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Sample concrete / masonry estimate

Retaining wall estimate example

A wall that fails fails slowly and publicly. The drainage and the geogrid are the lines that say this one will not.

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What the concrete contractor typed

"segmental block retaining wall 40 lf x 3 ft tall, excavate, compacted gravel base, block customer picks color, drain tile behind wall with gravel, geogrid every 2 courses, cap, backfill, haul spoils"

What the customer got
Solid Ground Concrete
Proposal #2474 · September 13, 2026
Prepared for Sara Ellis
Scope of work
• Segmental block retaining wall, about 40 feet long and 3 feet tall. Customer picks the block color.
• Excavate and compact a gravel base.
• Perforated drain tile and gravel behind the wall. Geogrid every two courses.
• Cap block, adhered.
• Backfill and haul spoils. No engineering required at this height.
Total
$6,200
Timeline
3 days
Payment
50% upfront, 50% on completion
Warranty: 3 years on workmanship · Deposit at signing: $3,100
Type your full name to accept this proposal. This is a legally binding electronic signature.
Full name
Accept and pay $3,100 deposit

Example figures for a typical retaining wall job. Not a quote. Every line on the estimate came from the notes above. Nothing was added.

What to spell out on a retaining wall bid

  • Length, height, and block type.
  • Base depth and compaction.
  • Drainage behind the wall. It is what keeps the wall standing.
  • That walls over a certain height need engineering and a permit, and that this one does or does not.

A drive approach is often permitted by the city. Say in writing what you consider normal about hairline cracks, before the pour.

The parts of this estimate

  • Scope of work. 5 lines, one thing each, in the order the work happens. What is not included is on the list too.
  • One price. $6,200. Not a formula, not a range. The scope explains the number.
  • Timeline. 3 days. Including dry time, cure time, or permit time, so the customer plans around it.
  • Payment terms. 50% upfront, 50% on completion. The $3,100 deposit is paid by card when they sign.
  • Warranty. 3 years on workmanship.
  • A way to accept. The customer types their name and signs with a finger on their phone. Legally binding under the E-SIGN Act, and recorded with the date, time, and the exact estimate they agreed to.

Questions concrete and masonry contractors ask about this bid

When does a wall need an engineer?

Commonly at 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the base. Say on the bid where this wall falls.

Deposit?

Half. Block is palletized and ordered for the job.

Is this a real quote?

No. The numbers are example figures for a typical job so you can see how a complete estimate reads. Your price is yours.

Can my customer sign this on their phone?

Yes. An estimate sent from BidWriter Pro opens as a link. The customer reads it, types their name, signs with a finger, and pays the deposit by card. You get an alert when they open it and when they sign.

Write your own retaining wall estimate

Type the job the way you would text it. It comes out like the one above, in about five seconds. No account needed.

Only what you type goes on the estimate. Nothing gets added.
No account needed to try it.

30 days free, then $29 a month. No card to start. Concrete / Masonry estimate template · BidWriter Pro for concrete and masonry contractors

More concrete / masonry estimate examples

Guides: what to include in an estimate · how to price a job · how to follow up · how much deposit to ask for · the warranty line

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