Concrete shuttered wall_budget options

bro'

Hi
I have received quotes for a concrete retaining wall but the price is costly for the work i want done-cheapest is 13k up to 20K. It is an 8ft high wall at the back of the house and a 8ft high dropping down to 2 ft high wall to one side of the house following the fall of the site. There is steps also going up the back of the house to the upper garden area. Total linear distance is around 50 odd metres.

I know that the formwork option is probably the best option as i want to have sloping banks against the finished walls but I would be interested in hearing other possible cost effective options on a budget. I have ruled out 'block' walls as i believe this would not be safe at 8ft and be strong enough -maybe I need to look at a compromise between some shuttering and some block work?

jmsc

The Costings at the 13 k mark are good and obviously at the 20 k mark high;

based on the following 50m at avg 2m high with a 150mm reinforced concrete wall = 15 m3 of conc @ approx €100 / m3 = €1500
steel 150 kg / m3 = 2.25 tn @ approx €900 / tn = €2025
formwork = 50m x 2m x 2 sides = 200m2 @ €45 = €9000
excavation = 1 exc for 1 week = €1800
foundation = 50 m x .9 wide x .3 deep = 13.5 m3 x 100= 1350
steel = 13.5 m3 x 150 kg's = 2 tn x 900 = €1800

Total = €17475

Why not look at the option of gabion baskets might be cheaper

Mellor

jmsc wrote:

Why not look at the option of gabion baskets might be cheaper

and look better too

shakeydude

This company does a block wall that is designed for retaining and I would think that they would have no problem handling the 8ft. They also say that they are as competitive cost wise as a shuttered retaining wall. Give them a ring for a quote, they are based in the north but have providers all over Ireland

http://www.acheson-glover.com/constructionpro/retaining_walls/

bro'

thanks Jmsc... its good to see the costing breakdown.

The gabion baskets would be the cheaper alternative but they are quite wide [from what i have seen] and i want to maximise the width i have at the back of the house

shakeydude.. that webiste looks interesting, I will check it out.