Retaining Wall and Dual Patio Build Taking Shape in Saint Anthony

This Saint Anthony backyard is a multi-level project that's been a long time in the making. We started the retaining wall work late last year and we're back now to tie the whole thing together - upper patio, lower patio, block stairs, and all the dirt work that goes with it.

Here's what we were working with: a sloped backyard on a split-level home that needed serious structure before any usable outdoor space could happen. A yard like this doesn't just need a wall. It needs the right grading, the right block layout, and a plan that connects every level so it all flows together. That's exactly what we've been building toward.

The block retaining wall wraps around the lower level of the home and ties directly into a wide staircase that leads up to the upper yard and deck. The curved section near the back door adds a nice detail - it's not just functional, it gives the whole space some character. Getting that curve right with block takes real patience and know-how.

On the dirt work side, we've been grading out the lower patio area and the side yard to create flat, usable ground where there wasn't any before. That kind of excavation work is what makes everything else possible. Without the right base, nothing above it holds up the way it should.

We're in the final stretch on this one. Once the patios are poured and the finish grading is done, this backyard is going to be a completely different space. It's one of those jobs where every piece builds on the last - and it's coming together exactly the way we planned.