The Cost of Installing A Retaining Wall: A Guide for Homeowners

The significance of constructing a retaining wall cannot be ignored any more. It is a structure that holds embankment of soil. In addition, it controls erosion as well as create flat areas.

Contractors have variety of options regarding which materials you use to construct this wall. Like, you can use rocks, treated timbers, poured concrete or concrete blocks. Cost effective materials are wood, stone and masonry. Here we have put up a detailed guide that how much it costs to install a retaining wall. For masonry estimating, home owners can take help from professional estimating companies like this.

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Average cost of a retaining wall

The estimated cost to build a retaining wall is $23 per square foot. Those who are extremely budget conscious, they can opt for cost-friendly materials and the estimated cost will become $19 per square foot. Note that the retaining wall’s height plays a pivotal role in calculating its total cost. Higher retaining walls are more costly to build than shorter ones.

Retaining Wall Estimated Cost by Material Type

The construction material is one of the deciding factors that tell how much the total cost will be. Remember that the cost of materials is dependent on season, location and market variations.

Like natural stone has a less price in Pacific Northwest and the Northeast of the United States. Those areas which natural stone is uncommon, its price will definitely be higher over there.

Materials used to build a retaining wall

Vinyl is an affordable option to build retaining walls. It is lightweight and seems to be a smart choice so far. Its average price is $10 to $16 per square foot.
Concrete retaining walls have become high in demand among homeowners. Their average cost is $25 to $50 per square foot.
Poured and precast concrete are marked as one of the expensive materials.
Shotcrete remains low-priced and suitable for budget-conscious people.
Cement concrete is relatively a cost-friendly option. The only drawback is that it does not come out super-sturdy as concrete.
Concrete blocks can be used for constructing retaining walls. They need reinforcement to support weight.
Timber/wooden retaining walls are the economical options. This material is quick to install and cost between $20 to $35 per square foot!
Brick is another option that you can go for. It cost $21 to $41 per square foot and available in range of colors.
Rammed earth is an environmental-friendly material. It possesses maximum strength and the average price is $19 to $24 per square foot.
Gabions make the strongest and durable retaining walls. This material price between $10 to $50 per square foot and successfully prevents erosion.
Stones like granite, limestone, stone veneer, natural stone and stack stones are used for building a tougher-looking retaining wall. Granite is the cheapest option and natural stone turns out to be an expensive one.

Other factors that affect the cost of retaining walls

Apart from construction materials, there are other factors that determine the total cost of building and installing a retaining wall:

Labor cost

It depends on the project size, complexity and materials used that finally decide the labor cost. The approximate range is $16 to $40 per hour and some even charge $75 per hour.

Backfill

At times, it becomes mandatory to fill in more soil while building a retaining wall. So, the cost to fill a yard with soil is $15 to $40 per yard.

Waterproofing

There is this golden rule that a retaining wall lasts up to two decades if you waterproof it. The cost to waterproof this respective wall is $3 to $11 per square foot.

Site preparation

Some onsite preparations are needed before installing a retaining wall. Preliminary work is to clear the land and it generally cost $600 to $1000 per acre. Furthermore, tree removal cost is $400 to $1000 per tree and land grading average price is $0.50 to $2 per square foot.

How to save money if you have planned to build a retaining wall?

It is recommended to keep the wall height short.
Pick low-cost materials but you should not compromise on quality. The suggested options include interlocking concrete, wood, vinyl and gabion.
Avoid going for customization options if you are tight on budget. There is no need to add a flower bed, landscape lighting or install a mural if you are cost-conscious.

Thus, retaining walls seems to be most functional and significant structure which every home-owner must build. As mentioned above, it prevents erosion, make uneven terrains functional and bring an aesthetic vibe to your landscape. That is all about the budgeting guide, for more details, keep in touch with us.