Retaining Wall and Pool Surround Built to Last in Sandwich

This one started with a headache. The homeowner had an old retaining wall that kept failing - shifting, settling, just not holding up. On top of that, they were putting in a new inground pool, which meant the yard needed to be completely regraded. That's a lot to tackle at once, and it had to be done right the first time.

We came in, tore out the old wall, and got to work on the regrading. That stage is where a lot of the heavy lifting happens. Getting the grade right before anything else goes in is what sets the whole project up for long-term success. Skip that step, or rush it, and everything built on top of it will eventually pay the price.

Once the grade was solid, we poured a concrete pad and started building the new wall. We went with granite block - it curves around the pool area in a sweeping arc that actually looks intentional, not just functional. The block pattern is tight and consistent, and the wall has real presence to it. We added granite steps to tie it all together and give clean access up to the pool deck.

What you end up with is a backyard that actually works. The wall holds the grade, the steps give you a safe way up and down, and the whole thing frames the pool in a way that feels finished. The stamped concrete pool deck sits right on top of everything we built, and it all flows together naturally.

This is the kind of job where the groundwork really matters. Retaining walls around pools aren't just decorative - they're doing real structural work. Getting the excavation, the regrading, and the wall construction dialed in from the start is what makes the difference between something that lasts and something you're calling about again in three years.