Do I need a structural engineer for a retaining wall?

You should use a structural engineer for any retaining wall that holds back soil, supports a driveway, garden or building, or is higher than a simple low garden wall. We check stability, bearing pressure and sliding so the retaining wall is safe and ready for Building Control.

What does a structural engineer check on a retaining wall?

We check wall type, loading from soil, surcharge from cars or buildings, drainage, bearing pressure, sliding, overturning and overall stability. We then provide retaining wall calculations, reinforcement details and drawings your contractor can follow on site.

Can you inspect an existing retaining wall?

Yes. We can review photos and drawings and, where required, carry out a site visit to inspect an existing retaining wall. We look for movement, cracking, poor drainage and signs of overstress, then advise on repair or replacement options.

How much does retaining wall structural design cost?

Fees depend on wall height, length, access and the quality of the ground information, but most small domestic retaining wall designs fall into a fixed fee range. We confirm a clear price once we have your drawings, photos and brief, before any work starts.

What information do you need to design a retaining wall?

We normally need a site plan, wall layout and heights, levels either side of the wall, soil or ground investigation details if available, and information about what will be supported above or behind the wall such as cars, patios or buildings.

Do you provide retaining wall design across the UK?

Yes. We provide structural engineer retaining wall design and calculation packs for homeowners, architects and small developers across the UK. Many projects can be completed from drawings and site photos without a visit.

Mon - Sat 09:00-18:00

+ (44) 07359267907

info@structuralengineercalcs.com

Retaining walls and level changes • Structural engineer for retaining wall

Structural engineer for retaining wall design and inspection

★★★★★ 5/5 rating

Based on UK homeowners, architects and contractors who used SECalcs for retaining wall design and checks.

Retaining walls quietly hold back soil, protect gardens and keep level changes safe. When they crack or lean the risk and repair cost can be high. We provide retaining wall structural design for new walls and clear reports for walls that are already moving.

A SECalcs structural engineer for retaining wall projects will size the wall, footing and reinforcement, check sliding and overturning, and give your builder drawings and notes that Building Control can work with.

New reinforced concrete and blockwork retaining walls designed with full checks.
Retaining wall structural inspections and reports for cracked or leaning walls.
Fixed fee calculation packs and drawings suitable for Building Control and insurers.

Get a retaining wall quote See what we design

We work with homeowners, developers, architects and contractors across the UK, providing retaining wall engineering that keeps people, buildings and gardens safe.

Retaining wall design snapshot Driveway retaining wall - 2.0 m high

BC ready pack

Retained soil and driveway slab above Reinforced concrete stem and footing with drainage

Wall height: 2.0 m Footing width: 1.2 m Backfill: free draining granular

Checks carried out Sliding, overturning, bearing, global stability

Design loads Soil pressure + car surcharge + fence

Drainage detail Perforated pipe, weepholes, filter fabric

Pack includes Calcs, plan, section, notes and details

Structural engineer for retaining wall projects – what we do

We help with new retaining wall design, inspections of existing walls and upgrades where you are adding new loads such as extensions, decking or driveways.

New retaining wall design

Garden and driveway walls where level changes need holding safely.
Basement and semi basement walls on extensions and new builds.

Retaining wall structural inspection

Site visits and reports for cracked, leaning or bulging walls.
Used for insurance claims, sales, or to plan repair or replacement.

Upgrades and checks on existing walls

Checks when you add a driveway, extension or decking above a wall.
Advice on drainage, backfill and local strengthening options.

Support for Building Control and insurers

Calculation packs that answer typical questions on stability and bearing.
Follow up support if your building inspector or insurer needs clarification.

Types of retaining wall we design

We focus on the common wall types used on UK domestic and small commercial sites and pick the right option for your ground, height and loading.

Reinforced concrete cantilever walls

Concrete stem and footing with steel reinforcement sized for soil pressure.
Good for higher walls and driveways with car or van loading above.

Reinforced blockwork retaining walls

Hollow blocks with vertical bars and grout fill tied to a footing.
Often used for garden terraces and level changes behind houses.

Mass concrete and gravity walls

Simple gravity walls for small height changes where space allows a wide base.
Useful for short runs of wall in gardens and landscaping works.

Walls with barriers or fences above

Checks for guardrails, balustrades or fences fixed to the top of the wall.
Combined design so the wall and barrier act together safely.

What we check in a retaining wall design

Retaining wall engineering is about more than concrete thickness. We check stability, loading and drainage so the wall can do its job for the long term.

Stability checks

Sliding and overturning factors of safety.
Bearing pressure on the soil below the footing.
Global stability where ground slopes above or below the wall.
Interaction with nearby buildings or boundaries.

