Orlando Retaining Wall

According to data collected by ServiceMagic this year, Orlando ranks #43 for metropolitan areas in terms of residential retaining wall projects. The city is not the most prone to landslides, but new housing projects associated with one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country makes retaining walls an important part of the city landscape. Plus, while the city may not be known for landslides or unstable soil in general, but hilly terrain and small lakes can necessitate retaining walls for properties around the greater Orlando area. Whether you need a functional retaining wall or a more decorative landscaping wall, we can help you find the right professional for the job.

Retaining Walls vs. Landscaping Walls in Orlando, FL
Walls for your property, whether they hold back soil or not, generally use one of a few basic wall building methods. You can hire a masonry contractor to build you a true retaining wall with stone or brick and mortar. You might also consider a poured concrete wall or a dry stone construction. By talking to a full-service landscaping company, you can talk about the relative advantages and disadvantages of each type of wall, as well as the cost differential. Plus, both retaining walls and landscaping walls are often installed in combination with a patio, walkway, pond, pool, or garden. They make for beautiful landscaping features that can add real value to your home.

The Cost of Retaining Walls in Orlando, FL
The average cost of a retaining wall installation in Orlando is about $5,000. Of course, the size of the project and the strength rating of the retaining wall system you choose will largely determine the cost. Needless to say, this $5,000 mark may bear little resemblance to estimates for your project, depending on these factors. It's not uncommon to see retaining walls cost $10,000 or more, or as little as $1,000. Decorative landscaping walls that don't require the highly-skilled services of a masonry contractor may be done for even less than $1,000. To create a small waterfall with a rock wall, for example, your expenses may be nothing more than the cost of the rocks, if you can haul them yourself.

Orlando Retaining Wall Building Codes
While nearly every city or state has some type of building permit requirement, the state of Florida is known for its extensive and prescriptive building codes. Section 404.5 of the 2007 Florida Building Code states, "Retaining walls that are not laterally supported at the top and that retain in excess of 24 inches (610 mm) of unbalanced fill shall be designed to ensure stability against overturning, sliding, excessive foundation pressure and water uplift. Retaining walls shall be designed for a safety factor of 1.5 against lateral sliding and overturning." This somewhat technical lingo may be very helpful to homeowners, but the point here is that you need to find a quality contractor who will follow the building codes, secure the necessary permits, and do it in a reasonable amount of time for a fair price.

Orlando Retaining Wall Installation and Contractors
That said, retaining walls are the poster child for building permits and codes. An ill-advised placement or poor design can wreak havoc, as retaining walls can have dramatic effects on drainage and soil erosion. This, in turn, can have a number of unintended side effects some of which may adversely impact your neighbor and land you in court. Plus, some Florida contractors may minimize the danger of winter frost that can exert enormous pressure on the top of your retaining wall.

To this end, ServiceMagic can help you find the right Orlando retaining wall or landscaping contractor for the job. We put each and every contractor in our system through a rigorous ten-step screening process. Better than this, however, we provide you with access to our extensive database of customer ratings and reviews. This will allow you to see what other Orlando homeowners have said about individual contractors and their own retaining wall projects. These reviews also provide powerful motivation for a contractor to meet and exceed your expectation.

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