Retaining wall repair & construction, Ottawa

Rebuilding a failing retaining wall with proper drainage starts from $95/linear ft, varying with wall height, whether existing block can be salvaged, and how much drainage stone and geogrid the height requires. A leaning 4-foot wall along a typical lot line often lands in the $4,000–$8,000 range.

Water pressure, almost always. Saturated soil behind a wall freezes and expands in winter and pushes outward year after year until the wall visibly leans. Rebuilding without drainage stone, filter fabric and — on taller walls — geogrid just resets the clock on the same failure.

It depends on height and location — the City of Ottawa generally requires a permit above a certain wall height, and conservation authority sign-off can apply near regulated watercourses. We'll flag if your project needs one before we start, so there are no surprises partway through.

Generally, whichever property the wall physically sits on is responsible for it, regardless of which side benefits from the soil it's holding back — though neighbours can agree to share costs. We build to hold on your property; boundary disputes are worth a quick word with a lawyer first.

Often, yes, especially on taller walls, since skilled masons for block work are in shorter supply and poured concrete with proper forms can go up faster. Either way, the drainage behind the wall matters more than the material in front of it.