Hey everyone! I have a failing retaining wall made of cinder blocks that's about 100 ft long and 3.5 ft high. It's meant to hold back a hill from encroaching on my house, and I'm considering upgrading to Cambridge Sigma 8 blocks since that's what my wife wants (she's been pushing for this!), but I want to know how much I should expect to spend. I know I'll need a solid foundation with rebar and a footing below the frost line. I'm located in central NJ. Any thoughts on what this might cost?
3 Answers
Ballpark? Around $40k. You have about $7k in block materials, plus costs for stabilizing and backfilling, equipment rental, labor, and a $5k footing. Keep in mind that costs can vary widely by area, but this should give you a solid starting point!
From what I've seen, if you grade it down to about 3 ft, you might not even need a footer or rebar, depending on local regulations. A lot of those shorter walls fail because they weren't properly set up. Make sure the wall is backfilled with drain rock and has a drain tube at the bottom. I haven't contracted one out myself, so I can't give you exact costs, but remember that each site is unique. Accessibility and equipment will greatly influence the price!
Yeah, but just so you know, my wall is impacted by the hill on my neighbor's property and they’re not willing to cooperate, which might push it over 3 ft and into requiring permits.
I’d say you’re looking at around $20k as a rough estimate for this setup. Just an idea!
That seems low. I was thinking it might hit between $30k to $50k.
Thanks for this breakdown! I've been digging around for quotes and it’s interesting to hear this formula. It’s a hefty bill, but it’s something I've been wanting to do for a while now for my wife. Do you work in construction or masonry? Any thoughts on which block brands look good and last well?