Retaining walls are sturdy, useful structures that stabilise sloping landscapes, prevent soil erosion and foundation damage to your home, and turn uneven ground into usable terraced space. Yet these structures can experience wear and tear with time, or damage caused by the environment or construction faults. So are retaining walls covered by insurance if anything goes wrong? 

The answer is sometimes, but there’s more to it than that. The best way to protect your retaining wall from damage is to choose an expert earthmoving company that uses high-quality materials. 

Pinnacle Earthworks specialises in providing durable, long-lasting earthmoving solutions in the Adelaide and Adelaide Hills regions. From the site preparation to the finishing touches, we carry out the entire process of building retaining walls suited to the area including concrete sleeper, rock and gabion walls. 

In this article, Pinnacle Earthworks answers a question that’s important to many people looking to invest in this structural solution: are retaining walls covered by insurance, and how can you protect your investment? 

What is a retaining wall?

 A retaining wall is a wall that’s built to support soil at a much steeper angle than nature alone can manage. Made from substances like rock, stone and timber, retaining walls hold back earth, rock and other materials and prevent erosion and collapse. Retaining walls have a few difference purposes including:

• Stabilising soil and turning slopes into terraced areas.
• Creating flat, usable areas for patios, driveways, gardens etc. 
• Creating level bases on construction sites to build foundations on. 
• Improving a property’s aesthetic appeal and value. 

But sometimes things go wrong. And when they do, it’s common to ask: “are retaining walls covered by insurance?”

Common types of retaining wall damage

A few factors can cause retaining walls to incur damage including:

Insufficient drainage

Poor drainage systems can lead water to accumulate behind the wall, causing a build-up of hydrostatic pressure that can lead to bulging, cracking or even collapse. 

Design mistakes and shortcuts

Cutting corners or making errors in the design process (e.g. low-grade materials or poor installation techniques) impact the wall’s stability and lead to problems such as leaning.

Ageing material

Materials like concrete and timber can degrade over time, weakening the structural integrity of the wall.

Natural disasters

Emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, landslides and storms can cause fast yet devastating damage to retaining walls. 

So are retaining walls covered by insurance, and what can you do to protect your investment? 

Are retaining walls covered by insurance?

Retaining walls are often covered by home insurance, but it depends on your insurance policy and the cause of damage. Many insurers exclude retaining walls from the main structure of the house as well, so it’s always best to check your policy. 

As a general rule, some retaining wall issues that are typically covered in your insurance policy include:

Insured events and natural disasters

A lot of home insurance policies cover the damage caused to retaining walls by typically insured events such as severe storms and car crashes. 

Floods

Flood insurance sometimes covers the structural damage floods can cause to retaining walls.

Fire

Insurance often covers damage from both bushfires and house fires. 

Some problems with retaining walls that insurance usually DOESN’T cover include:

Wear and tear

Insurance most likely won’t cover damage caused by ageing materials or lack of maintenance. 

Poor construction

Flaws in the construction process or issues caused by inferior materials usually aren’t covered. 

Earth movements

Insurance companies frequently exclude earth movements except under particular causes like landslip protection. 

Hydrostatic pressure

Unless it’s from a commonly covered event like flooding, damage from water pressure build-up is commonly excluded. 

What should homeowners do? 

The first step is to do your research and choose a trusted company with a reputation for quality to build your retaining wall: look at reviews, read testimonials etc. 

Find out if retaining walls are covered by your insurance policy and consider purchasing additional coverage if you’re in a disaster-prone area. 

Get your free retaining wall quote from Pinnacle Earthworks

Pinnacle Earthworks are trusted earthmoving contractors that specialise in retaining walls throughout the Adelaide and Adelaide Hills areas, all the way out to Murray Bridge. No matter what kind of retaining walls you need, from concrete sleeper to gabion, we can deliver. Our fully licensed and insured team handles every stage of the retaining wall process from site preparation through to completion.

Our process starts with a free site assessment in which one of our retaining wall contractors visits your property to assess soil, slope and drainage requirements. We’ll put together a detailed retaining wall design with accurate pricing and a clear breakdown of the materials, timeline and labour. Our expert installation includes steel pier systems, proper drainage and a quality finish. Contact the Pinnacle Earthworks team for a fast and free quote or call 0400 084 944 to speak to us directly.