Draper

Draper is retaining wall country. Between Corner Canyon and SunCrest, a large share of the lots have more slope than flat, and getting a usable yard out of them means terracing done properly rather than the tallest single wall someone will quote.

On steep ground the drainage detail is the whole job. Clean angular backfill, filter fabric between the rock and the native soil, a perforated line that daylights downhill, and geogrid tied back into the slope on anything tall or surcharged. We'll tell you when a wall needs an engineer, too.

Once the grades are handled, the fun part: patios that take advantage of the view, steps that connect levels without feeling like a hike, and lighting that makes the whole thing usable after dark.