Concrete block walls in Hawthorne CA - built to stand straight on a solid footing
Need privacy, less street noise or a slope held back? We build block walls on footings dug and set right, so they stay put.
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry crew based in Hawthorne. We do brick repair, chimney work and solid block walls for homes here and in the cities around it. Concrete block walls in Hawthorne are a big part of our week, from privacy walls along a property line to walls that hold back a slope.
- Owner comes out to price it
- Footing gets the most time
- Site covered and cleaned as we go
Concrete block walls in Hawthorne, built from the footing up
People usually call about a concrete block wall in Hawthorne, CA because the yard is missing something: privacy from the neighbors, quiet from the street, or a slope that keeps sliding onto the patio. A freestanding wall that screens and a retaining wall that holds back dirt are two different builds. Either way, we put our time into the footing, the part nobody sees and the whole wall leans on.
Price moves with length, height, whether the wall holds back soil, the finish and how far we carry block to reach the spot. The schedule turns on the footing and, for a retaining wall, how soon the dirt can go back. A wall under the house is foundation block wall installation, a separate job. You get your price in writing after I see the yard.
- The job first. Before I measure anything, I ask whether the wall is for privacy, quiet or holding back dirt, since each one changes the build.
- Footing and dowels. We dig and pour the footing that keeps a freestanding wall from tipping or sliding, with steel dowels usually running up into the block.
- Laying the block. We lay the block level and plumb, row by row, because a wall that starts crooked only gets more crooked as it goes up.
- Hauling it off. When the wall's done, we haul off the dirt from the footing trench and the leftover block so you get your yard back.
Block walls we build
Most block walls we build fall into one of two kinds, walls that stand on their own and walls that hold back dirt, plus a few jobs where block is the bones of something else.
Privacy walls
Freestanding walls along a property line or the street, for privacy, security and a quieter yard, on a footing sized to the height you want.
Garden walls
Low walls that edge a bed, frame a patio or give a flat yard some shape, finished in bare block, stucco or stone to suit the house.
Retaining walls
Walls that hold back a slope or level part of the yard. These carry soil, so the footing, drainage and backfill get planned before we dig.
Outdoor kitchen bases
Block is a common core for grill islands and counters, and we cover that side of the work on our outdoor kitchen masonry page.
Have a different wall in mind, like gate piers or a wall around the trash cans? Ask about it when you call.
Why a block wall is worth building right
A block wall built right just stands there and keeps doing the job you built it for. One that looks great for a year and then starts cracking is a bad meal with nice plating, and the difference is mostly in parts you don't see.
- Water kept from behindA block wall that holds back soil needs a way to stop water building up behind it, so ask any bidder how theirs does.
- Steel and control jointsThe block trade group recommends horizontal steel plus control joints, planned breaks set by local practice, to keep cracks in check as block shrinks.
- A cap on topA cap, which masons call coping, keeps water from getting into the block from above and can be brick, cast stone or natural stone.
- A stucco-ready faceBlock is an excellent base for stucco because the two materials are so alike, so a smooth stucco face is an easy option.
How a block wall job goes
I come out and look
You call, and I come out to see where the wall goes and what's around it, like gutters, downspouts and which way the yard drains.
A written estimate
I write the estimate myself after seeing the yard, and you get the price in writing. Read it over and ask me anything before you decide.
Build, clean, walk it
Our crew preps the site, covers what needs covering and cleans as we go. When the wall's done, I walk it with you.
Why people call us for block walls
We're a small Hawthorne crew, and I'd rather do the slow part right than save a day and hand you a problem. Solid block walls are one of the things we're best known for. Call (424) 307-8119 or send the form below.
The owner prices it
I come out and write the estimate myself, so the person who sizes up your footing is the same person who answers for it.
Our own crew builds it
Our own crew lays your wall, with me or our lead mason running the job, so nobody you've never heard of shows up.
A guarantee behind it
Every wall is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and I'd rather hear what bugs you at the walk-through than months later.
Block walls in Hawthorne and nearby cities
Before we talk design, you can type your address into the state's EQ Zapp map and see whether your lot sits in a mapped earthquake hazard zone. That's worth knowing before a footing gets planned, whether you're in Hawthorne or over in Lawndale, so bring what you find to the estimate.
Getting block to the spot matters too. One Los Angeles supplier's guide says tight side yards, hillside lots and hand carrying block all add labor hours, and easy truck access keeps a bid down. We're based in Hawthorne and work the cities around it, including Inglewood, and narrow paths beside the house are common, so clearing one helps.
Tell us about your wall
Send what the wall is for, its rough length and height, and yard access, or call (424) 307-8119. We reply within one business day, and the on-site estimate is free with no obligation.
Call (424) 307-8119Block wall questions we hear
What's the difference between a block privacy wall and a retaining wall?
A privacy wall stands on its own footing and just has to stay upright, while a retaining wall holds back soil and the water that soaks into it. That's why I ask what you need before anything else, since the footing, drainage and backfill all change with the answer.
Who is allowed to build a concrete block wall in California?
In California, building walls for houses and fences, whether they carry weight or not and with or without mortar, falls under the state licensing board's masonry license class. We're licensed and insured, and I'm happy to walk through how we'd build yours at the estimate.
How soon can soil go back against a new block retaining wall?
Soil should go back only after the block has gained enough strength or the wall is braced, according to the block trade group's guidance. So plan any regrading or planting for after that point, and I'll tell you when we've reached it.
What should a retaining wall footing in Hawthorne sit on?
It should sit on firm, undisturbed soil or on well compacted fill, according to the block trade group. That's a fair question to ask on any bid, ours included, and it's one of the first things I look at in your yard.