Lots of gardens slope. A retaining wall holds back the soil where the ground drops, so you can have a flat patio, lawn or parking space. We build retaining walls for homes in Harpenden and across Hertfordshire, including Wheathampstead, Redbourn and St Albans.
Here you can read what a retaining wall does, where one can help, what it needs to stand up well and what goes into the cost. Your survey is free, your quote is written down, and we never ask for a deposit.
Call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338, email hello@5stardrivewaysandpatios.co.uk, or get your free quote.
What is a retaining wall?
Most garden walls just stand up on their own. A retaining wall does more. It has soil packed against one side, so the ground on the other side can sit lower and flat.
Soil is heavy, and wet soil is heavier still. It presses on the wall all the time. That's why a retaining wall needs a solid foundation, a build that suits its height, and a way for water to get out from behind it.
Where a retaining wall can help
1. A sloping back garden. Split the slope into flat levels for a patio, lawn or seating.
2. Beside a driveway. Hold back a bank, so there's room to park and open the car doors.
3. A raised patio. Hold up the edge of a patio that sits above the rest of the garden.
4. Raised beds. Low walls that hold soil for planting.
5. Next to paths and steps. Keep soil and plants off the path.
What a retaining wall needs
Every retaining wall is planned around the same few things:
1. A foundation that suits the wall and the ground.
2. A build that's right for the height and the soil behind it.
3. A way for water to get out from behind the wall, because trapped water adds a lot of pressure.
4. What's in the ground nearby, such as tree roots, old foundations or drains.
Taller walls, and walls holding up a driveway or a neighbour's land, need extra thought. We'll talk this through with you on the survey.
A wall that suits the garden
On a sloping garden, the retaining wall is often the first thing you see. Ours are built to match your home, and to sit well with your patio, steps, paths and other walls. At the front, it can tie in with your front wall and driveway.
Steps between levels
When the ground changes level, you need a way up and down. We build steps with retaining walls, so the levels work together. A slope can often become two or three flat areas, each with its own use.
Rainwater around a sloping garden
Water often runs down a slope towards the bottom of the garden or the house. On a new patio or wall, we plan where that water will go. Where it has nowhere to run, we can fit channel drains, or soakaways where the ground allows. Our drainage page has more.
Planning permission
Under the Planning Portal guidance, a wall beside a road used by vehicles (or its pavement) can usually be up to 1 metre high without planning permission. Elsewhere, the limit is usually 2 metres. Permission is needed for a listed home, or for a wall bordering a listed building. A big change to the ground level, such as a large raised terrace, may also need it. Listed homes and conservation areas may have extra rules, so check with your local council.
If the wall sits on a boundary or holds back a neighbour's land, speak to your neighbour before work starts.
What affects the cost?
We don't publish prices, because every slope is different. A retaining wall quote depends on:
1. How long and how tall the wall is.
2. How much soil has to be moved or taken away.
3. The foundation it needs.
4. How water will get away from behind and around it.
5. The materials, and how closely they match the house.
6. Steps, patios or anything else built with it.
7. How easy it is to get machinery and materials into the garden.
Once we've seen the slope, you'll get a written quote, with no obligation to book.
How a retaining wall is built
1. Visit. We measure the slope, look at the ground and drainage, and plan the layout with you.
2. Quote. Every part of the job is listed in writing. We never ask for a deposit.
3. Cutting back. The bank is cut back and the spoil is taken away.
4. Foundation. A base is laid to suit the wall and the ground.
5. Building. The wall goes up, straight and level.
6. Filling behind. The space behind the wall is filled, and the top of the wall is finished.
7. Handover. We tidy up and go through the aftercare with you.
Most jobs are completed within a working week, Monday to Friday.
Looking after a retaining wall
1. Keep any drains clear, so water doesn't build up behind the wall.
2. Keep large shrubs and trees back from the wall, because roots can push on it.
3. Don't pile extra soil or heavy things on the bank behind it.
Retaining walls we've built
Our photo gallery shows more retaining walls.
Retaining wall questions
Do I need a retaining wall?
If you'd like flat ground on a slope, or a bank keeps spilling onto a path, patio or drive, a retaining wall is worth thinking about. We'll look at it with you on the survey.
Why do retaining walls lean or bulge?
Usually it's water trapped behind the wall, a weak foundation, or a wall that's too light for the soil it holds. Tree roots and extra weight on the bank can add to it.
Why does water pool at the bottom of a sloping garden?
Rain runs downhill and collects at the lowest point, often by the house or a wall. Where the water goes is planned as part of any new patio or wall.
Is planning permission needed for a retaining wall?
Not usually for a garden wall up to 2 metres high, away from a road. Listed homes and big changes in ground level can be different. See "Planning permission" above.
How long does a retaining wall take?
Most jobs are completed within a working week, Monday to Friday.
What does the 10-year guarantee cover?
Our 10-year guarantee covers the driveways, patios and walls we build. There's no deposit. See our guarantee and insurance page.
Areas we cover
We build retaining walls in Harpenden and 23 nearby towns. See our areas page.
Get your free quote
Tell us a little about the job and we'll arrange a free site survey and a clear written quote. We never ask for a deposit, and there's no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338. You're welcome to send photos of your driveway or garden on WhatsApp first.