People would have to be insane and insanely rich to pay 20 to 40K for something like that.

Anonymous wrote:20-50k

+1. There are so many variables that factor into an estimate for this project but I think this is a good range.

We paid 20K 8 years ago - they have to move a lot of dirt to put them in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need an engineer to determine what you are retaining and what would be required in order to retain that.

Funny. Assuming OP just wants a nice visual addition, not trying to prop up the tower of Pisa.

A nice visual wall that will not topple over in a few years requires a proper footing, drainage, backfill and yes, a certain amount of engineering know-how. If you just want to stack stone and don't care what happens, have at it.

PP whose DH built our wall. He's the kind of guy who made sure that it had all of that, because he grew up helping his dad with similar projects and has that know how. Without someone who is obsessing over the footer and drainage I wouldn't want a home-built wall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our quote was so high for a retaining wall that was about 50' x 2' that DH ended up building it himself.

That length requires an engineer and inspections.

Then I misremembered the length, because it was definitely just under code.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our quote was so high for a retaining wall that was about 50' x 2' that DH ended up building it himself.

This.
Contractors are pricing themselves out of jobs now, hoping to do less jobs for more money from suckers willing to pay them thousands to play in the dirt with rocks.

DIY, it's not rocket science. Plenty of videos online how to build one to prevent creep and cracking. It's not difficult knowledge wise, just hard labor moving dirt and stones. Take your time and do it over a couple months in dry weather.

Don't we all want to do less work for more money? Meanwhile, you want to hire people to do more work for less money. The marketplace will sort it all out.

20-50k

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need an engineer to determine what you are retaining and what would be required in order to retain that.

Funny. Assuming OP just wants a nice visual addition, not trying to prop up the tower of Pisa.

A nice visual wall that will not topple over in a few years requires a proper footing, drainage, backfill and yes, a certain amount of engineering know-how. If you just want to stack stone and don't care what happens, have at it.

Youtube is your friend in this case. It's not rocket science.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need an engineer to determine what you are retaining and what would be required in order to retain that.

Funny. Assuming OP just wants a nice visual addition, not trying to prop up the tower of Pisa.

A nice visual wall that will not topple over in a few years requires a proper footing, drainage, backfill and yes, a certain amount of engineering know-how. If you just want to stack stone and don't care what happens, have at it.

Anonymous wrote:You need an engineer to determine what you are retaining and what would be required in order to retain that.

Funny. Assuming OP just wants a nice visual addition, not trying to prop up the tower of Pisa.

Anonymous wrote:Our quote was so high for a retaining wall that was about 50' x 2' that DH ended up building it himself.

This.
Contractors are pricing themselves out of jobs now, hoping to do less jobs for more money from suckers willing to pay them thousands to play in the dirt with rocks.

DIY, it's not rocket science. Plenty of videos online how to build one to prevent creep and cracking. It's not difficult knowledge wise, just hard labor moving dirt and stones. Take your time and do it over a couple months in dry weather.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do your zoning laws permit a 35 foot high wall ?

Monolith! Could be a religious exemption.

OP, you mean using concrete blocks right?

Figure the price for how many blocks that would be at about $4 delivered each. Then add about 300-400% to the previous total price.
So if the blocks came up to about $600 delivered, then say $1800 to $2400 added to that, so $2400 to $3000 would be a good estimate.

If you can find a mason to put up a 35 foot long, 3 foot high retaining wall for $3,000, I've got another wall I'll sell you.

That price was for a 3 brick 1.5 ft high wall obviously, so looking at double that price for a 3ft tall one.

Anonymous wrote:Our quote was so high for a retaining wall that was about 50' x 2' that DH ended up building it himself.

That length requires an engineer and inspections.