Ashford · Kent
Retaining wall repairs in Ashford
Retaining wall repairs in Ashford begin with height and what sits on top. A low wall behind a flower bed is a very different job from one holding up a drive, and the taller or more heavily loaded walls need an engineer’s design.
Guide price from£560per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TN23, TN24
- Population
- about 63,000
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
What should you know about the ground under Ashford?
Postcode districts TN23, TN24 cover Ashford, a Kent town of about 63,000 people. Nearby places we cover include Faversham (12 miles), Canterbury (13 miles) and Folkestone (13 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Kent. Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Kent, most homes are Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.
Symptoms that point to retaining wall repairs
- Bricks or blocks pushed out of line, or coping stones sliding off
- Water seeping through joints, or white salt staining, after rain
- Wall leaning forward, or bulging out in the middle of its length
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Ashford
Prices in Ashford 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 |
Methods for 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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
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
What is the price of retaining wall repairs in Ashford?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Ashford 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.
Do you carry out retaining wall repairs in Ashford?
We do. Ashford and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Faversham and Canterbury. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Ashford cause cracking?
North Kent sits on London Clay, central Kent on Gault and Weald Clays and the Downs on chalk, so shrinkable clay is widespread. East Kent around Deal and Dover had a small deep coalfield, worked until the late 1980s. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Does home insurance cover a collapsed garden retaining wall?
Often not, because many policies exclude garden walls unless the house is damaged by the same event, and gradual failure is usually excluded. A collapse caused by landslip or a sudden escape of water may be treated differently. Check your schedule and tell your insurer before permanent repairs start.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Ashford
- Roof structure repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Brick arch repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Ashford
The written quote for your Ashford retaining wall sets out excavation, footing, drainage and rebuild, then becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.