Terraces, pool walls and RV pad walls
Make room for a pool, an RV pad or a level patio on a sloped desert lot, with walls designed for the load.
Many St. George wall projects aren't about the wall itself. They're about making room: a level spot for a pool, a pad for an RV or boat, a patio off the back of the house, or terraces that turn a rocky slope into usable yard. These walls often carry heavy loads, so they need more design than a garden wall.
What should I know about walls near a pool?
A pool next to a retaining wall adds weight, water and a deck that can crack if the wall moves. Plan the wall and the pool together. In the City of St. George, any retaining wall within 10 feet of a structure, including a pool, needs a site-specific geotechnical report. Builders often need the wall finished before the pool contractor can dig, so coordinate schedules early.
What about RV pads and side-yard parking?
RV pads are popular in Washington County, and they often need a retaining wall on a sloped side yard plus an RV gate in the block wall. A wall that holds up a parking surface is carrying a surcharge, so expect engineering and a permit for anything substantial. Check your HOA's rules on RV parking and gate size first.
Why use tiered walls instead of one tall wall?
Several shorter walls can be easier to build and look friendlier than one tall wall. But tiers only behave as separate walls if they're spaced far enough apart. For rockery and segmental block walls, St. George code treats tiers as a single wall unless the horizontal gap is more than 1.5 times the height of the taller wall. The city also caps a single residential retaining wall at 10 feet and requires taller grade changes to be terraced into landscaped benches.
What should a terracing or pool-area plan include?
- Wall heights, spacing and what each wall is holding up
- Drainage for each wall, with outlets
- How storm runoff moves across the yard
- Steps, gates and access for equipment
- Who does the engineering and permits
What affects the cost?
- Number and height of walls. More tiers means more wall face.
- Loads. Pools, decks, vehicles and structures need engineered walls.
- Gates. RV gates and wide openings need pilasters and hardware.
- Access. Getting equipment into a finished backyard.
- Finishes. Stone veneer, stucco, caps and steps.
Prices come from the builder after they've seen the site. We don't quote prices ourselves, and a phone estimate is only a starting point for a wall.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Should the wall go in before the pool?
Usually. The wall often has to be built and backfilled before the pool can be dug, and an engineer may need to design it for the pool's load. Coordinate the two contractors early.
Does a wall under an RV pad need engineering?
A wall holding up a parking surface carries extra load, so anything substantial usually needs engineering and a permit. Ask your builder and the city.
Related services
More background: St. George retaining wall and block wall guide.
Block wall leaning or cracking?
A wall that's moving can fall without much warning. Keep kids, pets and cars clear and call to get it looked at.