Andover · Hampshire
Retaining wall repairs in Andover
Whether it is a terraced lawn, a sunken patio or a drive cut into a bank, a failing retaining wall in Andover needs drainage, a proper footing and enough strength for its height. We price the repair once the wall and its load are understood.
Guide price from£560per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SP10
- Population
- about 42,000
- Area
- Hampshire
- Pricing region
- South East
What is the ground like in Hampshire?
Postcode districts SP10 cover Andover, a Hampshire town of about 42,000 people. If you are just outside Andover, we also cover Winchester (13 miles), Newbury (15 miles) and Romsey (15 miles).
Much of Hampshire sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Hampshire: Victorian terraces in Portsmouth and Southampton, 1930s semis, and large post-war and new-build estates.
Retaining wall repairs prices in Andover
Prices in Andover are worked out on South East 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 | £560 – £2,250 | per wall |
| Structural repair or partial rebuild | £3,350 – £16,800 | per wall |
| New retaining wall | £225 – £505 | 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
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 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.
Written quote
You receive a no-obligation written quote covering demolition, excavation, temporary support, the footing, the new or repaired wall, drainage and spoil removal. It becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.
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
- Ground cracking or sinking along the top of the wall
- No weep holes, or weep holes that never seem to drain
- Water seeping through joints, or white salt staining, after rain
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 Andover
How much should I budget for retaining wall repairs in Andover?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Andover start from about £560 per wall, including VAT, on South East 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 Andover?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Andover, including SP10, and from nearby places such as Winchester and Newbury. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Hampshire crack?
Central Hampshire is chalk, while the south around Portsmouth, Southampton and the New Forest fringe and the north-east around Farnborough sit on London Clay, Reading Beds and other clays and sands. The clay areas see seasonal movement near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Andover
- Structural crack repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Andover
The written quote for your Andover retaining wall sets out excavation, footing, drainage and rebuild, then becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.