Hull · East Riding of Yorkshire
Retaining wall repairs in Hull
On sloping plots in Hull and across East Riding of Yorkshire, 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£475per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- HU1, HU2, HU3, HU4, HU5
- Population
- about 310,000
- Area
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- Pricing region
- Yorkshire and the Humber
What is the ground like in East Riding of Yorkshire?
Postcode districts HU1, HU2, HU3, HU4, HU5 cover Hull, a East Riding of Yorkshire town of about 310,000 people. Nearby places we cover include Beverley (8 miles), Goole (22 miles) and Bridlington (24 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of East Riding of Yorkshire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across East Riding of Yorkshire, most homes are Victorian terraces in Hull, market-town houses in Beverley and Driffield, and post-war estates.
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Hull
Guide prices below are for homes in Hull, on Yorkshire and the Humber 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 | £475 – £1,900 | per wall |
| Structural repair or partial rebuild | £2,850 – £14,200 | per wall |
| New retaining wall | £190 – £430 | per m² of wall face |
Methods for 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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
Symptoms that point to retaining wall repairs
- Wall leaning forward, or bulging out in the middle of its length
- Water seeping through joints, or white salt staining, after rain
- Bricks or blocks pushed out of line, or coping stones sliding off
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much will retaining wall repairs cost in Hull?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Hull start from about £475 per wall, including VAT, on Yorkshire and the Humber rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Hull?
Yes, Hull is covered, along with postcode districts HU1, HU2, HU3, HU4. We also cover nearby Beverley and Goole.
Is the ground in East Riding of Yorkshire prone to subsidence?
The Yorkshire Wolds are chalk, while Holderness and Hull sit on glacial till and estuarine clays and silts. Soft alluvial ground near the Humber can settle, and the Holderness coast is one of the fastest-eroding in Europe. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What are weep holes in a retaining wall?
Weep holes are small openings near the base of a retaining wall that let water drain out from the soil behind it. Without them, water builds up and adds hydrostatic pressure that can push the wall over. They work best with a drainage layer behind the wall, and they need to be kept clear.
Do I need an engineer for a retaining wall?
For low walls holding back a planting bed, often not. Walls retaining more than a modest height, often taken as more than about a metre, or supporting a drive, path, building or neighbour’s land, generally need an engineer’s design. An independent chartered structural engineer is appointed where needed, and we can arrange this.
Other structural repairs in Hull
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Brick arch repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Hull
Retaining wall leaning in Hull? Keep the area below clear, send us photos, and we will tell you whether it needs an engineer’s design.