Foundation Block Wall Installation in Davis CA - a solid wall to carry your house
Planning an addition or a new house in Davis? We build block foundation walls that carry the house and hold back the soil around it.
A block foundation wall carries everything. It has to start right.
Foundation block wall installation in Davis means building the wall your house stands on out of concrete blocks, set on a concrete footing, the wide base under it. The wall does two jobs. It carries the house, and it holds back the soil packed against it, which we call backfill.
What moves the price is mostly the wall's size and height, how much weak ground has to come out under the footing, whether the design calls for steel, and the waterproofing and drains. The schedule turns on the city's permit review and on getting the wall braced or framed over before backfill. Your written estimate puts a number on your wall.
If your existing foundation is cracking or leaning, start with foundation repair instead, because I'd rather fix what you have when it can be saved than sell you a new wall you don't need.
Ground first, then block. That's how we build foundation walls.
I start with what's under and behind the wall, because that's where the trouble usually comes from. When I look at your lot, I'm checking the ground the footing will sit on and where the water goes, and I plan the drainage and the waterproof layer along with the wall instead of adding them after.
We keep backfill off the wall until it's braced or the floor is framed, even if that means waiting a bit, because the wall isn't ready to hold that soil on its own.
Foundation block walls start in the dirt. Here's what goes in.
Ground under the footing
The footing should rest on undisturbed native soil, so soft or weak spots come out and get replaced with compacted soil, gravel or concrete.
Laying the block
We lay the concrete blocks row by row and keep each one plumb and level, because the whole house will sit on this wall.
Reinforcing steel
We set steel bar inside the block and fill those hollow cores with grout wherever your design calls for it. More on when that's needed below.
Bracing and backfill
If the floor framing isn't on yet, we brace the wall before any fill goes in, then place the fill in layers instead of all at once.
Choosing the backfill
Ideally the backfill is loose fill that drains, not clay. That matters here, where 48% of Yolo County's soil is clay that swells and shrinks, against 22% statewide.
Waterproofing and drainage
A waterproof layer on the outside face of the wall helps keep moisture out, working with drains, gutters and ground that slopes away from the house.
Do the foundation wall and drains right. Redoing them is harder.
When a foundation wall fails, it's usually one of three things. The footing sat on soft ground and settled. Backfill went in before the wall had support at the top, and it cracked. Or no one planned for water, so it seeps through. Each is far harder to fix once the house sits on it.
We'd rather take the time on the ground and the order of work than leave you with a crack. I also ask what you'll put next to the wall later, like a new walkway or an outdoor kitchen, so the ground around it keeps sending water away from the house.
It starts with a call. I see it through to the end.
01. Call or send the form
Call (530) 298-0279 or use the form and tell us about the wall, and we'll get back to you to set a visit.
02. I come look
I come out myself, look at the ground and where water goes, and tell you right there what I think the wall needs.
03. Written estimate and permit
You get a written estimate after the visit. Once you say go, we handle any permit, and the city's review usually takes 20 to 35 business days.
04. Build and walk-through
A lead mason and I run the crew and I check the work as it goes, then we clean up and walk the finished wall with you.
Tell us about your wall. I'll come take a look.
Send your address, the wall's planned size and any home buyer's disclosures about soil. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
(530) 298-0279Based in Davis. Working in the cities around it.
- Davis, CA
- Vacaville, CA
- Woodland, CA
- West Sacramento, CA
- Dixon, CA
- Winters, CA
- Elk Grove, CA
- Fairfield, CA
- Roseville, CA
- Rancho Cordova, CA
- Florin, CA
- Arden-Arcade, CA
We're based in Davis and build foundation walls in the cities around it, including Woodland and Dixon. If your city isn't on the list, call and ask.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Ask before you build. These answers are a good start.
Read through the answers below, and if your question isn't here, call (530) 298-0279 and ask.
How much does a foundation block wall cost in Davis?
Installing a concrete block wall usually costs about $16 to $19 per square foot across the US, which is the going rate nationally, not our quote. Your wall's own number depends on the ground and design choices covered above, and it comes in your written estimate. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Who issues permits for a foundation wall in Davis?
The City of Davis Building Division reviews and issues all permit types, and plans can be sent in for review electronically. When your job needs a permit, we pull it, set up the inspections and keep you posted, or we hand you what you need if you'd rather file it yourself.
Does my block foundation wall need steel in it?
Maybe. Block foundation walls can be built without reinforcing steel, but walls that hold back a lot of soil may need it. I'll tell you what your design calls for at the visit, and the city's plan review is the place for engineering questions.
How do I find out if my lot in Davis has expansive soil?
Start with your home buyer's disclosures, then ask the city or a soil engineer or geologist, which is the route one California soil engineers' guide suggests. It's worth checking, since swelling clay is common around here, and if you send those disclosures with your request, I can look at them before the visit.
Does a contractor need a license to build a block foundation wall in California?
Yes, unless it's a very small job. The state licensing board has a license classification that covers installing masonry for load bearing walls, and unlicensed work is allowed only up to $1,000, when the job needs no permit and the worker has no employees. We're licensed and fully insured.
Beyond foundation walls. We handle brick, stone and concrete too.
Planning a foundation wall and drainage? Call for an estimate.
Calling early leaves room for the city's permit review. Tell us where the wall goes and how big, and we'll set a time to look.
(530) 298-0279