Wall types
Wood Retaining Walls in Brentwood, CA
Timber and railroad-tie style walls are inexpensive and easy to find, but wood is the material most exposed to rot and pests where it touches soil. Here is where wood fits, where it doesn't, and what to ask a contractor.
Where wood walls make sense
- Short garden or planter walls, where the soil load is small.
- Low terraces on gentle slopes, where a lower upfront cost matters.
- Spots where a natural look suits the yard.
The limits of wood
- Rot and moisture: soil holds water against the wood, and timbers behind the face are hard to inspect.
- Pests: termites and other wood-boring insects can attack timber walls.
- Height and load: wood is rarely used for tall walls or walls holding back a driveway or structure.
- Drainage: wood walls need drainage like any other wall; trapped water speeds up decay.
- Treated vs untreated: ask what the wood is treated for and how it's rated for soil contact; we don't make specific claims here.
When to choose concrete or block instead
If the wall is taller, holds back a driveway or building, or you want it to last, concrete or block and stone usually make more sense. See all three compared.
Replacing an old wooden wall
Old timber walls that lean, bulge or show rot are commonly replaced. Replacement may involve removing the old wall and hauling it away, which HomeGuide lists at $15–$30 per linear foot (HomeGuide). Read about retaining wall repair and the warning signs.
What wood walls cost
HomeGuide and Angi both list wood or timber walls at $15–$30 per square foot (HomeGuide, Angi). The cost guide has worked examples and the extras that are often priced separately.
Permits
Brentwood's code applies to walls of any material: walls shall not exceed four feet unless an exception is granted, and a building permit is required over four feet or when a wall supports a surcharge (Municipal Code §17.660.008). See the permit guide.
Wood retaining wall questions
How much does a wood retaining wall cost?
Both HomeGuide and Angi list wood or timber retaining walls at $15–$30 per square foot, among the lower-priced materials. A 4 ft by 20 ft wall (80 sq ft) works out to about $1,200–$2,400 at that range, before any minimum charges, drainage or permits.
How long does a wood retaining wall last?
We don't give a number. Wood in contact with soil and moisture rots, and wood can be attacked by termites, so timber walls generally don't last as long as concrete, block or stone. Treatment and drainage affect life, and a contractor can tell you what they expect and what they warrant.
Can a wood retaining wall be tall?
Timber walls are most often short garden walls. Brentwood's code limits retaining walls to four feet unless an exception is granted, and a permit is required over four feet or when a wall supports a surcharge. Taller or heavily loaded walls are more often concrete, block or stone.
My old wooden retaining wall is leaning. What now?
Rotting or leaning timber walls are often replaced rather than patched, since soil pressure keeps building behind them. Have a contractor look at it; see our retaining wall repair page.
East Contra Costa communities we cover
Requests come from homeowners across the eastern end of Contra Costa County, along Highway 4 and the Delta.
Request a wood retaining wall quote
Tell us the wall height, length and what is happening. We pass your request to an independent local contractor serving East Contra Costa, who contacts you to look at the project and quote it. There's no cost to send a request.
- Takes about a minute
- No obligation to hire
- Ask for a written, itemized quote