cost of natural stone wall

15 years ago

We have begun a pretty extensive project to change our front woods into a front yard. After taking down quite a few trees, we are moving forward with a short retaining wall, some drainage as well as walkway, etc. We have been quoted $13,000-$15,000 for the retaining wall using existing rock on our property as well as rock which will be brought in. It is approximately 100 x 2-3 feet. Should we keep trying to find someone to do it cheaper or is this a fair price? The whole project is coming in almost twice what we had anticipated. Your input is appreciated.

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Comments (9)

kaitain4
15 years ago
I don't think that sounds unreasonable. Will this wall be dry-laid or mortared? Dry-laid takes more rock but lasts longer if done properly. I would also want to see other walls this contractor has built and talk to the homeowners about their experience.

K4
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amyruth33
Original Author
15 years ago
There is one estimate for dry laid while another is proposed to have a mortared core only. The dry laid wall is about 50% more expensive.
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kaitain4
15 years ago
Dry laid is much more time consuming, but can last 100s of years if done properly. I've done three of them and am working on a fourth. Check it out..

http://picasaweb.google.com/vincent.doug

Regards,

K4
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ankh
15 years ago
I agree - the cost of these walls can come as an unpleasant shock. However, I've gotten rough quotes of $11-18k for a similarly sized wall, depending on materials (low end being for interlock-type systems, and high end being limestone outcropping boulders). It's discouraging, I agree. But given your location, your price doesn't sound outrageously high at all.
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kaitain4
15 years ago
" the cost of these walls can come as an unpleasant shock."

That's why my neighbor and I built my dry-laid stone walls ourselves. It's not that hard to do, once you learn the proper technique.

Here's the video we watched. This is the only training we had:

http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/Product-Catalog/Product.aspx?ProductID=1996-01

K4
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ankh
15 years ago
kaitain4 - I am afraid to watch it because I don't want to be inspired to take on yet another project!! ;-) Tomorrow I'm having 4 tons of bluestone delivered and this weekend's project is dry-laying a 16x20ish patio. Wish me luck!

But out of curiosity, you didn't also take out a wall before putting yours up, did you? I think that part I would absolutely need to pay someone to do. In my case, it's awful, crumbling concrete block that's bowing out and just ugly. It absolutely needs replacing, but what a task. Then again, I haven't even run the numbers on what it would cost to DIY the construction of a new one. Will have to factor in the cost to the muscles in my back! :-)
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kaitain4
15 years ago
Nope, I had no walls on my property - its just native woods. We brought in all the rock...

K4
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get_creative
15 years ago
It's hard to estimate a retaining wall on the net -- depending on where you are, it could vary a LOT. As a landscaper, though, I'd get more than one estimate and don't choose only based on cost.

If you get someone who doesn't know what they're doing, you could be courting disaster. Retaining walls can be tougher than they look. Check this person's work.
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laag
15 years ago
Having stone on site does not mean it will cost less. The money is in the labor, higher paid skilled labor. It is less time consuming to pick stone off of a pallet or from a pre-sorted pile dumped next to the work area than to pick it up, sort it, and get it to the work area.
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