Boulder Wall Build on a Lakefront Property

Some jobs are straightforward. This one is not - and that's exactly the kind of work we enjoy taking on. We're deep into a boulder wall build on a lakefront property, and the scope here is significant. The slope, the proximity to the water, the existing grade - it all has to be thought through carefully before a single boulder goes in.

Here's what we were working with: a sloped backyard that runs right down to the water's edge, with an aging block wall that had already started to fail. Before any new structure goes in, the old material has to come out and the ground has to be properly cut and shaped. That's where we started - excavating and regrading the hillside to give the new boulder wall a clean, solid foundation to sit on.

We're running a CAT mini excavator alongside a CAT track skid steer on this one, plus a CMP hydraulic attachment for handling the heavy material with precision. Having the right equipment for a site like this matters. You can't muscle boulders into place by hand on a steep slope next to a lake - you need machines that can work efficiently in tight, uneven conditions without tearing up the surrounding yard.

A boulder wall isn't just a good-looking upgrade. On a sloped lakefront lot, it's doing real structural work - holding back soil, managing how water moves across the property, and keeping the yard from continuing to erode toward the water. Done right, it lasts for decades and requires almost no maintenance. That's the goal on every retaining wall and grading job we take on.

This one is still in progress, and we're looking forward to showing the finished result. The bones of the job are in good shape - the demo is done, the grade is being set, and the boulder placement is next. When it's all said and done, this property will have a yard that actually works with the landscape instead of fighting it.