What it's like building a wall in Roslyn
Roslyn sits in the valley along Hempstead Harbor with steep hills rising on both sides. The grade changes coming up from the village toward Roslyn Heights and East Hills are among the steepest in Nassau.
The Roslyn neighborhoods we work in most: Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, East Hills. If you're in or near any of these and need a wall built or replaced, we likely know your street and the soil under it.
The walls Roslyn homeowners ask us about
Driveway retaining walls on the hillside streets running uphill from the village, slope stabilization, and tiered garden walls for properties terracing down toward the harbor.
Built a 72 LF Cambridge Olde English wall in Roslyn Heights in April 2024. Steep driveway, 18 percent grade. We had to dig the footing in three sections because the soil was wet and the cuts wouldn't hold without shoring. Job came in at $33,600. The owner had us back six months later for a patio.
What you actually get from us
- Engineered design. We don't just stack block. Soil, slope, drainage, load. All of it.
- Permits handled. Nassau County (or your village, if applicable), filed and followed through inspection.
- Real drainage. Geotextile fabric, clean 3/4 inch crushed stone, 4 inch perforated pipe, daylight outlet. Always.
- Material options. Cambridge, Nicolock, natural fieldstone, or pressure-treated timber. We'll tell you the honest tradeoff for your property.
- Written warranty. In writing. Not just verbally.
- Licensed and insured. Suffolk and Nassau both. Current COI on hand before work starts.
How a Roslyn retaining wall job actually goes
1. Free site visit. We come out, walk the property, measure grade, take notes on drainage and access, and listen to what you want it to look like and do. Usually 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Written quote. Within 5 business days you get an itemized quote: length, height, material, drainage spec, base prep, geogrid (if applicable), permit handling, cap details, warranty terms. No one-line guesses.
3. Permit filing. If your wall needs one, we file it and chase the approval. You don't have to think about it.
4. Build. Most Roslyn walls go up in 4 to 10 working days depending on length and conditions. We clean up daily.
5. Walkthrough and warranty. We walk the finished wall with you, confirm drainage outlets are clear, hand over the written warranty.
Roslyn retaining wall FAQ
How much does a retaining wall cost in Roslyn? Most Roslyn projects fall between $180 and $360 per linear foot installed, including drainage. A typical 50 LF wall runs $12,000 to $20,000. Bigger walls, walls needing geogrid, or walls needing an engineer's stamp run higher.
Do I need a permit? On the North Shore, walls over 4 feet almost always require a permit, and many villages want an engineer's stamp at that height. We handle the filing.
How long does the job take? 4 to 10 working days on site for most jobs. Permit review adds 4 to 11 weeks depending on the village or town.
What block do you usually use? Cambridge Pavingstones (Pyzique, MaytRx, Olde English) and Nicolock (Olde Greenwich, Stonegate). For natural stone we work with local Long Island suppliers.
Related reading for Roslyn homeowners
- How much does a retaining wall cost on Long Island?
- Retaining wall cost calculator (interactive)
- Retaining wall permits on Long Island's North Shore — 2026 guide
- Why North Shore soil & slopes are different
- Why drainage is what makes or breaks a retaining wall
- Cambridge vs Nicolock: how we pick
- Finished projects (photos)