Loads on the wall

Active and at-rest soil pressures.
Surcharge from cars, slabs, decking or buildings near the edge.
Extra loads from barriers, fences and railings.
Allowance for accidental impact where cars park close by.

Drainage and detailing

Backfill type and compaction.
Drainage paths using pipes, weepholes and geotextiles.
Concrete grade, cover and crack control reinforcement.
Movement joints and construction details for builders to follow.

Information we need for your retaining wall

Good information in makes the design smoother, reduces site queries and helps Building Control sign off the retaining wall quickly.

Site layout and levels

Architect or survey drawings showing wall position and level changes.
Photos of the area and any nearby buildings, paths or boundaries.

Soil and ground information

Any site investigation, trial pit photos or comments from your engineer.
Notes on rock, clay, made ground or water in the excavation if found.

Loads above and behind the wall

Use of the area above the wall - garden, driveway, parking or building.
Any fences, railings or barriers that will fix to the wall.

Project details and timing

Site address, postcode and whether Building Control is already appointed.
Target start date on site so we can agree realistic design dates.

Retaining wall engineering videos

For clients and engineers who want to see how the numbers work, here are three short retaining wall calculation videos from our YouTube channel.

How to calculate loads on a retaining wall

Step by step look at soil and surcharge loads on a typical wall.

Max bearing pressure and sliding FOS - drained

How to check sliding resistance and bearing pressure for a drained wall.

Max bearing pressure - undrained

Looks at bearing pressure checks for undrained ground conditions.

Retaining walls - frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions we hear most often from UK homeowners and professionals about retaining wall design and inspection.

Do I always need a structural engineer for a retaining wall?

For small garden walls under about 1.0 m with no loads near the top, many builders use standard details. Once a wall is higher, close to a boundary, near a building or carries cars, you should use a retaining wall structural engineer and get calculations.

What height of retaining wall needs Building Regulations approval?

There is no single fixed height. Building Control usually want structural design where a wall could injure people or affect a building, road or path if it failed. As a rough rule, most walls over 1.0 m high near gardens, driveways or buildings will need an engineer and calcs.

Can you check an existing retaining wall that is leaning?

Yes. We can visit site, record wall details and movement, then give a written opinion on risk, likely cause and options. Sometimes monitoring and local repair is enough. In other cases full replacement is safer and cheaper in the long run.

How long does retaining wall design take?

Simple single span walls are often turned around within a few working days once we have drawings and soil information. More complex walls, poor ground or large surcharges can take longer, especially if a ground report is needed first.

What materials are best for a domestic retaining wall?

For modest height differences, mass concrete or reinforced blockwork can work well. For higher walls or driveways we often use reinforced concrete cantilever walls with proper drainage, backfill and barrier details if people or cars are close to the edge.

Can you work from photos and sketches only?

We can give early advice from photos and a sketch, but for final retaining wall structural design we need dimensions, levels and at least basic ground information. Where risk is higher we may recommend a ground engineer or site investigation before we freeze the design.

Clients who used us for retaining wall design and checks

A few short comments from homeowners and contractors we have helped with retaining walls, both new and existing.

Garden terrace - Manchester

New reinforced blockwork retaining wall

"We had limited space and were worried about the height of the wall near the neighbour's garden. The drawings and notes from SECalcs were clear and Building Control signed off without any problems."

Driveway level change - Birmingham

Driveway retaining wall with car loading

"They checked sliding and bearing for cars and vans parked at the top of the wall. Our builder liked the detail and priced the job quickly from the plans."

Existing wall - South East

Inspection of leaning boundary wall

"The report explained why the wall was leaning and set out realistic repair and replacement options. It helped us agree a way forward with our neighbour and insurer."

Request a structural engineer quote for your retaining wall

Use this form to outline your retaining wall problem or proposal. Your enquiry goes straight to an engineer, not a call centre.

Tell us about your retaining wall

Share a few details so we can review the site, decide if you need design, inspection or both, and confirm a fixed fee for your retaining wall calculations or report.

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Service needed Select the closest match

Project details Wall height, length and ground

This form connects to our central SECalcs email. You will usually hear back from a structural engineer within one working day.

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info@structuralengineercalcs.com

Phone

07359 267907

Typical response

Within one working day for retaining wall enquiries

Areas we commonly cover

Manchester and Greater Manchester, Birmingham and the West Midlands, London and the South East, Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and surrounding towns. For projects further afield, send details and we will confirm if we can help.

Many retaining walls can be designed or assessed from drawings, photos and soil information without a site visit. If we do need to attend we will confirm this as part of the quote.

Ready to move your retaining wall project forward?

If you are planning a new retaining wall or worried about an existing wall that is cracking or leaning, send us a few details and we will confirm the next steps and a fixed fee for design or inspection.