Masonry & hardscape since 2017 Licensed and insured in Massachusetts
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Fieldstone retaining wall with bluestone treads set into a hillside

Home / Retaining Walls & Stonework

Retaining walls and stonework in Greater Boston

Walls that hold a hillside instead of leaning into it, plus the stone details that make a yard usable.

What we do

A leaning wall is a drainage problem, not a stone problem

Walls almost never fail because the stone was wrong. They fail because water got trapped behind them. Saturated soil is heavy, and in a New England winter it freezes and expands with more force than any wall face can resist.

So we build from the back forward: a compacted footing below frost, crushed stone behind the wall, filter fabric so the soil does not clog it, and a perforated drain line taking the water somewhere useful. Only then does the face go up, one course at a time, each one checked for level and batter.

Tiered block retaining wall planted between a lawn and a fence

Our standard

How we build it

Included

Everything under retaining walls & stonework

One crew from the excavation to the final sweep, so nothing gets lost between trades.

Segmental block walls

Engineered block systems for grade changes, terraced where the height and the setback call for it.

Fieldstone walls

New England fieldstone laid by hand, dry stacked or mortared, for walls that look like they were always there.

Boulder walls

Large stone placed with machinery for steep grades and natural looking slopes.

Seat and garden walls

Low walls that define a patio, hold a planting bed or add seating without crowding the space.

Steps built into walls

Granite or bluestone stairs cut into a wall run, so a slope becomes usable instead of just held back.

Veneer and repairs

Stone veneer over concrete foundations and rebuilds of walls that were built without drainage.

How we work

From first call to final walk

Step 01

On site walkthrough

We look at the grade, the drainage and the access, take measurements and talk through material and color options with samples.

Step 02

Written estimate

Scope, base depth, material, square footage and price, in writing, so you can compare it line by line against anyone else.

Step 03

Build and final walk

We excavate, build, clean up daily, then walk the finished job with you and go over how to care for it.

Recent work

Retaining Walls & Stonework

Questions

What homeowners ask us

How tall can a retaining wall be without engineering?

In most Massachusetts towns anything over four feet needs a stamped design, and some require a permit lower than that. We check with your town before we quote, and build to whatever the height and soil actually require.

Why did my old wall start leaning?

Almost always water. No drainage stone, no drain line, or backfill made of the same clay soil that was dug out. The wall then holds back saturated soil that expands every time it freezes.

Fieldstone or block?

Block is engineered, predictable and usually less expensive for a tall wall. Fieldstone costs more in labor but looks native to New England and ages beautifully. Both last when the drainage is right.

Can a wall be built against a property line?

Usually yes, but the excavation and the drainage need room to work. We look at setbacks and where the water will go before committing to a line.

Reviews

Rated 5.0 by homeowners on Google

Every review on our Google profile is a five star review. These are the last 10, word for word, from homeowners across Greater Boston.

5.0 10 Google reviews

Reviews left before 2026 still name HL Masonry, the company’s previous name. Same owner, same crew, same work.

Service area

Masonry across Greater Boston

Based in Greater Boston and working through Middlesex County and the surrounding towns. If you are close to the list below, we are already in your area most weeks.

MedfordWinchesterArlingtonSomervilleCambridgeMaldenMelroseStonehamWoburnBurlingtonBedfordLexingtonBelmontWatertownWalthamWestonWellesleyNewtonReadingWakefieldEverettConcordLincolnAndover
Paver pool deck at dusk with the water lit from inside

Built strong. Built right. Built to last.

Tell us what you have in mind. We come out, measure, and put a real number on paper, at no cost.