Stone and masonry retaining walls that manage grade, control runoff, protect planting beds, and create usable terraced areas on Vineyard properties. Drainage engineered before construction - the difference between a wall that holds for decades and one that fails within a few seasons.
Retaining walls on Martha's Vineyard hold back soil where grade changes create instability or unusable slopes. Infinity builds fieldstone, granite, and concrete-block walls with footing depth, backfill drainage, and materials matched to freeze-thaw conditions and sandy island soils. Walls under four feet typically require no structural engineering.
Any slope that needs to be made into usable level space requires a retaining structure. A sloped yard with 24 to 36 inches of elevation change across a 10-foot horizontal run typically needs a wall or a series of low walls to create a stable terrace.
Erosion along a slope, particularly on sandy Vineyard soils, accelerates with heavy rain events. A wall on the lower portion of a slope arrests the movement and stabilizes the grade.
Raised planting beds against a house foundation or along a property boundary are a common retaining wall application. These walls run lower - typically 18 to 36 inches - and carry less lateral load than grade-retention walls, but still need drainage to prevent water pooling against the structure.
Where a driveway cuts into a slope or a parking area needs a level surface adjacent to sloped terrain, retaining walls hold the cut bank and prevent slippage.
Natural fieldstone. The traditional choice for Vineyard properties and the material that reads as most integrated with the island's landscape character. Properly laid dry-stack or mortared fieldstone walls are aesthetically appropriate across a wide range of property types, from historic cottages to modern construction. Dry-stack walls allow natural drainage through the wall face, which is both structurally sound for low-load applications and in keeping with the visual character of the stone.
Granite block. Cut granite provides a more formal, precise look than fieldstone. Commonly used for walls adjacent to formal patios, front entries, or properties where a clean geometric line is preferred. Granite's density and durability make it well-suited to high-load applications.
Segmental retaining wall block. Engineered interlocking block systems (Allan Block, Unilock, Versa-Lok and similar) are a reliable choice for walls requiring structural certification, particularly those over 4 feet in height. The interlocking geometry provides more consistent lateral strength than mortared masonry in variable soil conditions.
Timber. Pressure-treated timber walls are occasionally appropriate for lower applications in garden areas. Timber degrades faster than stone in coastal conditions and should not be specified for walls where longevity is the priority. We generally recommend against timber for walls over 2 feet or in high-exposure coastal locations.
A selection of recent hardscaping projects across Martha's Vineyard.
Low walls under 2 feet can generally be built without engineering review or permit. Walls between 2 and 4 feet require more careful drainage engineering but typically remain within the scope of standard landscape contractor work. Walls above 4 feet may require a structural engineer's review or a building permit depending on the town and the specific conditions of the site. We identify these thresholds early in the planning process and bring in the appropriate review if required.
Tiered wall systems - multiple shorter walls stacked with terracing between them rather than a single tall wall - are often the best engineering and aesthetic solution for larger grade changes. A series of 2 to 3-foot walls is frequently more structurally straightforward, visually integrated, and permitting-friendly than a single 6-foot wall.
Every retaining wall we build includes drainage provisions proportional to the wall's height, the soil conditions behind it, and the typical water load the site receives. This means:
For walls in areas with heavy clay soils or concentrated roof runoff, additional drainage provisions are specified. Underestimating drainage load is the mistake most retaining wall failures can be traced back to.
