Devizes · Wiltshire
Retaining wall repairs in Devizes
Wondering whether a bowed garden wall in Devizes can be repaired or must come down? The answer depends on height, the size of the bulge and whether the footing has moved, and photos usually tell us which it is likely to be.
Guide price from£515per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SN10
- Population
- about 17,000
- Area
- Wiltshire
- Pricing region
- South West
Is Wiltshire prone to ground movement?
With roughly 17,000 people, Devizes spans postcode districts SN10 in Wiltshire. Nearby, we also cover Calne (6 miles), Melksham (6 miles) and Chippenham (9 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Wiltshire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Wiltshire: stone cottages, railway terraces in Swindon, and large post-war and new-build estates.
Repair options we may recommend
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
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
What to expect when we carry out retaining wall repairs
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.
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.
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.
Is it time for retaining wall repairs? Common signs
- Water seeping through joints, or white salt staining, after rain
- Bricks or blocks pushed out of line, or coping stones sliding off
- No weep holes, or weep holes that never seem to drain
What should you budget for retaining wall repairs in Devizes?
These are guide prices for Devizes, using South West 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 | £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 |
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.
Your retaining wall repairs questions
What is the price of retaining wall repairs in Devizes?
Guide prices for retaining wall repairs in Devizes 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 Devizes?
We do. Devizes and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Calne and Melksham. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Devizes cause cracking?
Southern Wiltshire is chalk, while the north around Swindon, Chippenham and Trowbridge sits on Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays that are prone to seasonal movement near trees. Bath stone was mined underground around Corsham. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What are weep holes in a retaining wall?
Weep holes are small openings near the base of a retaining wall that let water drain out from the soil behind it. Without them, water builds up and adds hydrostatic pressure that can push the wall over. They work best with a drainage layer behind the wall, and they need to be kept clear.
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 Devizes
- Gable end wall repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Crack stitching
- Wall tie replacement
- Bay window subsidence repairs
Retaining wall repairs near Devizes
The written quote for your Devizes retaining wall sets out excavation, footing, drainage and rebuild, then becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.