Retaining wall—price

Check your building code permitting something that y’all will need a ton of engineered drawings blah blah bs
If you don’t pull a permit though it could bite you in the arse later

Is the wall supporting the land under a house?

Yeah, 4’ is the magic number apparently. Thinking about two 4’ walls (tiers going down) instead of one y’all wall.

quote:

---

Thinking about two 4’ walls (tiers going down) instead of one y’all wall.

---

Thats 2 big walls = $$$$$ Plus you will want to put safety railing on top of at least the top wall. You may not be required to on private residential property but I would just for liability sake.

Probably 4’ fence on top of each wall. Autocorrect must have kicked in. Was initially thinking one 10’ tall wall, but going with two 4’ tall walls. Plus a few loads of dirt.

Basically looking at a “dream house” with a basement to put an offer in. The backyard is scaring people off, so trying to make it work. I figure I can get the house for a great deal and use some of the savings on the wall/leveling.

In my head, I ball parked 30kish for two small walls or 50k for a big (10’ high) wall.

Had two guys come out today for estimates. Waiting on the price. Then the HOA, city, etc is next. I can get the current homeowners to submit plans to the hoa, but the city is a bigger issue. Also need to make sure there aren’t any easements running through there (city/county drain pipes where they could rip up my wall to change out the pipes without rebuilding anything).

quote:

---

If one guy today said he could do a 4’ high by 60’ length long wall, with the second wall 2.5’ by 80’ long wall for 16k, including dirt and drainage work, is it bullshite?

---

I would be leary.

quote:

---

First estimate is getting back to me with CAD 3D plans

---

See what that estimate is and get a third. I think your looking at $30k just for walls and backfill/grading/drainage. Grass, safety rails, etc would be additional.

Make sure whatever company you hire has general liability and workman's comp. Ask for copies of the policies. That usually weeds out the fly-by-night guys.

Without seeing it, and knowing exactly what materials you’re using, I wouldn’t touch it for anything less than $20,000. I have done several multi-tiered retaining walls. The guy that gave you the cheap estimate, ask him how far back he plans on excavating and backfilling behind each wall. If he tells you anything less than 4’ on the 4th wall, run, and don’t look back.