Timber Retaining Walls in Chattanooga
Treated timber walls for short, budget-friendly landscape and garden walls. Free on-site estimates from local, licensed contractors across Chattanooga and North Georgia.
- Free on-site estimate
- Licensed & insured
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About timber retaining walls
Timber walls are built from pressure-treated landscape timbers or posts, tied back into the hillside with deadmen anchors. They are quick to build and cost less than most other wall types.
Wood does not last forever in Tennessee’s wet climate. Many older homes around Chattanooga have railroad-tie or landscape-timber walls that are now rotting, leaning or full of carpenter ants. Contractors can rebuild them in timber or replace them with block or stone.
Signs an old timber wall needs attention
- Soft, crumbling or split timbers
- The wall leans outward or bulges in the middle
- Soil is washing out between the timbers
- Insects or fungus in the wood
- Gaps opening up at the corners
The process
What the work usually includes
Remove old wood
Rotted timbers and ties are pulled out and hauled away.
Base and posts
A gravel base is laid and the bottom course is set level, with posts or spikes holding each layer.
Deadmen anchors
Timbers run back into the slope every few feet to tie the wall into the hill.
Drainage and fabric
Gravel and filter fabric behind the wall keep water moving out and soil in place.
How long does a timber retaining wall last?
Pressure-treated timber walls typically last 15 to 25 years, depending on drainage and soil contact.
Should I replace my old timber wall with block?
If the wall holds back much soil or is over about 3 feet tall, block or stone usually lasts much longer and costs less over time.
Related services
All services
Retaining Wall Repair & Replacement Fix leaning, bulging, cracked or collapsing walls before they get worse. Learn more → 
Block Retaining Walls Interlocking concrete block walls: strong, clean-looking and the most popular choice for homes. Learn more → 
Retaining Wall Installation New walls that hold back slopes, level out yards and stop soil from washing away. Learn more → Timber Retaining Walls is available across the Chattanooga area, including: