Case Study: Retaining Wall Construction in Brossard

A homeowner in Brossard's Secteur C contacted us about a persistent problem with their sloped backyard. The grade dropped nearly four feet from the back of the house to the rear fence line, making the yard virtually unusable. Rainwater would rush down the slope and pool along the fence, turning the lower section into a muddy mess every spring and after heavy summer storms. The homeowner wanted to reclaim that wasted space and create a level area large enough for a future patio installation. Sloped properties in Brossard are common, particularly in the older residential sections near the Boulevard Taschereau corridor. The challenge with this project was the total height of earth to be retained -- at just over four feet, the wall required engineered plans per Quebec building code. We coordinated with a licensed structural engineer who specified geogrid reinforcement at 16-inch vertical intervals, a compacted granular footing extending 48 inches below grade to clear the frost line, and a full drainage core behind the wall face. For the wall material, we selected Permacon Mondrian textured blocks in a warm sandstone tone that complements the home's exterior. The installation began with excavating the footing trench and building up compacted 0-3/4 crushed stone as the base. Each course of blocks was laid level with construction adhesive between the top courses for added stability. Behind the wall, we installed a drainage core of clear three-quarter-inch washed stone wrapped in geotextile fabric, with a four-inch perforated drain pipe at the base that daylights to a pop-up emitter near the side yard. Three layers of Tensar geogrid were embedded into the compacted backfill at the intervals specified by the engineer. The result is a structurally sound retaining wall that transformed the unusable slope into two distinct levels -- a generous upper terrace ready for future patio pavers and a lower lawn area that no longer floods. The project was completed in seven working days. The homeowner was impressed by the clean finish and the immediate difference in how water now drains properly across the property rather than collecting at the low point.