Barnstaple · Devon
Retaining wall repairs in Barnstaple
On sloping plots in Barnstaple and across Devon, 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£515per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- EX31, EX32
- Population
- about 32,000
- Area
- Devon
- Pricing region
- South West
What should you know about the ground under Barnstaple?
Postcode districts EX31, EX32 cover Barnstaple, a Devon town of about 32,000 people. If you are just outside Barnstaple, we also cover Bideford (8 miles).
Most of Devon is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Old metal-mine shafts and workings are recorded in places, so mining searches are routine for some properties. Housing stock in Devon: Cob and stone cottages, Victorian terraces in Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay, and post-war 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.
Engineer’s design
Where the wall needs it, an independent chartered structural engineer is appointed to design the repair or new wall, including footing, thickness, reinforcement and drainage. We can arrange this, and the design forms the basis of the quote.
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
- Bricks or blocks pushed out of line, or coping stones sliding off
Retaining wall repairs prices in Barnstaple
The ranges below reflect typical South West costs for retaining wall repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Minor repairs and drainage | £515 – £2,050 | per wall |
| Structural repair or partial rebuild | £3,100 – £15,400 | per wall |
| New retaining wall | £205 – £465 | per m² of wall face |
How we usually approach retaining wall repairs
Drainage and minor repairs
Blocked weep holes are cleared or new ones drilled, and where practical a drainage layer is formed behind the wall with an outlet at its base. Loose copings are rebedded, open joints repointed and a few damaged bricks replaced. For a low wall that has not moved much, this can be enough.
Best for: Low walls that are damp or slightly weathered but still upright
Rebuilding on new footings
Where the whole wall is failing, it is replaced with a new retaining wall on a properly sized footing, with free-draining backfill, a membrane, weep holes and a drain at the base. Reinforced blockwork faced in brick or stone is common, so the wall matches its surroundings.
Best for: Walls failing along their length, or retaining significant height
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 Barnstaple
How much will retaining wall repairs cost in Barnstaple?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Barnstaple start from about £515 per wall, including VAT, on South West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Barnstaple?
We do. Barnstaple and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Bideford. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Devon prone to subsidence?
Devon's ground is mostly older mudstones, sandstones and granite, so shrinkable-clay subsidence is less widespread than further east. Older solid-walled and cob buildings, steep sites and retaining walls are the more common structural concerns. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
Can a bulging retaining wall be saved?
Sometimes, if the bulge is small, the wall is low and the cause is mainly poor drainage. Improving drainage and repairing the face may stop further movement. A wall that has bulged a lot, cracked through or moved at its base usually needs that section rebuilding on a proper footing.
Other structural repairs in Barnstaple
Retaining wall repairs near Barnstaple
If an engineer has already designed a new retaining wall for your Barnstaple property, send the drawings and we will price building it.