Deal · Kent
Retaining wall repairs in Deal
Whether it is a terraced lawn, a sunken patio or a drive cut into a bank, a failing retaining wall in Deal 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
- CT14
- Population
- about 31,000
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect retaining wall repairs in Deal?
Deal is in Kent and takes in postcode districts CT14. About 31,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Dover (8 miles), Ramsgate (8 miles) and Margate (11 miles).
Much of Kent sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Kent: Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.
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
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?
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.
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
- Wall leaning forward, or bulging out in the middle of its length
- No weep holes, or weep holes that never seem to drain
Retaining wall repairs prices in Deal
These are guide prices for Deal, using South East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| 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 |
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 Deal
How much should I budget for retaining wall repairs in Deal?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Deal 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 Deal?
Yes, Deal is covered, along with postcode districts CT14. We also cover nearby Dover and Ramsgate.
Why do houses in Kent crack?
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.
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.
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.
Related work in Deal
- Gable end wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Deal
The written quote for your Deal retaining wall sets out excavation, footing, drainage and rebuild, then becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.