Stevenage · Hertfordshire
Retaining wall repairs in Stevenage
Whether it is a terraced lawn, a sunken patio or a drive cut into a bank, a failing retaining wall in Stevenage 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£525per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SG1, SG2
- Population
- about 92,000
- Area
- Hertfordshire
- Pricing region
- East of England
What should you know about the ground under Stevenage?
Stevenage (SG1, SG2) has around 92,000 residents and sits in Hertfordshire. We also take enquiries from nearby Hitchin (5 miles), Letchworth Garden City (5 miles) and Welwyn Garden City (7 miles).
Hertfordshire is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Hertfordshire, most homes are garden-city houses in Letchworth and Welwyn, 1930s semis, Victorian terraces and post-war new-town estates.
Retaining wall repairs prices in Stevenage
For Stevenage we use East of England 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 | £525 – £2,100 | per wall |
| Structural repair or partial rebuild | £3,150 – £15,800 | per wall |
| New retaining wall | £210 – £470 | 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
What happens during retaining wall repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about retaining wall repairs
- Bricks or blocks pushed out of line, or coping stones sliding off
- Horizontal or stepped cracks running along the face of the wall
- No weep holes, or weep holes that never seem to drain
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 Stevenage
How much should I budget for retaining wall repairs in Stevenage?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Stevenage start from about £525 per wall, including VAT, on East of England 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 Stevenage?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Stevenage, including SG1, SG2, and from nearby places such as Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Hertfordshire crack?
South Hertfordshire around Watford, Borehamwood and Potters Bar is London Clay, while the north and west are chalk with clay-with-flints and the east has boulder clay. The clay areas are prone to seasonal subsidence near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Stevenage
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Crack stitching
Retaining wall repairs near Stevenage
If an engineer has already designed a new retaining wall for your Stevenage property, send the drawings and we will price building it.