Concrete block walls in Tuscaloosa, AL - a wall reinforced and drained for your yard
Got a slope washing out or an old wall starting to lean? We'll build the block wall that holds it and fits your yard.
- Two methods, your pick We compare mortared and dry stacked, coated walls with you.
- Reinforcement shown first You'll see where the steel and grout go before we build.
- Water planned for Retaining walls get a planned way for water to get out.
- Cause fixed, not patched We fix why an old wall failed, not just the crack.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
How do you know a block wall needs attention?
Most wall problems start small and get bigger as water and soil keep working on them. Here's what to look for in your yard before it turns into a rebuild.
Soil washing onto the patio
After a hard rain, dirt and mulch slide off a slope onto your patio or driveway. The grade usually needs holding back, and every storm takes a little more.
An old wall leaning out
The top of the wall sits farther out than the bottom. That usually means water or soil is pushing from behind, and a leaning wall only goes one way.
Cracks running through the block
A crack runs up the wall or steps along the joints. Some are only surface cracks, but one that keeps widening usually means the wall is moving.
Damp patches on the face
Dark, wet-looking areas stay on the block long after the rain stops. Water's getting into or through the wall, and over time that loosens mortar and stains the face.
Mortar crumbling from joints
You can scrape sand out of the joints with a key, or bits collect at the base. Once joints go soft, water gets in faster and the block can shift.
Water pooling at the base
Puddles sit along the bottom of a wall or behind it after storms. Water with nowhere to go softens the ground under the footing, and that's how walls settle.
How we build a concrete block wall
A concrete block wall is block laid in mortar or stacked dry and coated, and when the block itself is the finished face, that one layer gives you the structure and a durable look. I start by talking through those two methods with you so you pick the wall that fits your yard and budget, because industry guidance says a dry stacked wall, coated on both faces with a bonding material, goes up faster, depends less on the mason's skill and holds up well to rain. Then we mark out, dig and pour the footing, lay the block and fill the hollow cores with grout, usually around steel bars, so the steel and block carry the load together, and I'll show you how your wall is reinforced before we start. A single block wall has no cavity behind it for water to drain the way a veneered wall does, so we pay close attention to moisture, and a wall that holds back soil gets drainage built in. The method, the steel, the drainage and how much digging your spot needs are what move the price, any permit and the weather move the schedule, and the estimate gives you your own number.
If the wall goes under a house instead of across a yard, that's foundation block wall installation, which carries the weight of the house and gets planned that way. Block is also the core of most outdoor kitchen masonry, so if a patio wall is on your list, a grill counter can come out of the same visit.
What happens after you call about a block wall in Tuscaloosa?
From your first call to the last walk along the finished wall, here's who does what and where the city fits in.
Call or send a request
Call (205) 579-1102 or send a request through the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out and see the spot.
Walk the spot together
I show you what I'm seeing, we talk through mortared or dry stacked and the reinforcing, and I write up your estimate.
Permit, then the build
Any permit comes first, and the city processes most residential permits within 24 to 48 hours. Then our crew builds while I check in.
Walk the finished wall
Our crew cleans up, then you and I walk the finished wall together so you can see the joints, the drainage and the backfill.
Why Tuscaloosa homeowners call D&L Tuscaloosa Concrete and Masonry
The owner prices your wall
I come out and write the estimate myself, so the person who prices your wall is the one checking the crew's work.
In business since 2017
I learned beside an older mason who made me explain every step, so I'll explain your wall the same way.
Licensed and insured
Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Board covers paid home work over $10,000, so ask any contractor where they stand.
Ground checked where it's built
The Tuscaloosa County soil survey isn't site specific, so we check the ground where your wall goes before the footing.
Get a block wall estimate at your property
Tell us where the wall goes, its rough length and height, and whether it holds back soil. We'll reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate with no obligation, and I'll come out myself.
Block walls and masonry work
Look through these examples of block walls and related masonry to get a feel for finishes and styles before we talk about yours.
Block wall questions, answered
These are the questions people ask most before a block wall goes in. If yours isn't here, call or send the form and I'll answer it for your yard.
How much does a concrete block wall cost in Tuscaloosa?
Installing a concrete block wall usually costs about $15 to $20 per square foot across the US, and that's a national average for the work, not our price. On a retaining wall, plan the drainage into that budget, since it's part of the wall. I'll give you your own figure at the estimate.
Do I need a permit to build a block wall in Tuscaloosa?
The City of Tuscaloosa requires permits for all new construction, remodels and alterations, and its Building and Inspection Division handles them. The division also does plan reviews and inspections on residential projects, so ask when they'll check your wall. When a job needs a permit, we handle the application for you.
How do I keep water from building up behind a block retaining wall?
Give the water a way out, because industry guidance says a block retaining wall must have some means of keeping water from building up behind it. Where long, heavy rains are expected, that can mean a drain along the back of the wall. We plan the drainage when we price the wall, not after.
What causes cracks in a concrete block wall?
Shrinkage is a common cause, and industry guidance says those cracks aren't a structural concern. They can still spoil the look and let in moisture or air, so exposed walls above ground typically get control joints, planned breaks that give the crack a place to go, unless the wall has enough steel run sideways to do without them. A crack that keeps widening is a different story, and I'd want to see it.
Do I need extra approval for a wall near Lake Tuscaloosa?
You might, because projects next to Lake Tuscaloosa may need a Land Development Permit through the Office of the City Engineer. Work in the watersheds of Lake Tuscaloosa, Harris Lake or Lake Nicol may also need a Site Stabilization Plan. Tell us where the wall sits on your lot and we'll check what applies.
What if my house is in a Tuscaloosa historic district?
Additional regulations may apply in a Tuscaloosa Historic District, and the city's Planning & Zoning office has the details. If your home might sit in one, we check that before we schedule anything, so your wall doesn't run into a rule after it's built.
Tell us about the block wall you need
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, so call (205) 579-1102 or use the form and get your wall planned before the next hard rain.