing footer, foundation block wall installation covers that intersection. We coordinate both scopes so nothing falls through the gap between contractors.
Suited for homeowners with a slope that is eroding, a grade change that limits yard use, or an existing timber wall that has reached the end of its life and needs a permanent replacement.
A good fit for homeowners who want a low, defined border around a planting bed, a raised garden, or a patio edge without the cost and complexity of a full retaining structure.
Best for homeowners who want something that genuinely blocks sound and sight from a neighboring property or road and won't need to be replaced or repainted every few years like wood or vinyl.
Suited for homeowners who need a durable block enclosure around HVAC equipment, trash or recycling areas, or other utility spaces that need to look tidy and hold up to outdoor conditions.
Cheney sits at roughly 2,400 feet elevation and regularly sees temperatures well below freezing from November through February. The ground here freezes and expands - any footing that doesn't go deep enough will shift with it, cracking the wall above. Much of the Cheney area also sits on basalt and rocky glacial soils left behind by the Missoula Floods, which means hitting rock when digging footings is not unusual. A contractor who knows this area factors that into the estimate and brings the right equipment. What sounds like a complication is actually a more stable base when it's handled correctly.
We work throughout the Cheney area, including communities like Airway Heights and Spokane Valley. The soil conditions and frost depth requirements are consistent across the region - and we apply the same standards whether the project is a small garden wall or a tall retaining structure holding back a significant grade change.
Reach out by phone or through our contact form and tell us what you are working with - a slope, a failing wall, a new privacy structure. We reply within one business day and schedule a free on-site visit to see the ground conditions before giving you any numbers.
We assess the site, check soil conditions, and determine whether a permit is required through the City of Cheney. If a permit is needed, we handle the application - you don't have to navigate the Community Development Department yourself. The estimate visit takes 30 to 60 minutes and covers everything before you commit to anything.
We dig the trench, pour the footing at the correct depth for Cheney's frost line, and wait at least one day before block work begins. For retaining walls, gravel backfill and drainage pipe go in behind the wall as it rises - the drainage system that keeps soil pressure from building up and pushing the wall over.
Once the wall is complete, we clean up the site and walk through the finished work with you. If a permit was pulled, a city inspector will schedule a review - a straightforward sign-off for properly built walls. Mortar reaches full cure in about 28 days, so avoid heavy pressure on the wall during that first month.
Free on-site visit, written price before work starts, no obligation.
(509) 241-9778The most common reason block walls fail in Cheney is a footing that wasn't deep enough to get below the frost line. We dig to the correct depth for Eastern Washington's freeze-thaw conditions on every project - it takes longer and costs more upfront, but it's the reason your wall won't tilt after the first hard winter.
Every retaining wall we build includes gravel backfill and a drainage pipe so water has somewhere to go instead of pushing against the blocks. You can't see this once the wall is finished, which is exactly why you need to ask about it before work begins - and why we include it without being asked.
Retaining walls over four feet typically require a permit through the City of Cheney. We handle the application with the Community Development Department so you don't have to navigate it yourself. When the inspector signs off, you have official confirmation the work was done correctly - and that matters if you ever sell your home. Learn more about Washington contractor licensing at masoncontractors.org.
Much of the Cheney area sits on basalt and rocky glacial soils, so hitting rock when digging footings is not unusual. A contractor who knows this area won't be surprised by it - and won't use it as an excuse to change the price after work starts. We assess the site before committing to a number.
Good block wall work is invisible once it's finished - no leaning, no cracking, no water damage behind a retaining wall. That invisibility is the point, and it's what we're building toward on every job.
For block wall work that connects directly to a building foundation or needs to be integrated with existing structural footers.
Learn MoreLarger engineered retaining structures for significant grade changes, slopes, or terracing projects that go beyond standard block wall scope.
Learn MoreSpring is the busiest season - reach out now to lock in your start date before the schedule fills up.