Foundation block wall installation in La Mesa CA - a solid base that holds back the soil
Reinforced, grouted and built in order
DM La Mesa Concrete & Masonry does foundation block wall installation in La Mesa and the cities around it, for additions, new homes and walls that have to hold back a slope. I come out myself, plan the work in the right order and keep you posted at each step.
What a foundation block wall does for your house
A foundation block wall is block laid on a footing, with steel bars in the cores and grout around them. It suits additions and sloped lots, and later we can run a walkway beside it.
Height, length, steel, grout and the barrier your site needs set the price, and the dig, the inspections and the framing above set the schedule. My estimate puts your scope in writing.
Best for
- Room additions
- Homes on a slope
- Crawlspace foundations
- Replacing a failed wall
Carries the house above
Block, steel and grout bond into one solid piece, so the wall carries the floor and framing above instead of leaning on mortar joints alone.
Holds back the slope
After backfill the wall takes the steady sideways push of the soil, which matters most on a sloped lot where one side sits deeper than the other.
Helps keep damp out
A moisture barrier on the outside face helps stop ground damp from soaking through the block into your crawlspace or the room behind it.
Fits the rest of the yard
We match the new wall to your existing foundation so it looks right beside it, and the same block can carry on into an outdoor kitchen.
Foundation block wall, barrier and backfill built to last
- Block gets parged, a smooth coat of mortar with no holes, before damp-proofing goes on, so the barrier has a sound face to hold to.
- We don't backfill until the wall is braced or the floor above is built, because a new wall isn't ready to take the push of the soil alone.
- I learned block on commercial jobs, and now our own masons do the work while I check the steel and grout as it goes. We're licensed and insured.
Grout and barrier choices for your wall
I lay out the grout and barrier choices on site, tell you which I'd pick for your wall and why, and price the one you choose.
Partial grouting
Grout fills only the block cores that hold steel bars, which suits walls where the bars sit farther apart.
Solid grouting
Grout fills every core, and when the steel bars sit close together it can be the faster, cheaper way to build.
Brush-on coating
A coating sprayed or rolled onto the block, which leans on careful surface prep to do its job.
Sheet membrane
Sheets or panels lean less on prep than coatings and many stay intact if the wall settles, so they're worth pricing.
Tell us about your foundation wall
Tell us what the wall's for. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate and put the scope in writing.
Foundation block wall questions
What does a foundation block wall cost per square foot in La Mesa?
Installing a concrete block wall across the US usually costs about $16 to $19 per square foot, and that's the national going rate, not our quote. The depth, the dig and the barrier your site needs decide where your wall lands. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Does my foundation block wall need dampproofing or waterproofing?
Codes typically call for dampproofing where water pressure won't build up in the soil, and waterproofing where it may. A high water table or poorly draining backfill like heavy clay can build that pressure, so your site decides which one you pay for. We pick the barrier based on how water moves on your lot.
What should go back against a new foundation block wall?
Ideally, the backfill is free-draining granular material with no expansive soil, and a plastic dimpled drainage mat against the wall helps too. No damp-proof coating is fully waterproof, so grading, gutters and downspouts that carry water away from the wall matter just as much.
Who handles permits for a foundation block wall in La Mesa?
The city's Building Division processes permits for all residential work in La Mesa through its online permit portal, and it's the place to ask what your wall requires. The city issues a permit only after it verifies the contractor's workers' compensation insurance. When a permit's needed, we handle the paperwork and line up inspections with you.
How much can a contractor ask for up front in California?
On a home improvement job, a contractor can ask for no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price as a down payment, whichever is less. That's the rule of the Contractors State License Board, which licenses and regulates the state's construction industry. Every other payment has to be listed in the contract and tied to work done or materials delivered.
Other work around the new wall
Walkway construction
Once the backfill settles and the grade is set, a new path gives the addition a clean way in.
Explore Walkway constructionOutdoor kitchen masonry
When the addition opens onto the yard, a block-built cooking area can match the new wall's finish.
Explore Outdoor kitchen masonry