Project at a glance

• Location

  Midtown East, Manhattan, NY 10022

• Project type

  New block retaining wall

• Scope

  Excavation, sub-base, block wall, drainage layer, anchoring, cap

• Planning

  Free site visit and a clear written scope

• Duration

  Not published

• Result

  New wall, cap level and aligned, site restored

What problem did the property have?

The property had no retaining wall where it needed one. Rockzen USA says a retaining wall holds grade, manages water and protects foundations and landscaping, and that a missing or failed wall shows its cost quickly after heavy rain. No outside source was reviewed for those points on this page. The size of the grade change and the earlier site condition are not published. Rockzen USA builds walls like this under its retaining wall contractor service.

What did Rockzen USA do?

The work ran in seven stages. The assessment came first. The cleanup came last.

1. Free site visit and assessment

   The team reviewed the grade, the drainage conditions and the load requirements. It then wrote a clear scope of work built around what the property needed, with no extra scope added.

2. Base excavation and compacted sub-base

   The crew excavated the base and compacted a sub-base for the wall to sit on.

3. Block wall, course by course

   The crew built the block retaining wall one course at a time.

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4. Drainage layer behind the wall

   The crew installed a drainage layer behind the wall. Rockzen USA says this layer matters for long term performance. No outside source was reviewed for that point.

5. Tie back and anchoring

   The wall was tied back and anchored. Rockzen USA says this was done for NYC soil conditions. The anchor type and the soil data are not published.

6. Cap finish

   The crew finished the wall with a cap that is level and aligned.

7. Cleanup and restoration

   The crew cleaned the site and restored it on completion.

Which materials and specifications applied?

The project used block, a compacted sub-base, a drainage layer, anchoring and a cap. Block type, wall height and length, drainage material, anchor type, cap material and permit status are not published. NYC rules on retaining walls: no source reviewed.

How long did it take, and what did it cost?

Dates and price are not published for this project. Rockzen USA gives a free site visit and assessment with no obligation.

What was the result?

The property now has a new block retaining wall with a level, aligned cap, and the site was restored. Rockzen USA says the wall is built to hold through rain and freeze thaw cycles. No test, inspection result or warranty is published for this project. A similar masonry job is the front door steps build in Richmond Hill.

What can other NYC owners learn from this project?

The lessons below come from this project only. No outside rule was reviewed for this page, so each point names its source.

1. Start with an assessment. The team reviewed grade, drainage and load before writing the scope.Source: this project.
2. Keep the scope to what the site needs. This scope had no extra items added.Source: this project.
3. Look at what is below the surface. The base, the drainage layer and the anchoring were part of this build. Rockzen USA says shortcuts there show up years later.Source: Rockzen USA, no outside source reviewed.
4. Expect the site to be restored. The crew cleaned up when the wall was done.Source: this project.

What do owners ask about this project?

What did the Midtown East property need?

The property needed a new block retaining wall built from scratch. The owner called Rockzen USA for a site visit and a scope of work.

Is the site visit free?

Yes. Rockzen USA offers a free site visit and assessment with no obligation for retaining walls in Midtown East and across Manhattan.

What did the assessment cover?

The team reviewed the grade, the drainage conditions and the load requirements. It then wrote a clear scope of work.

How was the wall built?

The crew excavated the base and compacted a sub-base. It then built the block wall course by course and finished it with a level, aligned cap.

What sits behind and under the wall?

A drainage layer was installed behind the wall, and the wall was tied back and anchored. The drainage material and the anchor type are not published.

Which areas does Rockzen USA serve?

Rockzen USA serves Midtown East, Murray Hill, Gramercy, Kips Bay and all of Manhattan. This project was in ZIP code 10022.

What did the project cost?

The price is not published for this project. Rockzen USA gives a free site visit and assessment with no obligation.

Which other case studies are similar?

These Rockzen projects are masonry and brick jobs built or repaired by hand.

Which Rockzen services match this project?

The pages below cover the same kind of work in more detail, from retaining walls to wider masonry.

Need a retaining wall in Manhattan?

Owners in Midtown East, Murray Hill, Gramercy, Kips Bay and across Manhattan can start with a free site visit and assessment. Rockzen USA builds the wall from the base up. The retaining wall contractors in NYC page explains the service. Related brick and block work is listed on the masonry contractor in NYC page. Owners who search for retaining wall contractor near me can find Rockzen USA on Google Business Profile.

Call for a free site visit