Seattle & King County, WA

Retaining Wall Contractors Who Build It Right, Keep You Informed & Stand Behind Every Wall

Every property is different. So is every homeowner. Some want a wall that complements a high-end landscape. Others need a reliable fix that solves a drainage problem without breaking the bank. Either way, we start by listening, give you honest answers, and build something that holds up for decades. No surprises, no shortcuts.

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90+ Verified 5-Star Reviews

Angel Khan, owner of Rainier Rockeries

Angel Khan - Owner & Head Contractor

LICENSED + INSURED + BONDED

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  5.0 on Google  l  90+ Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  5.0 on Yelp  l  20+ reviews
A+ Rating  l  Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The 20+ year wall expert who still answers every call.

Tell Angel what you’re working with. He’ll talk through budget, timeline, permits, and anything else on your mind so you know exactly what to expect.

 ✅ Owner-led crew  ✅ No subcontractors   ✅ Owns all equipment

New walls. Failing walls. Walls that need to be stronger. We handle it all.

Drainage and structural integrity are built into every project. 

Thank You, King County, for Trusting Us With Your Homes.

Fabulous experience with building our retaining wall! They were hard-working, efficient and did their work with excellence. On top of that, they gave us a very fair price. We loved the suggestions Angel gave us on color for the top of the retaining wall. It looks amazing and we can’t wait to enjoy it for years to come.

– D.M. 

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Angel was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end! His ability to articulate the process, provide design insight and manage all of the moving parts during the project was impressive to watch to say the least. The results speak for themselves! The work was performed at a much higher level than we could have ever imagined.

– J.R 

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The pavers, steps, turf & landscaping transform the space.

Hardscaping and landscaping are where the property starts to look as good as it functions.

Wall Leaning, Cracking, or Sliding? We Take Emergency Calls.

A failing retaining wall puts your yard, your foundation, and your neighbors at risk. The longer it sits, the more expensive it gets. Angel takes emergency calls directly and can typically assess your situation within [X timeframe].

2 Tiered rockery wall in Seattle, WA front yard.

How much does it cost to build a wall in Seattle?

No two projects cost the same. Angel walks your site, assesses the conditions, and builds a quote around these seven factors.

1. Wall height
2. Wall length
3. Material type
4. Site accessibility
5. Soil conditions
6. Drainage
7. Existing site

Issaquah WA curved rock retaining wall landscape project

Why Homeowners Choose Us

✔️ Owner is on-site for every job
✔️ Emergency response available
✔️ Transparent pricing with no surprises
✔️ Built over 500 retaining walls across King County

We've built walls across King County. Here's what we see in your neighborhood.

Every neighborhood brings different soil, slope, and drainage challenges, and difficult builds are where our crew does its best work.

Seattle

2 Tiered rockery wall in Seattle, WA front yard.

Steep hillside lots, aging rockeries, and tight equipment access across neighborhoods from West Seattle to Beacon Hill.

Bellevue

Bellevue WA retaining wall with stone steps installation.

High-end properties on rolling terrain where aesthetics matter as much as structural performance.

Tacoma

Tacoma WA tiered block retaining wall with stairs and paver patio installation

Variable terrain from the Hilltop to North End, with older walls and heavy seasonal runoff demanding reliable drainage.

Renton

Renton WA rock retaining wall with raised lawn area

Aging housing stock on clay slopes, with drainage failures common on hillside properties around Kennydale and Benson Hill.

Two-Tiered Retaining Wall Case Study: Bellevue, WA

Bellevue 2-tier wall before image.
Before: Backyard with wasted potential space
Bellevue 2-tier wall after image.
After: Flat useable space for garden beds and family hang-outs
Bellevue 2-tier wall detail of block wall with curved angles.
Detail: Corner wall
Bellevue 2-tier wall with steps.
Detail: Custom steps & risers

The Challenge

This Bellevue homeowner needed a two-tiered retaining wall spanning 25 feet on a sloped property with limited working conditions. The project required careful timing — starting excavation in wet fall weather risked an unstable wall base. Other contractors had quoted the job as manual labor, which would have meant more time on-site, higher labor costs, and greater disruption to the property.

Our Approach 

Angel visited the property within the week to assess the site and provide a quote. Unlike competing bids, Rainier Rockeries came prepared to bring an excavator — cutting project time significantly without cutting corners.

Work began exactly as scheduled in early November. When wet weather created a delay, Angel communicated proactively rather than pushing forward on a compromised base. Throughout the build, Angel was on-site daily to ensure the project matched what was agreed. When a mid-project opportunity came up to add steps down the side of the wall, Angel paused, presented the idea to the homeowner, and got their input before proceeding. The job stayed on budget — Angel absorbed additional costs rather than surprise the homeowner with change orders.

The Results

The homeowner received a finished two-tiered retaining wall built on a properly prepared base, with integrated steps that added both function and character to the space. The project was completed on time, on budget, and with zero surprise charges — including fill dirt, extra blocks, and tree stump removal. Clear communication throughout meant the homeowner always knew what was happening and why.

"They are straightforward, fair, and transparent. The work they do is excellent. They show up on time and on budget. Communication is excellent, a rarity for contractors."

Angel Answers Your Questions

Drainage is actually the most critical part of any retaining wall. Most wall failures I see aren’t from the wall material itself — they’re from water build-up behind the wall. When water gets trapped in the soil, it creates hydrostatic pressure that pushes the wall outward, causes cracking, and eventually leads to collapse. Wet soil can weigh nearly double what dry soil weighs, so that pressure adds up fast. Every wall we build includes a proper drainage system — perforated drain pipe, gravel backfill, filter fabric, and weep holes where needed. A properly drained wall can last 40 to 50 years. Without drainage, I’ve seen walls fail in as little as two years.

I get a lot of emergency calls — a wall is leaning, a rockery collapsed, someone’s worried about their hillside after a heavy rain. I answer every call personally, and if the situation is urgent, I’ll come out and assess it as quickly as I can. Retaining wall problems aren’t cosmetic — they’re structural and they can get worse fast. So yes, if you’ve got an emergency, call me directly and we’ll figure out next steps together.

We don’t pull permits ourselves, but I understand the process well and I’ll walk you through exactly what’s needed. Anything over four feet typically requires engineering, and I can coordinate with or refer you to a licensed engineer to get that handled. I’ve been through this process hundreds of times, so you won’t be guessing about what the city wants to see.

It depends on what the property needs. For block walls, I work with Belgard, Baselite, and Mutual Materials. Mutual Materials mannerstone blocks are a solid, cost-effective option. If you want a higher-end look, Belgard and some of the designer block systems like Tandem or Diamond give you more style options, but they do come at a higher price point — and some of them require a different installation process, which adds labor time. For rock retaining walls, natural boulder and rockery construction is what we’re known for. I’ll always walk you through the options and help you pick what makes sense for your site, your budget, and how long you want that wall to last.

I stand behind every wall we build. If something isn’t right, you call me and I’ll come take a look. The best warranty is the work itself — proper drainage, correct base preparation, geogrid where it’s needed, and compaction done right the first time. That’s what keeps a wall standing for decades, and that’s what we deliver on every project.

It depends on our current schedule and the weather, but I don’t like to keep people waiting. In most cases, we can get started within a week or two of signing. If it’s an emergency situation, I’ll move things around to get out there sooner. I’ll always give you a clear timeline upfront so you know exactly what to expect.

Seattle & King County, WA

Let's talk about your retaining wall project