Hillside terraces, steps and tiered walls
Turn a steep yard into level space for gardens, patios and play, with walls built to handle the slope.
Hillside terracing uses a series of shorter walls to turn a slope into level steps of usable ground. Around Coeur d'Alene, where many lots climb away from the lake or the street, terraces create room for gardens, lawns, patios and paths. Stone or block steps tie the levels together.
Why use tiered walls instead of one tall wall?
Several shorter walls can be easier to build, easier to access and friendlier to look at than one tall wall. But tiers only behave as separate walls if they're spaced far enough apart. When tiers are close together, the upper wall adds load to the lower one, and together they may need to be designed as a single tall wall, with engineering and a permit. A builder can tell you how much spacing your slope needs.
What should a terracing plan include?
- Wall heights and spacing between tiers
- Drainage for each wall, with outlets
- How water moves down the slope during snowmelt
- Steps or paths between levels, with safe rise and run
- Soil and plantings for each terrace
- Equipment access to the upper tiers
Does the Hillside Overlay affect terracing?
If your lot is inside the City of Coeur d'Alene's Hillside Overlay Zone and has an average slope of 15 percent or more, hillside rules apply to development there. Lots annexed after May 1, 2005 fall under these rules too. Check with the city planning department before grading a steep lot.
What affects the cost of terracing?
- Number and height of walls. More tiers mean more wall face.
- Slope steepness and access. Getting equipment to upper levels takes time.
- Material. Block, boulder or a mix.
- Steps and paths. Stone slab or block steps add labor.
- Engineering and permits. Needed when tiers act as one tall wall.
Prices come from the builder after they've seen the site. We don't quote prices ourselves, and a phone estimate is only a starting point for a wall.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How far apart should tiered walls be?
It depends on the wall heights and soil. Tiers placed too close together act as one tall wall and may need engineering. A builder or engineer can set the spacing for your slope.
Can I add a patio on a terrace?
Yes. Terraces are often built specifically to create flat space for patios and lawns. Tell the builder early so the wall is designed for the load.
Related services
- Retaining wall installation
- Boulder & rock walls
- Retaining wall repair & replacement
- Wall drainage & French drains
More background: Kootenai County retaining wall guide.
Wall leaning, bulging or cracking?
A moving wall can fail suddenly. Keep people and vehicles clear and call to get it looked at.