How much does a boulder retaining wall cost?

For boulder walls, expect to pay a minimum of $20 to $55 per face foot (one square foot of the face of the wall) for labor and materials, as locally sourced boulders require time and expense to move. Most boulder walls aren’t more than two rows high.

Why do boulder retaining walls fail?

When residential retaining walls fail, it is most often due to poor drainage. Using boulders ensures that excess water can drain through the wall. Boulders come in a variety of sizes. The wall height usually determines the size boulder that is needed.

How much is a landscape boulder?

How much do large landscaping boulders cost? Prices for landscaping boulders vary widely depending on the type of rock, its size, and where it’s coming from. The cost of a typical stone boulder ranges from $100 per ton to $600 per ton on average.

Do boulder retaining walls need drainage?

Boulder retaining walls also will need a certain amount of drainage and base material depending on the subsoil conditions. But if your soils are soft and compressionable, you’re going to want to fortify that base by laying something down before you put the boulders in place.

Do you need drainage behind a boulder retaining wall?

It is very important to have proper drainage. Active pressure on constructed retaining walls, with poor drainage, can bulge, crack, or lean forward. Boulder walls are mortar less. Landscape fabric is placed behind the wall to allow water to flow freely but prevent the soil from washing through.

How high can a boulder retaining wall be?

Three feet is the maximum recommended height of a stacked stone wall built on a clay surface. It is also the stable height of most stand-alone stone walls. Sandy soil doesn’t absorb water, making it ideal for building a retaining wall without reinforcement.

How much does a cinder block retaining wall cost?

Costs below are for wall material alone. On average you can multiply the material cost by 5 to get the installed price. A cinder block retaining wall costs $20 to $35 per square foot or $60 to $210 per linear foot, depending on the height.

How much does it cost to build a retaining wall?

On average, a retaining wall costs $4,220. The average homeowner will pay $35 per square foot and spend between $2,450 and $6,650 to build a retaining wall.

Which is better concrete or stone retaining wall?

Concrete stamping can make the walls look like natural stone for a lower upfront cost than a retaining wall made from natural stone. Structurally sound for high walls. Cons – They can crack in freeze-thaw cycles, and it’s difficult to align them perfectly when building unless you use the right form, which can take a long time to build.

How much does rammed earth retaining wall cost?

Rammed Earth – $12–$20/cubic yard. Pros – Involves ramming earth into a form to give it structure and boosting it with internal rebar, wood, or even bamboo. Damp materials including silt, gravel, sand, and clay are poured into wood forms and are then tamped down in layers until wall is complete.

How much does a boulder retaining wall cost?

Installing boulder walls is fairly simple compared to segmental concrete retaining walls because each 3-foot to 4-foot boulder can be set with equipment, while blocks have to be stacked by hand. For this reason, the cost of boulder retaining walls can range from $25 per face foot to $55 per face foot.

How much should a stone retaining wall cost?

You would need a little less than 4 1/2 yards of stone to build your stone wall. But round up and buy at least 5 yards. If you can afford it, get 6 or even 7 yards. You can use any leftover stone that you have in a variety of other landscaping projects, ranging from water features to rock gardens to landscape steps.

How do I estimate the cost of a retaining wall?

1. quantity calculation of cement for retaining wall. Volume of cement required. 1m3 = 35.3147 cft.
2. quantity of sand the required for retaining wall. Volume of sand in cft. = (1.5/5.5) ×50.82×35.3147=489.46cft.
3. quantity of aggregate required for retaining wall. Volume of aggregate in cft. = (3/5.5)×50.82×35.3147 =979 cft.

Why do boulder retaining walls fail?

When residential retaining walls fail, it is most often due to poor drainage. Using boulders ensures that excess water can drain through the wall. Boulders come in a variety of sizes. It is important that the right size is used for both the look and functionality.

How to calculate the cost of retaining wall?

CALCULATING THE COSTS Our retaining wall calculator also allows you to calculate retaining wall costs. To do so, all you need to do is: Input the price of gravel per unit weight – any unit will do. The calculator will provide with your total retaining wall cost.

How to calculate the weight of a boulder?

3′ to 4′ boulders = 1 to 2 boulders per ton 4′ to 5′ boulders = 1 boulder per ton CALCULATE A CUBIC YARD: length x width x depth—divided by 27 = the cubic yard (use.5 for 6 inch measurements)

How to calculate the size of a stone wall?

It is harder to calculate the area of rubble and boulder walls due to the different shapes and sizes of the stones. A cut stone wall uses rectangular stones that are all of similar size. To determine the amount of stone needed to build a wall, calculate the total weight of the wall in tons.

How tall does a retaining wall need to be?

Gravity retaining walls depend on their weight and setback to retain the soil. They’re usually short walls under 4-feet high, so they’re cheaper to build. Gravity walls are self-supporting up to 10-feet, although you’ll need a permit to build one higher than 4-feet. Gravity walls can have a straight or curved shape.