A slope that is starting to slip, an old retaining wall bulging outwards, or a plot that needs more privacy: walls solve very practical problems in a garden – but only if the foundation, the drainage and the backfilling are right. That is exactly where we put our effort at Gala Bau Kurt, whether the job is in Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal, Düsseldorf, Meerbusch or Cologne.
As a specialist landscaping firm (Garten- und Landschaftsbau) we handle everything in one go: measuring up, earthworks with the mini excavator, foundation, masonry or gabions, drainage, backfilling and carting the spoil away – all for a fixed price. A good many of our clients are international residents in NRW, so we are happy to talk through materials, heights and costs with you in English as well as German and Turkish.
What our wall building covers
From a low bed edging to a slope stabilised to a structural engineer's design – we choose the right system together with you.
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Retaining walls & slope stabilisation
Terracing sloping plots in natural stone, concrete block or L-shaped units (L-Steine) – drainage and backfilling included.
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Natural stone walls
Mortared sandstone, greywacke or basalt walls as a free-standing garden wall, an edging or a facing skin.
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Dry-stone walls
Natural stone laid in courses without mortar – load-bearing, free-draining and a habitat for lizards and solitary bees.
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Gabions & gabion fences
Galvanised stone baskets filled with basalt or greywacke as a privacy screen, a noise barrier or a retaining wall.
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L-shaped units & angle retaining blocks
Concrete angle retaining units up to 2 m high on a strip foundation – economical for driveways and larger changes in level.
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Raised beds & bed edgings
Raised beds and edgings built in masonry or from gabions, matched to your patio and paving.
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Repairing old walls
Taking down walls that are tipping, putting the underlying cause right and rebuilding properly, disposal included.
How we build walls that stay put
Whether a wall still stands straight after ten winters is decided below ground. Mortared walls, L-shaped units and taller gabions go onto a frost-proof concrete strip foundation (at least 80 cm deep); dry-stone walls and low gabions sit on a crushed-stone foundation compacted in layers. Every retaining wall is given a backfill of drainage gravel with a separating geotextile and a drainage pipe at the foot of the wall with a proper outfall – so no water pressure can build up and push the stones out of line.
Dry-stone walls we build with a batter of 10–15 % leaning into the slope and with bonding stones that reach deep into the ground behind. For gabions we use hot-dip galvanised wire from 4 mm upwards, hand-packed on the visible face with frost-resistant crushed stone of 60–120 mm. For retaining walls over 2 m, or walls carrying a traffic load next to a driveway, we arrange the structural design with a structural engineer (Tragwerksplaner).
Which system suits your garden?
For the stone itself we take our cue from the house – greywacke and sandstone for a slate-clad Bergisch house, basalt or shell limestone for modern architecture. As a rough guide:
- Dry-stone wall: up to a change in level of about 1–1.2 m, free-draining, can be planted up, ecologically valuable, a lot of hand work
- Mortared natural stone wall: free-standing or retaining, handsome and very long-lived
- Gabions: privacy and noise screening as well as retaining, low maintenance, from 20 cm wide
- L-shaped units or a reinforced concrete wall with stone facing: up to 2 m and where traffic loads apply, quick to set, ideal for driveways and boundaries
Wall building in Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal, Düsseldorf & Cologne
In the Bergisches Land, wall building nearly always means building on a slope. In Wuppertal (Briller Viertel, Cronenberg, Ronsdorf), Schwelm (Oehde, Möllenkotten) and Ennepetal (Büttenberg, Rüggeberg) a great many plots run downhill and already carry old retaining walls and terraces. The subsoil of slate and greywacke is stony and shallow, and 1,100–1,200 mm of rain falls here every year: without a proper drainage package, water backs up behind the wall, freezes and forces the stones out. Every retaining wall we plan in this area therefore includes drainage – often in greywacke from the region.
In Düsseldorf, Meerbusch and Cologne the job is usually about design and privacy: screening walls and gabion fences in terraced-house areas such as Benrath, Büderich or Rodenkirchen, raised beds and edgings in villa gardens like Oberkassel or Marienburg. The loamy, sandy soils of the lower Rhine terrace carry loads well; close to the river (Kaiserswerth, Nierst) we allow for the high groundwater table. Via the A1, A46 and A3 we reach you from the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis in 20 to 60 minutes.
