Foundation block wall installation in West Palm Beach FL - walls built on firm ground
Need a block foundation under an addition or new build? We build on firm ground and don't backfill until the wall has its support.
What does building a block foundation wall involve?
Foundation block wall installation in West Palm Beach means building the concrete block walls a house or addition rests on, such as stem walls, crawlspace walls and piers, starting from firm ground so the structure above has a strong base.
Most calls for this come from people adding a room or building on a lot who want the base right before anything goes on top of it. Block suits work below ground because it's strong, lasts, keeps costs reasonable and stands up to fire, insects and noise. The job goes in stages, from clearing and checking the ground to the footing, the block, and then the backfill once the wall has its support.
The price moves with the wall's length and height, how much soil will press against it, and whether soft ground has to be dug out and replaced first. The schedule turns mostly on that ground work and on waiting for the wall's support before backfill. When I come out, the estimate explains what we'd do and why. If you also want an outdoor kitchen or a walkway, we can price those on the same visit.
What a foundation block wall needs
A block foundation wall is only as good as what's under it and what gets packed against it. These are the parts of the job I'd want you to understand before we start.
Firm ground under the footing
We make sure the footing, the base the wall sits on, goes on undisturbed native soil with roots and debris cleared. Soft spots get dug out and replaced with compacted soil, gravel or concrete.
A solid top row
A solid top course, the last row of block, spreads the weight of the house above across the wall and helps it resist soil gas and termites.
Support before backfill
A wall meant to be held at the top can crack or fail if soil is packed against it early, so we hold off on backfill until it's braced or the first floor is on.
What goes against the wall
Guidance favors free-draining granular fill, stony material that water runs through, packed in layers with heavy equipment kept back so the wall's drainage and waterproofing stay intact. I'll talk you through what goes in and why.
Questions about block foundation walls
How much does a foundation block wall cost in West Palm Beach?
Installing a concrete block wall usually costs about $16 to $19 per square foot across the US. That's a national figure for block wall work in general, so treat it as a starting point and not as a price for a foundation on your lot. The estimate I write after walking your site gives you a figure for your own wall.
Does a block foundation wall need steel inside it?
Not always, because block foundation walls can be built without reinforcing steel, but a wall holding back a lot of soil may need it. Where there's steel, the wall can be partially grouted, with grout only in the hollow spaces holding the steel, or solidly grouted with every space filled. If deep soil will sit against your wall, ask early whether the design calls for steel.
What is the best way to keep rain away from a block foundation wall?
Finish the backfill with a top layer of soil that lets little water through, and slope the ground away from the house. That way rain runs off the surface instead of soaking down against the block.
How do I find the wind speed that applies to my lot in Palm Beach County?
In Palm Beach County the wind speed that applies depends on the parcel, and the county has built wind speed map tools to look it up. Whoever designs your wall and the house on it should work from the figure for your lot.
How do Florida contractor licenses differ?
Florida has two kinds of contractor license, and they cover different areas. A certified license is good statewide, while a registered license only covers the cities or counties where the contractor holds a certificate of competency, so it's worth asking which one a contractor has.
What should I have ready before asking for a foundation wall estimate?
Have the property address, what the wall is for, its rough length and height, and a few photos of the site ready. That lets me show up already knowing what to look at closely. Call (561) 268-0285 or send the details through the form on this page.
Why West Palm Beach homeowners call BR West Palm Beach Masonry & Concrete for foundation walls
We're based in West Palm Beach and work in the cities around it across Palm Beach County. You can count on plain answers about your wall and a crew that's careful around your home.
I come out myself
The person who walks your site and writes your estimate is me, the owner, not a salesperson.
Our own crew of masons
Our own masons lay the block, and I check on the work as it goes.
In business since 2013
I learned block on new houses going up across Palm Beach County before starting this business 13 years ago.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm glad to show you both when I come out.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, because a wall that only looks right on the last day isn't one I'll put my name on.
Talk through your foundation wall plans
Call (561) 268-0285 before the design is final, so questions about steel and how much soil the wall holds back get settled while they're still easy to change.
What happens when you call about a foundation block wall?
Each job is planned around your house and the rest of your build, starting with a close look at the ground the wall will sit on.
Call or message
Call (561) 268-0285 or send a message through the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time to come out.
I walk the site
I come out, look at where the wall will go with you and talk through the ground, the soil load and what goes against it.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate that explains what we'd do and why, so you can judge the plan before you decide.
Build and walk-through
When you're ready, we handle any permit the job calls for, our masons build the wall with me checking in, and we look it over together.