Cirencester · Gloucestershire
Retaining wall repairs in Cirencester
Wondering whether a bowed garden wall in Cirencester can be repaired or must come down? The answer depends on height, the size of the bulge and whether the footing has moved, and photos usually tell us which it is likely to be.
Guide price from£515per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- GL7
- Population
- about 20,000
- Area
- Gloucestershire
- Pricing region
- South West
How do local ground conditions affect retaining wall repairs in Cirencester?
Cirencester, Gloucestershire: about 20,000 residents across postcode districts GL7. Nearby, we also cover Stroud (10 miles), Cheltenham (13 miles) and Swindon (14 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Gloucestershire. Parts of Gloucestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Gloucestershire: Cotswold stone cottages, Regency terraces in Cheltenham, and brick estates around Gloucester.
Repair options we may recommend
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 to expect when we carry out retaining wall repairs
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.
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.
Is it time for retaining wall repairs? Common signs
- No weep holes, or weep holes that never seem to drain
- Bricks or blocks pushed out of line, or coping stones sliding off
- Wall leaning forward, or bulging out in the middle of its length
What should you budget for retaining wall repairs in Cirencester?
For Cirencester we use South West rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
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.
Your retaining wall repairs questions
What is the price of retaining wall repairs in Cirencester?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Cirencester 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 carry out retaining wall repairs in Cirencester?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Cirencester, including GL7, and from nearby places such as Stroud and Cheltenham. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Cirencester cause cracking?
The Severn vale around Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is Lias and Mercia Mudstone clay, the Cotswolds are limestone, and the Forest of Dean has a historic coalfield. Parts of South Gloucestershire around Kingswood also lie on old Coal Measures. 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.
How long does a retaining wall rebuild take?
Drainage and minor repairs usually take a day or two. Rebuilding a garden retaining wall on new footings typically takes one to three weeks, depending on its length, height, access for digging and any wait for the engineer’s design or inspections.
More repairs we carry out in Cirencester
- Bowing wall repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Cirencester
Get a free initial assessment of a bulging or cracked retaining wall in Cirencester from your photos or a call, before the next wet spell.