Retaining wall repairs in Stroud

Postcodes: GL5, GL6
Population: about 60,000
Area: Gloucestershire
Pricing region: South West

What should you know about the ground under Stroud?

Stroud, Gloucestershire: about 60,000 residents across postcode districts GL5, GL6. Nearby places we cover include Gloucester (8 miles), Cirencester (10 miles) and Cheltenham (12 miles).

Gloucestershire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Gloucestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Gloucestershire, most homes are Cotswold stone cottages, Regency terraces in Cheltenham, and brick estates around Gloucester.

What happens during retaining wall repairs, step by step?

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.

What to look for before calling about 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
Wall leaning forward, or bulging out in the middle of its length

Retaining wall repairs prices in Stroud

Prices in Stroud 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.

Guide prices inc VAT on South West rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
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

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

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

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 Stroud

What is the price of retaining wall repairs in Stroud?

Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Stroud 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 Stroud?

Yes, Stroud is covered, along with postcode districts GL5, GL6. We also cover nearby Gloucester and Cirencester.

Does the ground around Stroud 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.

Is a leaning retaining wall dangerous?

It can be, especially if the lean is getting worse, the wall is tall, or there is a path, drive or building next to it. A wall that has leaned slightly for decades may be stable, but one that has moved recently should be kept clear and assessed soon.

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.

More repairs we carry out in Stroud

Retaining wall repairs near Stroud

Get a free initial assessment of a bulging or cracked retaining wall in Stroud from your photos or a call, before the next wet spell.