Completed project · Dallas, TX
Railroad Tie Retaining Wall Replaced With Natural Milsap Stone Along a Dallas, TX Alley
Courses of dark, weathered railroad ties came out from under the fence line along the alley. A natural Milsap stone wall now holds the same ground, turning the corner and stepping down toward the garage.
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4.9out of 5 on Google Reviewson Google115 Google reviewsProject at a glance
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Service
- Retaining wall replacement
- Removed
- Stacked railroad tie wall
- Built
- Natural Milsap stone retaining wall
- Setting
- Alley side of the lot, around the garage corner
- Warranty
- 5 years on the wall, in writing
- 4.9across 115 Google reviews
- BBB A+accredited business
- 5-yearwarranty on every wall
- Since 2006same DFW ownership
- Freesame- or next-day estimates
Before & after
Before and after: timber out, stone in
The same stretch of wall seen from the alley, before and after. The fence above it stayed; the stacked ties beneath it are now a face of natural Milsap stone.
More before
Railroad ties at the end of their run
This Dallas lot backs onto a paved alley, and the yard sits higher than the alley does. Until now, the ground under the back fence was held up by courses of railroad ties stacked along the alley edge and around the corner toward the garage.
In the before photos the ties are dark and weathered, with cut ends showing at the corner and weeds working along the foot of the wall. Timber like this was the standard retaining wall material in Dallas for a long time, and many are still standing.
But a railroad tie is wood buried against wet soil. However well it was treated, it breaks down with time, and North Texas clay pushes harder on it every time the ground swells after rain.
On this job the whole wall was replaced, not patched. Robert’s crew built it again in natural Milsap stone, a material that does not rot.
How the Dallas alley wall was replaced
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Free on-site estimate
Robert walked the alley side of the property, measured the run and the corner and quoted a firm price for the replacement.
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Permits
JCL checked what the City of Dallas requires for the wall and obtained and managed any permit it needed.
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Ties out
The railroad ties were taken out from under the fence line and removed from the site.
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Natural Milsap stone wall
The new wall was built in natural Milsap stone along the alley and around the corner, under the existing fence line.
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Stepping down at the garage
Toward the garage the wall steps down to a lower height, finishing the corner where the alley meets the garage approach.
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Clean-up
The alley was left clear and clean, with the fence above the wall still standing on its line.
Why it lasts
What a stone wall does that timber cannot
Swapping ties for stone is about more than appearance. Along an alley the wall is holding a yard up above a paved lane, and it has to do that for decades.
No service life to run out
Timber in soil has a lifespan, however it was treated. Natural stone does not rot or soften, so the material itself is no longer the thing waiting to fail.
Water given a way out
Water trapped behind a wall is what pushes it. The finished wall shows a weep opening near its base, so water behind the stone has somewhere to go.
A wall that carries a fence
The fence above this wall stayed in place. A wall under a fence line has to take the fence’s load as well as the ground’s, which is why the two are planned together.
Built for Dallas clay
Dallas clay swells when wet and shrinks as it dries. JCL builds every wall for that movement, and every JCL wall carries a 5-year warranty in writing.
★★★★★
“They did an outstanding job replacing old and failing railroad ties and at a cheaper price than I…”
John Stephens5-star Google review for JCL Landscape Services
Get a free estimate on your Dallas railroad tie wall
Tell us roughly how long the tie wall is and where it runs. Robert will come out, normally same day or next, and give you a firm price to replace it in stone.
Dallas railroad tie wall questions
Should I replace a railroad tie retaining wall in Dallas?
Railroad ties are wood, and wood buried against wet clay breaks down over time. If your ties are soft, split, leaning or shedding soil, replacement in stone is usually the lasting fix. Robert will tell you honestly at the free estimate.
What is natural Milsap stone?
Milsap is a natural Texas stone in warm tan, gold and gray tones. It is used across DFW for retaining walls because it is durable and suits brick homes.
Can the fence stay up while the wall underneath is replaced?
On this Dallas job the fence above the wall stayed in place while the ties were replaced with stone. Whether that works on your property depends on how the fence is set, and Robert checks it at the estimate.
Can you build a retaining wall along an alley?
Yes. This wall runs along a paved alley and around the corner at a garage. Alley-side walls are common in Dallas, where many lots sit higher than the lane behind them.
Do you handle permits in Dallas?
Yes. JCL checks what the City of Dallas requires for the wall and obtains and manages any permit, so you do not deal with the paperwork.
How much does it cost to replace a railroad tie wall with stone?
It depends on the length and height of the wall, how it turns corners and how easily the crew can reach it. JCL gives a firm price at the free on-site estimate, and that price is the bill. There are no change orders.
Retaining walls in Dallas
JCL replaces railroad tie walls across Dallas and the wider DFW metroplex. Start with the pages closest to this project:
More recent DFW projects:
Still have railroad ties holding up your yard?
A natural stone wall replaces them for good. Estimates are free and normally same-day or next-day.