Walls · timber stairs · stone steps
Walls & stairs
Nicola Valley slopes need a wall that drains, and stairs you can actually use. We build both — for frost, water, and the load behind it.
A retaining wall is a structure, not a row of blocks. The part that lasts is underground: excavation, a compacted base, drain pipe, and free-draining backfill so spring melt and freeze-thaw don’t shove the wall into the yard.
We build garden walls, patio seat walls, timber stairs, stone steps, and taller grade-holders in block or stone. Caps, treads, and a bed on top so it reads as landscaping — not a bunker. Pair it with pavers, xeriscape, or turf and the whole slope holds together.
Recent jobs
This is the work.
How the job runs
01
Discuss the need and the style
We walk the slope and talk through what the wall or stairs have to do — hold grade, get you to the door, sit a patio — and how you want it to look. Block, timber, or stone; height; where the water goes. You get a clear plan before anything is ordered.
02
Proper base and installation
Excavation, compacted footing, drain pipe, and free-draining backfill, then the wall or stairs themselves. Courses, geogrid where the load needs it, compaction in lifts. The part you don’t see is what keeps it plumb.
03
Enjoy it for years
Caps, treads, and the bed or patio on top. Built for Nicola Valley frost and melt, so you’re using the stairs and looking at the wall — not watching it walk.
Questions we get
How tall can you go?
Garden walls and seat walls are regular work. Taller grade-holders get a proper design — base, drainage, and geogrid. If a structural engineer is the right call, we’ll say so before we dig.
Block, timber, or stone?
All three. Block is the workhorse for height and a clean line. Timber is right for steps and rustic slopes. Natural stone matches older houses and rock gardens. We’ll match the rest of the yard.
What about freeze-thaw?
That’s why we don’t stack on dirt. A drained, compacted base and gravel backfill are how a wall survives a Nicola Valley winter.
Do I need a permit?
It depends on height and what’s above the wall. We’ll flag it on the quote so you aren’t surprised.
Other work
Google reviews
The same crew those reviews are about.
“Steven and his team were awesome to work with. They were fast, professional, and answered all my questions. I appreciate how thorough Steven is with his work. I will definitely be using Merritt Landscaping for all my landscaping needs.”
“This is my second project with Steven and his team. Great work with attention to detail. Definitely recommended.”
“Steve and his helper did an awesome job for us. They were here 8 hours and did a lot of work on our yard. We definitely are getting them back. Good work ethic, great personalities.”
Tell us about the property.
Call, email, or send a quote request. We’ll walk it, give you a straight number, and get it on the schedule.