Armour Stone Wall Installation in Aurora, ON | OCM Excavation

OCM Excavation & Construction installs Armour stone retaining walls, terraced landscape walls, and slope-stabilization builds across Aurora. We work the north-end subdivisions where mature lots are giving up their original wood retaining walls, the older neighbourhoods around Yonge and Wellington, and the rural-edge properties along Bloomington Road. Most Aurora projects run 50 to 250 linear feet, with installed pricing in the $300 to $450 per foot range. For a free on-site quote in Aurora, call 416-317-3090.

Why Aurora Homeowners Are Switching to Armour Stone

A lot of Aurora’s north-end subdivisions were built on sloped lots, and the original developers used pressure-treated timber for grade-separation walls. Twenty to twenty-five years in, those walls are failing — leaning, rotting at the base, and pulling fasteners. Armour stone is the durable replacement. Dimensional limestone blocks (typically 12 to 36 inches on the face, 18 to 36 inches deep, weighing 200 to 1,000 pounds each) dry-stack on a compacted base to give you a 50-plus year wall. It looks more natural than segmental retaining wall units, and the wider footprint actually improves the soil retention behind the wall.

Applications We Build in Aurora

• Replacement of failing wood retaining walls on sloped backyards
• Terracing for multi-level rear yards (very common north of Wellington)
• Driveway grade separation walls on corner lots
• Decorative entrance and front-yard feature walls
• Pool deck retaining walls integrated with armour stone steps

The Build Process

An Aurora job starts with a site visit so we can measure, sight-line the existing grade, and check access for the telehandler. Walls over 1.2 metres, or anything supporting a driveway or foundation, get engineered drawings before excavation. We dig down to stable subsoil (never on topsoil), place and compact six to eight inches of Granular A, then set the first course dead-level using laser. Each subsequent course gets a slight batter back into the slope for long-term stability. Behind the wall we install 19mm clear stone with non-woven filter fabric for drainage, then restore topsoil and seed. Permits are typically handled through the Town of Aurora Building Division when engineering triggers them.

Cost Drivers on Aurora Projects

Per-foot pricing comes down to four things. First, face-stone size — larger blocks reduce the piece count and crane time but cost more per ton. Second, site access; if we can drive the telehandler straight to the wall, the build is faster than if we have to crane stones over a house. Third, engineering and permits when the wall is taller than 1.2 metres. Fourth, drainage and tie-in to existing grade. Most Aurora projects sit in the $300 to $450 per linear foot installed range. We give you a fixed written price after the site visit — no allowance line items.

Why OCM

We self-perform every stage of an armour stone build, run our own Yanmar SV40 for base prep, and bring in telehandlers or boom trucks sized to your access. Fully insured. We work directly with engineers when sealed drawings are required and we know Aurora’s lot patterns — narrow side-yard accesses, mature trees to protect, and the importance of not rutting your front lawn. We also serve neighbouring [Newmarket](/armour-stone-wall-newmarket/) and [King City](/armour-stone-wall-king-city/), and the broader GTA — see our service areas. Call 416-317-3090 to book.

Materials and Equipment We Use on Aurora Armour Stone Projects

The stone we use on Aurora projects is dolomitic limestone from Owen Sound, Wiarton, and Cambridge quarries — Mid-Ordovician material, flat-bedded blocks that weather to a soft grey tone within a season or two. Aurora’s mature subdivisions usually mean lot scale matches an 18 to 24 inch face workhorse stone, which is also the size we use on most timber-wall replacements because it lines up with the existing wall height. Bigger 30 to 36 inch face stones get used on larger feature walls and estate-style front-yard installations. Under every wall we lay 6 to 8 inches of compacted Granular A, and behind it 3/4 inch clear stone backfill against a non-woven geotextile filter fabric. The Yanmar SV40 mini excavator handles base prep in the narrow side-yard accesses typical of Aurora subdivision lots. For stone placement we either rent a telehandler at $800 to $1,200 per day, or bring in a boom truck for tight crane lifts over the house. In the tightest backyards we swap the SV40 bucket for a fork attachment via the quick-coupler. A 3 to 4 person crew completes a typical 80 to 100 linear foot Aurora wall in 5 to 8 working days. Most of the Aurora pressure-treated wood walls we replace are 25-plus years old, well past their service life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit in Aurora?

Walls under 1 metre on private property generally don’t require a building permit. Anything taller, or any wall supporting a structure or driveway, typically requires Town of Aurora Building Division review and often engineered drawings. We handle the application and engineering coordination as part of the contract.

How long does an armour stone wall last?

Properly built, an armour stone wall easily lasts 50 years or more. The stone itself is essentially permanent; the failure mode is usually a poorly compacted base or missing drainage. That’s why we excavate to subsoil, compact Granular A, and install drainage stone with filter fabric on every wall.

Can you tear out my old wood retaining wall and replace it?

Yes — this is one of the most common jobs we do in Aurora. We demolish the timber wall, haul away the debris, re-excavate to stable subsoil, rebuild the base, and set the armour stone. The new wall footprint is usually slightly larger than the timber it replaces because armour stone is deeper.

What does an armour stone wall cost in Aurora?

Most Aurora installations land in the $300 to $450 per linear foot installed range. The variables are stone size, site access, engineering, and drainage. We give you a fixed written quote after the site visit, so there are no surprises mid-build.

Do you handle landscaping after the wall is in?

Yes. We restore topsoil and seed as part of every armour stone contract. We also offer interlocking paver patios, segmental retaining walls, and full-service site excavation so we can finish the whole job in one mobilization.

Book Your Aurora Quote

If you’re ready to replace a failing wood wall or build a new feature wall in Aurora, call 416-317-3090 or use our free quote form. We’ll be on-site within a few days with measurements and a fixed price.

Related Services in Auror

• Armour Stone Wall in Newmarke
• Armour Stone Wall in King City
• Armour Stone Wall in Innisfil
• Armour Stone Wall in Burlington
• Retaining Wall in Auror
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• Land Grading in Auror
• All Service Areas