Engineered Boulder Retaining Wall Plans
Budget: $250 – $750 USD
I’m ready to build a 50-foot long retaining wall that will start at roughly 40 inches in height and taper smoothly to ground level. The wall will back a future patio, so it must safely resist surcharge loads while still presenting the natural look of stacked fieldstone. We are working with natural boulders only—no concrete blocks or gabions—and the native soil on site is a heavy clay.
Here’s what I need from you:
• Signed, build-ready engineering drawings (PDF and CAD) showing plan view, elevations, typical cross-sections and any required step-downs along the length of the wall.
• Structural calculations verifying stability against sliding, overturning and bearing failure, taking the clay soil properties into account.
• Clear specifications for footing preparation, drainage blanket, filter fabric, geogrid (if you feel it’s needed) and backfill compaction.
• Notes that a local contractor can follow for boulder selection, placement tolerances and final grading behind the wall.
• A brief summary sheet I can submit to the city if permitting is required.
If you hold a professional engineering licence that can be stamped in my state, please mention it; otherwise, un-stamped plans are still acceptable as long as they are complete and technically sound. I’ll share site photos, a rough survey and any additional measurements as soon as we begin.
I’m looking to move quickly, so let me know your timeframe for the first draft and how many revisions you include.
Here’s what I need from you:
• Signed, build-ready engineering drawings (PDF and CAD) showing plan view, elevations, typical cross-sections and any required step-downs along the length of the wall.
• Structural calculations verifying stability against sliding, overturning and bearing failure, taking the clay soil properties into account.
• Clear specifications for footing preparation, drainage blanket, filter fabric, geogrid (if you feel it’s needed) and backfill compaction.
• Notes that a local contractor can follow for boulder selection, placement tolerances and final grading behind the wall.
• A brief summary sheet I can submit to the city if permitting is required.
If you hold a professional engineering licence that can be stamped in my state, please mention it; otherwise, un-stamped plans are still acceptable as long as they are complete and technically sound. I’ll share site photos, a rough survey and any additional measurements as soon as we begin.
I’m looking to move quickly, so let me know your timeframe for the first draft and how many revisions you include.