Ferndown · Dorset
Retaining wall repairs in Ferndown
If a wall in your Ferndown garden is leaning forward or weeping after rain, it is worth acting before winter adds more water to the soil. Clearing drainage can be enough for a low wall, while bigger walls may need rebuilding on new footings.
Guide price from£515per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH22
- Population
- about 18,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
Why does the ground in Dorset matter for retaining wall repairs?
Ferndown (BH22) has around 18,000 residents and sits in Dorset. If you are just outside Ferndown, we also cover Wimborne Minster (4 miles), Bournemouth (6 miles) and Christchurch (7 miles).
Dorset has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Dorset: stone and brick villages, Victorian villas in Bournemouth, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Signs you may need retaining wall repairs
- Horizontal or stepped cracks running along the face of the wall
- Bricks or blocks pushed out of line, or coping stones sliding off
- Water seeping through joints, or white salt staining, after rain
How much will retaining wall repairs cost in Ferndown?
Prices in Ferndown are worked out on South West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Ferndown?
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
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
What happens when we carry out retaining wall repairs in Ferndown?
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.
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.
Build and drain
The failing section is taken down, the soil supported in short lengths, and the footing cast. The wall is rebuilt with drainage behind it, backfilled with free-draining material, and building control inspects where the work needs it.
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.
Retaining wall repairs in Ferndown: questions and answers
How much should I budget for retaining wall repairs in Ferndown?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Ferndown 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.
Can you survey a property in Ferndown?
Yes, Ferndown is covered, along with postcode districts BH22. We also cover nearby Wimborne Minster and Bournemouth.
Why do houses in Dorset crack?
Dorset mixes chalk downs, Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays in the vales, and the sands and gravels of the Poole basin. Clay vales can shrink and swell, and parts of the coast are known for landslip. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Ferndown
- Subsidence repairs
- Crack stitching
- Roof structure repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Ferndown
If an engineer has already designed a new retaining wall for your Ferndown property, send the drawings and we will price building it.