Ahhh, yes. The McLean quote multiplier. It exists.

A lot. We got estimates to do a 13 foot wide 4 foot retaining wall and it was going to be 7k. We started with landscaping companies and this was not the place to go. They told us we had to get out our own permits and engineer to draw up the plans. We eventually built it ourselves, just under 4 feet to avoid permits. It was an exhausting weekend! But we did it ourselves for 1k. That included thousands of pounds of dirt and renting a compactor. It was very satisfying though!

Poor guy in Arlington but I'm not at all surprised. We've now been here (McLean) for 6 years dealing with contractors renovating our mid 1960s custom Georgian home and property. I've renovated homes in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Manhattan. The typical contractor here is either high, delusional or a thief. I love the line "we have to live here too." Uh, really? My guys had to live in Silicon Valley. Try again. With persistence I've found honest people to work with but it's been a "process." If I'd known, I'd have bought new construction, as much as I loathe it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just replaced a 25 ft long 5 ft high timber retaining wall in our arlington backyard for $30k. We used timber because it was less expensive than other options. Got multiple estimates and most were even higher. Where do you live? Not sure where the PP is posting from with that price quote, but I doubt it is the DC area. Permitting fees alone for us were over $2k. Engineers in the DC area charge $500/hr to draw up the plans to submit for permitting and will likely need to oversee you project. It is not just as easy as paying some concrete guys to pour a wall.

LOL,

We got a 120 ft long concrete retaining wall built for about $20k, height varied from 1 to 8 ft, with most being 4-5ft tall.

Most foundation companies will do a retaining wall - the work is the same between building a retaining wall and pouring a foundation. They use the same equipment and technique. The companies will also typically have an engineer that they can recommend to you who can draw up the design and do the permit work, as well as inspect the work on your behalf. The design will typically reference a standard design that's accepted by the county - contains standard drawings and language that is not specific to your job.

I wanted to add that this was in McLean and the quotes were all over the place. One came back being about 100K, but this was with field stone covering all exposed concrete.

Another expense you will have to factor in is railing, if people will be on the top side of the retaining wall. It cost us another $5k to put iron railing in place along the entire wall.

Anonymous wrote:We just replaced a 25 ft long 5 ft high timber retaining wall in our arlington backyard for $30k. We used timber because it was less expensive than other options. Got multiple estimates and most were even higher. Where do you live? Not sure where the PP is posting from with that price quote, but I doubt it is the DC area. Permitting fees alone for us were over $2k. Engineers in the DC area charge $500/hr to draw up the plans to submit for permitting and will likely need to oversee you project. It is not just as easy as paying some concrete guys to pour a wall.

LOL,

We got a 120 ft long concrete retaining wall built for about $20k, height varied from 1 to 8 ft, with most being 4-5ft tall.

Most foundation companies will do a retaining wall - the work is the same between building a retaining wall and pouring a foundation. They use the same equipment and technique. The companies will also typically have an engineer that they can recommend to you who can draw up the design and do the permit work, as well as inspect the work on your behalf. The design will typically reference a standard design that's accepted by the county - contains standard drawings and language that is not specific to your job.

Anonymous wrote:We just replaced a 25 ft long 5 ft high timber retaining wall in our arlington backyard for $30k. We used timber because it was less expensive than other options. Got multiple estimates and most were even higher. Where do you live? Not sure where the PP is posting from with that price quote, but I doubt it is the DC area. Permitting fees alone for us were over $2k. Engineers in the DC area charge $500/hr to draw up the plans to submit for permitting and will likely need to oversee you project. It is not just as easy as paying some concrete guys to pour a wall.

PP here with quote of 6-8k. Could be low as haven't seen the site. Work in expensive part of northeast. Poured concrete is only worth 300.00 a yard and rebar is only worth 1.00/foot installed. Variable for excavation, but at the end of the day you are only talking about 10 yards of concrete
so even with 2k for plans and 2k for engineer, the job is only worth what it's worth.

We just replaced a 25 ft long 5 ft high timber retaining wall in our arlington backyard for $30k. We used timber because it was less expensive than other options. Got multiple estimates and most were even higher. Where do you live? Not sure where the PP is posting from with that price quote, but I doubt it is the DC area. Permitting fees alone for us were over $2k. Engineers in the DC area charge $500/hr to draw up the plans to submit for permitting and will likely need to oversee you project. It is not just as easy as paying some concrete guys to pour a wall.

Great detail - thanks! I know I will have to get permits and I plan to do it right, so I'll start with the concrete guys and get an engineer in as well if they don't have one.

If it is over 4 feet it will need to be engineered. In my state that wall would require a permit. Even without I would suggest you at least have an engineer look at it. Call a concrete/foundation company - tell them what you want.

Cost will be determined by design. If its retaining you will need footings and walls to the frost line. They may spec steel (rebar). Figure 300.00 a cubic yard in place plus steel plus excavation (and backfill) So, where I build you would have a footing a foot deep plus 2.5-3 ft of wall plus your 4.5 feet of wall. Figure 2 yards for the footings. And figuring a 12 inch wall another 6.5 yards for wall. So, call it 9 yards @ 300 = 2700.00 plus excavation, steel and permits/engineer stamp. Hard to say without looking at your site but figure 6-8k.

75 to 80 a SF.

Probably 25 linear feet with a 45 degree angle in the middle. ~4-5 feet high. Pretty accessible from a paved driveway. Nothing fancy design wise, but a lot of concrete. How much would this cost and who's is best to design and pour this ... GC, driveway company, landscapers?