Retaining wall repairs in Burnham-on-Sea

Postcodes: TA8
Population: about 23,000
Area: Somerset
Pricing region: South West

Is Somerset prone to ground movement?

Postcode districts TA8 cover Burnham-on-Sea, a Somerset town of about 23,000 people. Nearby places we cover include Weston-super-Mare (7 miles), Bridgwater (8 miles) and Clevedon (15 miles).

Clay soils are found in parts of Somerset. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Somerset: Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.

Symptoms that point to retaining wall repairs

Wall leaning forward, or bulging out in the middle of its length
No weep holes, or weep holes that never seem to drain
Horizontal or stepped cracks running along the face of the wall

Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Burnham-on-Sea

Guide prices below are for homes in Burnham-on-Sea, on South West rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.

Guide prices inc VAT on South West rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
Item	Guide price	Per
Minor repairs and drainage	£515 – £2,050	per wall
Structural repair or partial rebuild	£3,100 – £15,400	per wall
New retaining wall	£205 – £465	per m² of wall face

Methods for retaining wall repairs

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

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.
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.

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 Burnham-on-Sea?

Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Burnham-on-Sea start from about £515 per wall, including VAT, on South West 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 Burnham-on-Sea?

Yes, Burnham-on-Sea is covered, along with postcode districts TA8. We also cover nearby Weston-super-Mare and Bridgwater.

Does the ground around Burnham-on-Sea cause cracking?

Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. 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.

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.

More repairs we carry out in Burnham-on-Sea

Retaining wall repairs near Burnham-on-Sea

If an engineer has already designed a new retaining wall for your Burnham-on-Sea property, send the drawings and we will price building it.