Concrete block walls in Redondo Beach CA - a straight wall on a solid footing
Tired of a leaning wood fence or a slope that won't stay put? We build block walls on footings and steel that keep them straight.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
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What goes into a concrete block wall that lasts?
A concrete block wall in Redondo Beach is a masonry fence or garden wall that gives you privacy, security, shade, a break from wind and street noise, or simply a better-looking yard, and we build them from the footing up. Because a block wall stands in the weather on both faces, the materials, the design and the care in the building decide how long yours lasts.
Most calls I get about block walls come from people replacing a tired wood fence, closing in a side yard for privacy, or holding back a slope, which is really retaining wall construction with its own drainage to think about. The price moves with the wall's length and height, how much footing and steel it needs, and whether it holds back soil. The schedule turns on what the city needs from us before we start and on giving the footing and block time to gain strength. You'll get your own figure when I come out for the estimate, and every wall we build is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How do you know your yard needs a block wall, or a new one?
Wood fence leaning or rotting
Posts gone soft at the ground and boards pulling loose usually mean the fence is near its end, and patching it buys very little time. The longer it goes, the more likely a windy day finishes it, often onto the neighbor's side.
Cracks running through the block
A crack that runs through the block itself, or one that keeps getting wider, usually means the wall is moving or was never given room to shrink. Water gets into an open crack and works on the mortar and steel, so a small repair can turn into rebuilding a section.
Wall leaning or bulging out
A wall tipping away from the yard, or a retaining wall bowing toward you, usually points to a footing that can't hold it or water pushing from behind. That gets worse with time, and I'd rather look at it well before it reaches the point of coming down.
How we build concrete block walls
I put real care into the footing and the steel that ties it into the block, because that's the part you'll never see and it's what keeps the wall standing straight. We start by marking the line and digging the footing, then set the steel dowels that rise out of the concrete into the wall, because the footing is what holds a block wall in place and keeps it from tipping or sliding when wind or soil pushes on it. Once the footing is poured, we lay the block over that steel, fill the cores that need grout, finish the joints and set the cap, then clean up so you're left with a wall and not a mess.
Some walls lead to bigger jobs. When the block has to carry a house or an addition instead of standing along a lot line, that's foundation block wall installation, and we plan it around the weight it holds. A new wall beside a patio is also a good start for a grill counter or bar in matching block, which we build as outdoor kitchen masonry.
Freestanding privacy wall
This suits a side yard or back lot line where you want screening, some quiet from the street and a little shade. It stands on its own footing with nothing leaning on it but the wind, so the footing and steel are sized for that.
Retaining wall
This suits a sloped yard or a raised bed where the block holds soil back, which puts steady pressure on it and changes the footing and steel. The usual guidance is to wait on filling soil behind it until the block has gained enough strength or the wall is braced, and we plan the schedule around that.
Wall with a coping cap
This suits anyone who wants the top finished, because a coping along the top keeps water from getting into the block and makes the wall look done. Concrete brick, cast stone, brick and natural stone all work, so you can match the house or the patio.
Get a free estimate for your block wall
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at where the wall goes and give you a free estimate, with no obligation.
Call (424) 265-1368What happens when you call about a block wall in Redondo Beach?
Here's how a block wall goes from your first call to a finished wall, and who you'll be dealing with at each step along the way.
Call or send the form
You reach us by phone or through the form, and we set a time for me to come see the yard. If you know roughly where your property line runs, have that handy, because we'll talk about exactly where the wall goes.
I walk the wall line
I come out myself, walk where the wall will go and answer whatever you want to ask. You get an estimate that lays out the footing, steel, block and cap it covers, so you can see what you're paying for before you decide.
We handle the permit steps
If you go ahead, we sort out the permit steps with your city or county office before anyone digs. That way the wall goes in the way the city expects, with no surprises halfway through.
Our crew builds, I check
Our crew digs and pours the footing, sets the steel and lays the block, and I check the work as it goes, especially the footing before it's covered. When the cap is on, we clean up and walk the finished wall with you.
