Deck Removal, 300 Sq. Ft. Patio and Retaining Wall Build in Saint Paul

This backyard had a lot going on - an aging deck that needed to come out, a timber retaining wall that had seen better days, and a slope that needed to be properly managed. Here's what we were working with: a yard that had potential but needed a full reset to actually function and look good.

We pulled the deck and replaced it with a 300 sq. ft. paver patio. The new patio sits clean and level with a defined border, giving this client a solid, low-maintenance outdoor space that will hold up through Minnesota winters far better than wood ever would. No rotting boards, no annual sealing, no headaches.

The retaining wall was a big part of this job. The old timber wall was done - timber walls have a lifespan, and this one had hit it. We replaced it with a bell guard anchor diamond wall block system. This isn't just a visual upgrade. This type of interlocking block is engineered to hold soil under pressure over the long haul. It's the kind of wall you install once and don't think about again.

We also refreshed the rock throughout the backyard. Fresh gravel ties the whole space together - it fills in around the patio and wall in a way that looks intentional and keeps maintenance low. The overall feel of the yard went from worn-out and uneven to clean, structured, and functional.

Jobs like this are a good reminder that a backyard overhaul doesn't have to mean adding more stuff. Sometimes it means tearing out what's failing and replacing it with materials that actually last. That's exactly what we did here in Saint Paul, and the result speaks for itself.