Front walkway is red brick next to downsloping driveway with stone retaining wall. Wall needs to be straightened and brick relaid . What contractor is best suited to do this work?

For this type of project, you're looking for a hardscape or masonry contractor — specifically one with experience in both retaining wall construction and brick/stone work. Some landscaping companies also handle this scope, but a dedicated masonry contractor is your strongest bet.

Your project has two distinct components that need to work together. The retaining wall repair is the more structurally critical piece — a downsloping driveway with a failing wall means soil pressure and drainage are likely factors in why it shifted in the first place. A good masonry contractor will assess the base, drainage, and backfill conditions before simply straightening and rebuilding. If the wall is just reset without addressing what caused the movement, you'll be back in the same situation within a few years.

The brick walkway relay is more straightforward but should be done by the same contractor or at minimum coordinated with the wall work. Brick needs a proper compacted granular base (typically 4–6 inches of crushed stone plus 1 inch of bedding sand), and the finished grade needs to slope away from your home — roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot to manage water runoff properly. In Toronto's freeze-thaw climate, a poorly prepared base is the number one reason brick walkways heave and shift over time.

What to look for in a contractor:

• Experience with both retaining walls and unit/brick masonry (ask to see past projects)
• Knowledge of proper drainage solutions — weeping tile, gravel backfill, or drainage fabric behind the retaining wall
• Familiarity with Toronto's frost line (4 feet deep) for any new footings or base work
• References from similar residential hardscape projects in the GTA

Typical costs in the Toronto/GTA market will vary considerably based on wall length, height, and materials, but as a rough guide: retaining wall reconstruction runs $150–$350+ per linear foot, and brick walkway relaying typically runs $20–$45 per square foot depending on the pattern and existing brick condition. If new brick or stone is needed, material costs add to that.

A building permit is generally not required for retaining walls under 1 metre (roughly 3.3 feet) in height in Toronto, but if your wall exceeds that, check with Toronto Building at 416-397-5330 or toronto.ca/building. Even without a permit requirement, the work should be done to proper standards for drainage and structural integrity.

Your next step is to get 2–3 quotes from masonry or hardscape contractors who can assess the wall in person — the cause of the lean matters as much as the repair itself. Browse qualified local professionals in the Toronto Construction Network directory to find masonry contractors serving your area of the GTA.