Why Redondo Beach homeowners call CJ Redondo Beach Concrete & Masonry for block walls
The footing goes out of sight the day the first row of block goes on it, so ask me anything about it at the estimate, no question is too small. When you're ready, get in touch or call (424) 265-1368.
I give every estimate myself
I come out to look at the job and give the estimate, and I'm back on site checking the crew's work as the wall goes up. You deal with the person who priced the job, so what we talked about is what gets built.
Running this business since 2017
I started this business in 2017 after growing up mixing mortar for my uncle and spending years in other work. Coming back taught me to slow down and explain a job before we start it, so you'll know what's going into your wall and why.
Licensed in California, fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm happy to show you that when I come out. A wall job means digging, heavy block and a crew in your yard, so that coverage matters before anyone breaks ground.
Block walls, footings and permits in Redondo Beach
In Redondo Beach, the city's Building & Safety office tells you whether your wall needs a building permit and what the fees are, and applications, plans and related documents all go in online through the city's Citizen Portal. That answer is the city's to give for your wall, so I don't guess at it standing in your driveway, and when your wall does need a permit, we take care of it. The city also keeps a zoning hazard map for plan check that marks zones like flood zones and oil wells, and a handout on block walls, titled CMU Block Wall Detail, that you or a builder can ask for, so we look at both before we settle the footing and design.
A lot of the block walls we build run along side yards and back lot lines where houses sit close together, so we plan how block and concrete come in and keep the neighbor's side clean while we work. We build the same walls in Hermosa Beach and Torrance, and we check the permit steps with each city's office the same way.
Questions about block walls in Redondo Beach
Do I need a permit for a block wall in Redondo Beach?
Redondo Beach Building & Safety decides that for your wall and sets the fees, so that's the office whose answer counts. We check with them before any digging and take care of the permit if your wall needs one.
How much does a concrete block wall cost in Redondo Beach?
A block wall is priced by its length and height, the footing and steel under it, whether it holds back soil and the cap you pick, so your figure comes from the estimate. A plain block face with a simple concrete cap keeps the cost down, while a stone or cast stone cap, a retaining design with drainage, or a tight side yard where block has to be carried in pushes it up.
How much can a contractor ask for up front on a block wall in California?
A down payment can be no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, under California's rules for home improvement contracts. Payments after that are listed in the contract and tied to work done or materials delivered, so you pay as the wall takes shape.
How do I choose a contractor for a concrete block wall?
Compare builders on how they'll design and build the wall, not just on the bottom line, because that's what gets you a wall that lasts longer. Ask how the footing will be sized, how the steel ties it into the block, and for a retaining wall, whether the footing will sit on firm undisturbed soil or well-compacted fill.
What is the best way to keep a block wall from cracking?
The block industry recommends horizontal steel in the wall plus control joints, which are planned vertical breaks that give the block room to shrink, placed the way builders in the area usually do it. I'll show you where they'd go on your wall at the estimate, because a long wall with no joints tends to crack on its own schedule.
Does a block retaining wall need drainage?
Yes, a block wall that holds back soil needs a way to keep water from building up behind it, so drainage belongs in the design from the start. Where long, heavy rain is expected, a continuous drain along the back can be added to the drains that run through the wall.
Other masonry work that pairs with block walls
- Foundation block wall installation
If you're adding a room, a garage or a raised floor, the block underneath carries the building, and that calls for a different footing and steel plan.
- Outdoor kitchen masonry
Planning to cook outside? Grill counters, bars and prep space can be built in block and finished to match the walls around your patio.
Service areas for concrete block walls
CJ Redondo Beach Concrete & Masonry is based in Redondo Beach, California, and we build block walls across the cities around it. The 12 cities below each have their own page, from Manhattan Beach to Lomita, and they aren't the only places we work.
Redondo Beach, CA
Start your block wall with one call
Call (424) 265-1368 or send the form with what the wall is for, roughly how long it runs and whether it holds back soil, so I come out ready to talk about the right footing.