Rhondda · Mid Glamorgan
Retaining wall repairs in Rhondda
If a wall in your Rhondda garden is leaning forward or weeping after rain, it is worth acting before winter adds more water to the soil. Clearing drainage can be enough for a low wall, while bigger walls may need rebuilding on new footings.
Guide price from£460per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF40, CF41, CF43
- Population
- about 70,000
- Area
- Mid Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
Is Mid Glamorgan prone to ground movement?
Postcode districts CF40, CF41, CF43 cover Rhondda, a Mid Glamorgan town of about 70,000 people. If you are just outside Rhondda, we also cover Tonypandy (3 miles), Mountain Ash (3 miles) and Aberdare (4 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Mid Glamorgan. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Mid Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in Mid Glamorgan: Long stone and brick terraces on valley sides, Victorian houses in Bridgend and post-war estates.
Which repair method suits a home in Rhondda?
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
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 when we carry out retaining wall repairs in Rhondda?
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.
Signs you may need retaining wall repairs
- Ground cracking or sinking along the top 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
How much will retaining wall repairs cost in Rhondda?
Guide prices below are for homes in Rhondda, on Wales rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Minor repairs and drainage | £460 – £1,850 | per wall |
| Structural repair or partial rebuild | £2,750 – £13,800 | per wall |
| New retaining wall | £185 – £415 | per m² of wall face |
Rules for retaining wall repairs in Wales
In Wales, the Welsh version of the Building Regulations applies. Underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control approval and inspection; like-for-like repairs often do not. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to work on party walls and excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations.
Retaining wall repairs in Rhondda: questions and answers
How much should I budget for retaining wall repairs in Rhondda?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Rhondda start from about £460 per wall, including VAT, on Wales 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 Rhondda?
We do. Rhondda and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Tonypandy and Mountain Ash. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Mid Glamorgan crack?
Mid Glamorgan lies on the South Wales coalfield, with dense historic workings, spoil tips and steep valley sides. Landslip, retaining walls and mining legacy are all live issues in the valleys. 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.
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 Rhondda
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Floor joist repairs
- Subsidence repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Rhondda
For a guide price on retaining wall repairs in Rhondda, use the quote tool or send photos with the wall’s rough height and what sits behind it.