Gretna is the West Bank's oldest city, a grid of Creole cottages, raised shotguns, and mid-century slab ranches sitting just behind the Mississippi River levee. The lots are narrow and deep, many with brick planters, concrete driveway ramps, and timber bed edges that have been settling into the soft clay for decades. If you live near Gretna City Park or along the Belle Chasse Highway corridor, you already know how quickly a cracked planter or leaning wall can go from cosmetic to structural after a summer downpour.
Homeowners in Gretna (70053) call New Orleans Retaining Wall because we understand this ground. The same organic clay and peat that makes the West Bank feel spongy after rain is what bows walls, cracks brick, and sends railroad tie beds sliding. We have worked on properties from the historic streets near the Gretna Courthouse to the slab ranches off Wall Boulevard, and we know what it takes to build a wall that stays put.
Retaining Wall in Gretna (70053)
Gretna sits on the same soft, subsiding organic clay and peat as the rest of the New Orleans area, with a water table only a few feet down. That means most walls here are low: brick and CMU planters around raised slabs, poured concrete ramps, timber and old railroad tie bed edges, and bulkheads along the drainage canals. The failures we see most are leaning or bowing walls, cracked and bulging block, and walls that slide or collapse after heavy rain because the backfill is saturated and the drainage is clogged or missing. Formosan termites love the old timber walls, and hurricane season plus summer cloudbursts put hydrostatic pressure on everything.
Our team has spent years working in Gretna and the surrounding West Bank neighborhoods. We know how to read the soil, handle tight lot access between houses, and build drainage that actually moves water away from your wall. Whether it is a small brick planter on a cottage lot or a longer retaining wall on a commercial property, we approach every job with the same focus on proper base preparation and water management.
Our services in Gretna
- Retaining Wall Installation in Gretna · Design and construction of new low retaining walls for raised slabs…
- Retaining Wall Repair in Gretna · Repair of leaning, bowing, cracked, or settling retaining walls…
- Retaining Wall Replacement in Gretna · Full tear-out and replacement of failed or end-of-life walls…
- Concrete Retaining Walls in Gretna · Poured concrete and reinforced CMU block retaining walls with engineered…
- Block & Segmental Retaining Walls in Gretna · Segmental retaining walls (SRW) in Allan Block, Versa-Lok…
- Boulder & Natural Stone Walls in Gretna · Boulder and natural stone retaining walls for raised beds, pond edges…
- Timber Retaining Walls in Gretna · Pressure-treated timber walls for garden beds and low edges…
- Slope Stabilization & Erosion Control in Gretna · Bank and grade stabilization for bayou, canal, and lakefront edges…
- Retaining Wall Drainage in Gretna · Drainage systems that make walls last: French drains, weep holes…
- Railroad Tie Wall Replacement in Gretna · Removal and replacement of aging railroad tie retaining walls and bed edges…
- Leaning & Collapsed Wall Repair in Gretna · Priority response for leaning, bulging, and collapsed retaining walls…
How a Job Works in Gretna
Step 1: You call us at (504) 399-7980 or fill out our contact form, and we schedule a free on-site assessment. We walk the property with you, look at the wall, check the drainage, and talk through what you are seeing. You get a clear written estimate with options, no pressure.
Step 2: Once you approve, we pull the required permits through the City of Gretna building department if your wall is above the local threshold or supports a driveway or structure. We schedule the work, protect your landscaping, and keep the site organized. On tight Gretna lots, we plan material delivery and equipment access carefully so we do not tear up your yard or block your neighbor.
Step 3: When the work is done, we clean up completely, haul away debris, and walk the finished wall with you. We explain what we did, how the drainage works, and what to watch for. We leave your property clean and your wall ready for the next storm.
Pricing in Gretna depends on the size, access, condition, and urgency of the job. For reference, retaining wall installation starts at $30 per square foot, block and segmental walls start at $25 per square foot, boulder and natural stone walls start at $25 per square foot, timber walls start at $20 per square foot, and concrete walls start at $35 per square foot. Repairs start at $1,500, leaning and collapsed wall repair starts at $2,500, drainage work starts at $2,500, and railroad tie wall replacement starts at $35 per square foot. Slope stabilization and erosion control estimates are free. Call (504) 399-7980 for a free estimate tailored to your Gretna property.
