Boulder Wall, Steps & Paver Walkway
Burnsville, MN
Out with the timbers.
In with something that lasts.
Jeff's timber retaining walls had run their course — rotting, shifting, doing what timber walls in Minnesota eventually always do. The freeze-thaw cycle is relentless on wood, and no amount of pressure treatment changes the fact that timber has a lifespan. His walls had hit it.
The replacement was fieldstone boulders — natural granite that doesn't rot, doesn't shift, and doesn't need to be replaced in another 20 years. Cut stone steps were set through the wall, and Jeff's existing walkway pavers were carefully pulled up, the base re-prepped, and the pavers relaid in a new direction leading straight to the boulder steps.
Reusing existing pavers is always worth considering when they're in good shape. It keeps material costs down and gives the new hardscape a continuity with what was already there — the pavers look like they were always meant to lead to those steps.
Get a free estimateRotting timbers.
End of the road.
The old timber walls came out in a pile. Decades of Minnesota winters had done their work — the wood was soft, dark, and done. You can see the scale of what came out of the ground. Once the demo was complete and the site was excavated, it was time to build something that won't need to be replaced again.
Demo, rebuild,
and make it better.
"Timber walls are the most common replacement project we do. Every single one of them ends the same way — and the homeowner always wishes they'd done boulders the first time. You do it once with natural stone and you're done."
— Jacob · Lead Installer · Heritage OutdoorsSteps set. Wall built.
Pavers relaid.
The CMP grapple on the excavator does the heavy lifting — every boulder wall Heritage Outdoors builds uses it to place each stone precisely. It's what lets Jacob position hundreds of pounds of granite exactly where it needs to go. The steps go in first, leveled by hand, then boulders are set around them course by course with drainage fabric behind each tier.
Three things done right.
One project.
Timber wall replacement &
boulder walls in Burnsville
Can a timber retaining wall be replaced with a boulder wall in Minnesota?
Yes — timber wall replacement with fieldstone boulders is one of the most common projects Heritage Outdoors does. Timber walls typically last 15–25 years in Minnesota before rot and freeze-thaw cycles cause them to fail. Replacing with natural fieldstone gives you a wall that lasts 50–200+ years with zero maintenance — no rot, no shifting, nothing to replace. Heritage Outdoors handles the full demo and rebuild. Call 651-219-3668 for a free estimate.
Can existing pavers be reused in a new walkway design?
Yes — if the existing pavers are in good condition, Heritage Outdoors can salvage and relay them in a new configuration as part of a larger project. This is a great way to add value to a project while keeping costs down. On the Burnsville project, Jeff's existing walkway pavers were pulled up, the base was properly re-prepped, and the pavers were relaid in a new direction leading directly to the new boulder steps.
How much does a boulder wall cost in Burnsville MN?
Boulder walls in Burnsville and the south metro typically run $40–$100+ per square foot installed depending on stone type, wall height, site access, and whether steps or additional hardscape are included. Heritage Outdoors has a $5,000 project minimum and always provides a free on-site estimate. Call 651-219-3668.
How long do timber retaining walls last in Minnesota?
Timber retaining walls in Minnesota typically last 15–25 years before rot, freeze-thaw heave, and ground movement cause them to fail or lean. The Minnesota climate is particularly hard on timber — repeated wet/dry and freeze/thaw cycles accelerate decay even in pressure-treated wood. When a timber wall starts to go, boulder walls are the natural upgrade — same natural aesthetic, dramatically longer lifespan.
Does Heritage Outdoors serve Burnsville MN and the south metro?
Yes — Heritage Outdoors serves Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, Lakeville, Savage, and the full south metro Twin Cities area. Call 651-219-3668 or visit heritageoutdoorsmn.com to request a free estimate.
Got a timber wall that's
seen better days?
Jacob will come out, look at what you have, and tell you exactly what he'd replace it with and what it would cost. No pressure — just an honest conversation about what makes sense for your property.
Jacob & Haven. Family owned and operated out of Saint Paul. Hardscape and landscape design-build done right — from the first call to final walkthrough.
651-219-3668 haven@heritageoutdoorsmn.com