How to Choose a Georgia Retaining Wall Contractor

Step 1: Identify your retaining wall:

a. aesthetic retaining wall

Aesthetic Retaining Walls

Aesthetic retaining walls are typically under three feet tall and retain landscaping beds and are not critical support structures. Aesthetic retaining walls do not require an engineering plan or a building permit. Reputable landscapers can replace aesthetic retaining walls.

b. structural retaining wall

Structural Retaining Walls

A retaining wall over three feet tall with solid structures on the ground above or below it, such as buildings, homes, driveways, swimming pools or patios is a structural retaining wall. Structural retaining walls are foundational in nature and are there to ensure the ground’s stability.

Structural retaining walls must be replaced immediately by a professional retaining wall contractor who specializes in engineered structural retaining wall replacement.

Structural retaining walls require a retaining wall contractor with a structural engineer to design an engineering plan. In most cases, an up-to-date topographical survey is needed for a site plan and building permit application. Established retaining wall companies have a full-time compliance officer on staff to navigate the city or county departments like land disturbance, zoning, environmental and code enforcement among others.

Step 2: Contact a professional retaining wall contractor.

Locate residential and commercial retaining wall experts with compliance officers and licensed structural and civil engineers who inspect each stage of construction and underwrite critical support retaining walls.

Do your own research!

The property owner bears responsibility to obtain permits and verify all new and replacement critical support retaining wall inspections are stamped. This means Georgia property owners are legally obligated to ensure their property is reasonably safe for those who enter it, and they can be held accountable for injuries or damages that result from negligence or unsafe conditions.

Ignorance provides no legal defense!
Knowingly or unknowingly, property owners who
fail to engage a retaining wall contractor with an engineer to certify a critical support retaining wall, assumes all liability for property damage as well as restitution for financial or physical harm. This is analogous to Georgia’s liability laws for driving an automobile uninsured or with insufficient coverage.

Homeowners Insurance Policy Retaining Wall Coverage

Retaining walls that were built or replaced in compliance with Georgia’s city or county engineering regulations are covered by homeowner’s property insurance. However, critical support retaining walls built without compliance are not covered by homeowners property insurance policies.

Georgia City and County Retaining Wall Regulations

Identify your city or county regulations on engineering plans, topographical surveys site plans for new and replacement retaining walls.

Resources on: Georgia city and county regulations on retaining walls