Your Retaining Wall Contractors questions, answered
Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
What is a retaining wall?
A retaining wall is a structure designed to hold back soil and prevent erosion, particularly in sloped areas. Commonly made from materials like concrete, stone, or wood, these walls are essential in landscaping and construction. They come in various types, including gravity walls, which rely on their weight, and reinforced walls, which use additional support for stability.
The main purpose of a retaining wall is to create flat surfaces for building or landscaping while managing water drainage. Proper design is crucial to withstand the lateral pressure from the soil behind it. When built correctly, retaining walls stabilize landscapes and enhance property aesthetics.
How much does a retaining wall cost?
Building a retaining wall costs between $20 and $50 per square foot, on average, but some materials can cost a bit less, especially when building a straightforward, simple design. Complex designs and premium materials can increase costs dramatically such as steel or metal walls that can reach $150 per square foot.
Some inexpensive retaining wall ideas include using wood which costs $10 to $40 per square foot installed. Wood gives you a warm, rustic appearance that looks great in a garden area. Gabion is another affordable material. The wire mesh cages are filled with stones to create a unique and eye-catching wall that is also affordable, costing about the same as wood but will have better durability.
Where can I put a retaining wall?
You can place a retaining wall in several locations, especially where there are slopes or uneven ground. Common spots include residential yards to create flat areas for gardens, patios, or walkways. They are also useful along driveways to hold back soil and prevent erosion. In commercial areas, retaining walls can stabilize slopes around parking lots or roads.
When choosing a location, make sure the wall is set back from the slope to allow for proper drainage. For walls taller than 4 feet or in weak soil, it's best to consult a professional to ensure safety and effectiveness. Proper planning helps the wall last longer and work better.
What is the best type of retaining wall?
The best type of retaining wall depends on your needs and the site conditions. For small to medium projects, gravity walls are a great choice. They are heavy and hold back soil effectively and can be made from stone or concrete blocks. For taller walls or areas with more soil pressure, cantilever walls are strong and flexible, often made from reinforced concrete.
If space is tight or the soil is weak, sheet pile walls made from interlocking steel sheets work well. They are good for soft soil and are often used for shorelines. For a natural look, stone block walls are durable but can be harder to install. The right choice will depend on your budget and what you want the wall to look like.
How do I choose a retaining wall contractor?
Some tips to help you find a reliable and skilled contractor include:
Check experience: Look for contractors with a proven track record in building retaining walls to ensure quality workmanship.
Verify licensing and insurance: Ensure the contractor is properly licensed and insured to protect yourself from potential liabilities.
Read reviews and references: Check online reviews on HomeGuide and Google and ask for references to gauge the contractor's reputation and customer satisfaction.
Understand costs: Get a detailed estimate that outlines all costs to avoid hidden fees or misunderstandings.
Evaluate technical knowledge: Choose a contractor who understands soil types, drainage solutions, and the materials best suited for your project.
Look for guarantees: A reliable contractor should offer warranties or guarantees for their work, providing peace of mind.
Find local contractors: Hiring a local contractor can lead to better communication and quicker access to materials.
What questions should I ask a retaining wall contractor?
When hiring a retaining wall contractor, ask these questions to ensure you choose a qualified professional:
How long have you been building retaining walls?
Can you provide references?
Are you a certified installer?
What is the projected budget?
Do you hire subcontractors?
Can you show examples of your previous work?
What materials do you recommend?
What is the timeline for completion?
Reviews for Seattle retaining wall builders
Recent success stories from people in the Seattle area.
Franz L.
TBH Sterling is the best contractor I've hired in the past 20+ years. Dave and his team provided excellent customer service: maintaining the project on time, communicating effectively, taking responsibility when issues arose, and producing an exemplary remodel for our home at a reasonable price point.
TBH Sterling Inc.
Rick M.
Steve was very easy to work with. His knowledge on the order and the way things should be done was really helpful. It only took a couple weeks to install 2000 sq ft of Red Oak with a coffee stain and 12 steps ,trim and he did a full bathroom remodel with the works he went above and beyond with his workmanship and creativity.
Can't wait to have him back for the kitchen remodel.
FloorsNmore
Nathania K.
I needed help to replace a kitchen faucet, Joseph was one of the first that responded to my inquiry. He gave me a set price that cost much less than other companies’ estimates.
Very professional, punctual and respectful. I will definitely be using his service in the future
JJ Handyman”s service
Daniel V.
Great services and greater workers
Creativeeffectslandscapellc
Chris S.
Kevin Dale presented himself well and seemed to have the experience to do our job. The scope of work was fairly large as we were renovating a 1948 house, including vaulting the ceiling. We were on a time deadline and needed the project completed in a timely manner. The beginning went well with the demo. We had an architect involved for sizing the beam needed for the vault. The day that the beam was to go in, we found out that there was an old oil furnace directly where the support needed to be. We had to rush to find someone who could remove the furnace. After that, the framing seemed to go well. That's where things fell apart. We were to have the house rewired and apparently the electrician that Kevin had hired took another job and because building was in high gear, he had trouble finding someone to do the job. Several weeks went by with no work done. The wiring was finally done, but at present, when you use a waffle iron in the kitchen, it blows a circuit. (We had even had the service upgraded to 200 amp, so there is plenty of available power.) We had to have the main water shutoff in the house moved and now the shutoff doesn't shut off the water. The date for completion was supposed to be July 31 and since notice needed to be given to a current landlord, I asked Kevin about a completion date and he said that to be on the safe side Aug. 15 would probably be better. Our arrangement was to install all of the trim and do the painting. Since we were flying out to do this, we needed prior notice of when this would be available to be done. The date that was given ended up being about a month earlier than it was ready. Because the ticket had been bought, Kevin agreed to install the trim in compensation. Sounds good, but he used his framing carpenters to do it. Not the same skill set. He also used them and new workers for the drywall taping and mudding. It took weeks and many call-backs to get most of it in at-least presentable condition. There were so many other annoying things involved. In mid September, when he was given a day and time to correct a list of things or forfeit a (small) amount of the last payment, He and his crew showed up at 4 PM that day and then was miffed that he was going to lose that money because he couldn't get everything done that day. We tried to work with Kevin, but he often would not respond to emails and just seemed to ignore criticism. There were weeks in the last month (a month and a half after the original completion date) when his crew would be there for 4 hours out of the entire week. This turned out to be a very stressful remodel and I would advise people to avoid Estate Renovations.
Estate Renovations llc
Marshall C.
Fast, clean great company if they can't do it, it can't be done
J.H. CONCRETE LLC
Kathie F.
These guys were awesome did a great job got it fixed and did an inspection to show me where we may have other issues that may need attention. I will be calling them when we are ready to tackle other issues in our home. The home is 122 years old so yes we are going to have issues
Evergeeen Construction Group
Glen A M.
came as promised on time gave me a quote for the work needed i accepted and then he clled me back and informed me he found a cheaper supplier and then lowered the quote Great Job ,then the next day he and his crew showed up on time and completed the work in a timely manner My neighbors have called saying that my yard looks wonderful Thank you and your crew if needed I will diffently be using Albertoss again
Albertoss landscaping
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