As a Landscape Architect this is going to be very pricey and must be designed/ constructed by people who know how to handle that sort of thing. Something this big will require structural input. Not saying it can’t be done but it will be very expensive
Would it be better if they do multiple small retaining walls?
As someone with a 6’ tall leaning retaining wall and a $150k quote to replace it I 100% do not recommend large retaining walls. Sadly I have no choice.
I'd uh... get more quotes. I have quite a long 6' retaining wall and got quotes for like 25-30k and im in quite a high col area. Of course this is still insanely expensive but planning on tackling it myself.
I plan to get more, but that’s good to know. There are other challenges unfortunately. The other side of that wall is my neighbors property, and maybe 10’ away is her in ground pool.
I'm not a structural engineer but I've done an exhaustive amount of research, and while a pool is a massive surcharge(excess load on the top of the ground being retained), I think the premise is still similar. My neighbors property is also going to be retained and so it's hard for me to imagine how to terminate my wall, I'd definitely talk to a civil engineer for your county/city when you're ready. Like I said, I'm planning on doing the most expensive stylized wall I can imagine, and in a high cost of living. I cannot imagine that price difference is indicative of the difference in strength, and more the contractor was giving you a fuck you price. Let me know how it goes, though, I'm in the planning phase currently, and while I'm not holding up a pool, it's a few extra feet of soil and a large concrete patio.
Do you mind sharing the length of your retaining wall? I’m in the Bay Area too and mid-remodel so your quote sadly sounds on par with the price of everything around here.
I’m not sure how long it is, I would guess the relevant part is 50’- 60’. The wall is a lot longer then that but it also starts at like 3’ in my front yard and is fine in the side yard but once it hits the back yard it gets larger and that part is leaning and needs replacing. I don’t think the front would be replaced.
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u/Beneficial_Mobile972 4d ago
Add a retaining wall and have a level area for a yard, patio, or fire pit.