Retaining wall construction in Palm Beach Gardens FL - a wall that holds its ground

In nearby West Palm Beach, retaining wall construction usually runs about $20 to $50 per square foot of wall face, which is the going rate in the area and not a quote from us. Wall face means the length times the height you see, and where yours lands depends on the material, from wood and interlocking block to stone and boulders. With poured concrete, a stamped or decorative finish, curves, heavy demolition or digging, or a wall over 3 feet tall all cost extra, and your own number comes in the written estimate after I've seen the yard.

One wall maker's install guide says most building codes call for a final design by a licensed civil engineer registered in the state once a wall is more than 4 feet high. That's one maker's reading, though, and the city's own rule is the one that counts, so the Palm Beach Gardens Building Department, which handles building and permitting for the city, is where to check. Industry guides also say to learn the local code before starting any size wall, which is why I raise it at the first visit.

Block holds up better, because concrete retaining wall block, the stacked units made for this job, resists cracking and won't splinter or rot the way treated timbers and railroad ties do. Wood usually costs less up front, so you're weighing that saving against the wear. For most yards I'd pick block, since a wall you have to rebuild costs you the digging twice.

Give the water a way out, because soil that stays soaked behind a wall pushes harder on it. For block walls taller than 3 feet, one wall maker recommends a perforated drain pipe at the bottom of the drainage gravel to carry large amounts of water away quickly, and it's fair to ask any builder where that pipe sits in their plan. Before work starts, show your builder where roof runoff, downspouts, paved areas and low spots send water, since that flow should be steered away from the wall.

Usually it's the soil, because backfill that wasn't packed tight adds pressure, holds water and lets the wall settle. Wall install guides call proper compaction of the base and backfill critical to how a wall holds up, and they note that weak soil, a water table close to the base or a base under water can call for a different base design. Ask any builder how they'll compact the soil and whether your site shows any of those signs.

Ask to see their county or state license and proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance, which is what Palm Beach County advises, and the county also suggests holding your final payment until the permit is closed out. In Florida, a certified license lets a contractor work anywhere in the state, while a registered license only covers the cities or counties where they hold a local certificate of competency, so ask which kind they carry. We're licensed and insured, and I'm happy to show you.