Ely · Cambridgeshire
Retaining wall repairs in Ely
On sloping plots in Ely and across Cambridgeshire, many retaining walls were built decades ago with little thought for drainage. As the soil stays wet and roots grow, those walls start to lean, and the lean usually speeds up rather than slows.
Guide price from£525per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CB6
- Population
- about 21,000
- Area
- Cambridgeshire
- Pricing region
- East of England
What should you know about the ground under Ely?
Ely is in Cambridgeshire and takes in postcode districts CB6. About 21,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Newmarket (12 miles), March (13 miles) and St Ives (15 miles).
Cambridgeshire is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Cambridgeshire: Victorian terraces in Cambridge and Peterborough, fen-edge cottages, and extensive post-war and new-build estates.
What happens during retaining wall repairs, step by step?
Photos and measurements
Send photos of the whole wall from the front and the end, so any lean shows, plus close-ups of cracks and weep holes. Tell us roughly how tall it is and what sits at the top, such as lawn, patio, drive or a building.
Site assessment
On site we measure height and lean, check the drainage and the ground at the top and bottom, and look at access for digging out. Walls that support a drive, path or building, or retain more than a modest height, are referred to an engineer.
Written quote
You receive a no-obligation written quote covering demolition, excavation, temporary support, the footing, the new or repaired wall, drainage and spoil removal. It becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.
What to look for before calling about retaining wall repairs
- Water seeping through joints, or white salt staining, after rain
- Horizontal or stepped cracks running along the face of the wall
- Wall leaning forward, or bulging out in the middle of its length
Retaining wall repairs prices in Ely
Guide prices below are for homes in Ely, on East of England rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Minor repairs and drainage | £525 – £2,100 | per wall |
| Structural repair or partial rebuild | £3,150 – £15,800 | per wall |
| New retaining wall | £210 – £470 | per m² of wall face |
How we usually approach retaining wall repairs
Structural repair and partial rebuild
A leaning or bulging section is taken down, the soil behind dug out and supported, and the wall rebuilt on a new footing with drainage and, where specified, reinforcement tied into the sound wall either side. The engineer’s design sets footing size and wall thickness.
Best for: A section that has moved while the rest stays sound
Temporary support and reducing load
While a repair is designed and programmed, a dangerous wall may be propped, or soil and loads near the top removed to reduce the push. Moving parked cars or a shed back from the wall is sometimes the simplest first step.
Best for: Walls that are moving now and need making safe
Rules for retaining wall repairs in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Questions about retaining wall repairs in Ely
How much will retaining wall repairs cost in Ely?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Ely start from about £525 per wall, including VAT, on East of England rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Ely?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Ely, including CB6, and from nearby places such as Newmarket and March. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Cambridgeshire prone to subsidence?
Gault Clay underlies much of the Cambridge area and Oxford Clay the west of the county around Peterborough and Huntingdon, while the northern fens are peat and silt that can shrink as they dry. Both clay and peat ground can move with the seasons. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Does home insurance cover a collapsed garden retaining wall?
Often not, because many policies exclude garden walls unless the house is damaged by the same event, and gradual failure is usually excluded. A collapse caused by landslip or a sudden escape of water may be treated differently. Check your schedule and tell your insurer before permanent repairs start.
Who is responsible for a retaining wall between two properties?
Usually the owner of the higher ground, because the wall holds up their land, but it depends on your title deeds and how the wall came to be built. Check the deeds first, take advice if it is unclear, and agree the repair with your neighbour before work starts.
Other structural repairs in Ely
- Brick arch repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Roof structure repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Ely
The written quote for your Ely retaining wall sets out excavation, footing, drainage and rebuild, then becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.