Permits, boundary distances & the tax allowance
Under § 62 of the state building code for North Rhine-Westphalia (Bauordnung NRW), walls – retaining walls and boundary enclosures included – up to 2 m high are as a rule exempt from a building application inside built-up areas. We still check beforehand: local development plans (Bebauungsplan) often set a maximum height for boundary enclosures, listed-building protection (Denkmalschutz) can apply in old-town locations such as Schwelm, and on the boundary itself the NRW neighbour law act (Nachbarrechtsgesetz NRW) applies, along with an agreement with your neighbour.
For tax purposes, wall building in an existing garden counts as a tradesman's service (Handwerkerleistung) under the German Income Tax Act (§ 35a EStG): 20 % of the labour, travel and machine costs, up to €1,200 per year, come straight off your income tax – we show them separately on the invoice.
How your wall project runs
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Site visit & measuring up
We record levels, ground conditions, the access for the excavator and materials, and the state of any existing walls – free and with no obligation.
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System, material & fixed price
A proposal covering the type of stone or gabion, foundation, drainage and disposal as a fixed price; where needed we sort out the structural design and the building authority.
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Earthworks & foundation
Excavation with the mini excavator, frost-proof strip or crushed-stone foundation, drainage pipe and geotextile.
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Building the wall & backfilling
Setting, laying or filling the baskets, backfilling with drainage gravel in layers, joining up to paving, steps or fencing.
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Final check & handover
We walk the finished wall with you, leave the site clean and cart away the spoil and any leftover material.
What does a garden wall, dry-stone wall or gabion cost?
The cost depends on the height, the length, the type of stone, any structural design and how easily we can reach the site. Non-binding guide prices including VAT:
| Scope of work | Costs & Prices |
|---|---|
| Dry-stone wall in natural stone (up to approx. 1 m high) | from approx. €300 per linear metre |
| Mortared natural stone wall | approx. €450–700 per linear metre |
| Gabion wall incl. filling (up to 1 m high) | approx. €120–300 per linear metre |
| Retaining wall / slope stabilisation | approx. €120–250 per m² of face area |
| Strip foundation (in addition) | approx. €100–200 per linear metre |
| Example: 10 m of wall, 1 m high | gabions approx. €1,200–2,800, natural stone approx. €1,500–3,500 |
Guide prices exclude structural design and special foundations. Disposal of the excavated soil and travel within our core area are included in the fixed price.
All figures are non-binding guide prices incl. VAT. The final price depends on area, access, materials and effort. You will receive a binding fixed-price quote after a free on-site visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a natural stone wall, dry-stone wall or gabion cost per metre?
As a guide including VAT: dry-stone walls from about €300 per linear metre, mortared natural stone walls €450–700 and gabions €120–300 – each at roughly 1 m high, plus €100–200 per metre for the strip foundation. Height, type of stone, structural requirements and access all move the price. The binding figure is the fixed-price quote you receive after the free on-site visit.
Do I need planning permission for a garden wall or retaining wall in NRW?
Walls and boundary enclosures up to 2 m high are as a rule exempt from a building application inside built-up areas under § 62 of the building code for NRW (Bauordnung NRW). Taller walls, walls in the open countryside (Außenbereich), restrictions in the local development plan (Bebauungsplan) or listed-building protection can make a permit necessary. We clarify that with the building authority (Bauamt) before we start.
Dry-stone wall or gabions – which is better on a slope?
Up to a change in level of about 1 m a natural stone dry-stone wall is the better-looking and ecologically richer option, but it needs more hand work and room for the batter. Gabions go up faster and work as a retaining structure from around 50 cm wide. Above 1.5–2 m we recommend L-shaped units or a concrete wall designed by a structural engineer.
Why is my old retaining wall tipping, and what does repairing it cost?
In most cases the drainage behind the wall is missing: water backs up, presses against the wall and then freezes in winter. We take the wall down, dispose of the material and rebuild it with a new foundation, drainage pipe, gravel and geotextile. The cost is roughly that of a new wall plus the demolition work.
Can I claim wall building against my tax?
Yes, as a tradesman's service under § 35a of the German Income Tax Act (§ 35a EStG): 20 % of the labour, travel and machine costs, up to a maximum of €1,200 per year, are deducted directly from your income tax – material costs are not. You need an invoice showing the labour costs separately and payment by bank transfer.