Two-Tier Block Retaining Wall with Steps near McKinley, Kelowna
We built a two-tier Valley Stone block retaining wall with built-in block steps for a hillside property near McKinley in north Kelowna. Two shorter walls with level ground between them hold back the hill more safely than one tall wall, and they turned a steep slope into usable, level yard space.
Project overview
- Service: Retaining wall construction
- Location: McKinley area, Kelowna, BC
- Wall system: Valley Stone segmental block, two tiers, curved (radius) layout
- Features: block steps built into the wall, two levelled terraces for planting, new patio at the base of the steps
The challenge
The property backs onto a steep, rocky hillside, which is common on the hillsides around McKinley and north Kelowna. Left alone, a slope like that sheds soil and water toward the house and leaves the yard with almost no flat ground. The homeowners needed the hill held back, a way to get up to the upper level, and space they could actually use.
How we built it
Instead of one tall wall, we split the grade into two tiers with level ground between them. That spreads the load out, and in most Okanagan municipalities it keeps each wall under the height where engineering and extra permits kick in.
Every wall we build starts below ground: a compacted base, drain rock and filter fabric behind the block, and a perforated drain pipe to carry water away so pressure doesn’t build up behind the wall through freeze-thaw winters. We followed the natural curve of the slope with a radius layout and built wide block steps right into the side of the wall, so getting from the patio to the upper terrace is part of the structure instead of an afterthought.
The result
The homeowners went from a raw hillside to two level terraces ready for planting, a new patio at the bottom, and easy access between levels on solid block steps. Just as important, the hill is held back by walls that are built to drain, so they stay put through spring runoff.
Planning a wall in north Kelowna or Lake Country? See our Lake Country retaining walls page or our Kelowna retaining wall page, or book a free site visit.
