Inspections at each stage
On the city's block wall sheet, inspections come at the footing, at the bond beam along the top, with steel set before grouting, and at final. Plan your schedule around each visit.
Foundation block wall installation in Rialto, CA - a wall that drains and stays dry
Planning a new room or garage that needs a block foundation? We build the wall with drainage planned in, so water has somewhere to go.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What a foundation block wall does for your house
Foundation block wall installation in Rialto means our crew builds the concrete block wall that carries your new room, garage or addition, and below ground that same wall holds back the soil pressing against it.
Most people who call about one are adding onto the house or building something new, and the wall has two jobs, carrying the weight above and keeping the ground and water outside. Price moves with the wall's length and height, how deep we dig, the drainage and waterproofing your site calls for, and how easy it is to get the crew and block to the spot.
The schedule turns mostly on city review, the inspection visits and the wait for the floor above, which I explain below. You'll get a written estimate that says what we'll do and why, and when the job needs a permit, we handle the application with the city and are there for the inspections.
I walk the job myself
I'm the one who comes out to measure and give you the estimate, and I'm on site running our crew while the wall goes up, so the person who planned it sees it built.
A quick yes or no
If a foundation wall is the right call for your project, I'll tell you, and if it isn't worth doing, I'll say that too, fast, so you're not left wondering where things stand.
Done once and done right
A foundation wall is hard to fix once a room sits on it, and a wall that has to be redone costs a family twice, so we build it to be done the first time.
How we build a block foundation wall
We plan drainage around the wall from day one, so water has somewhere to go besides through the block. That means working out where water collects and where it leaves before the footing is dug, not after the wall is up and the soil is already against it.
We don't backfill until the floor is on or the wall is braced, because the soil pushes on the wall and the floor above is part of what holds it in place. So expect the wall to stand open for a while, and once the floor or bracing is ready, we bring the fill back in layers and pack each one instead of dumping it all in at once.
If you've got more masonry planned near the new room, such as outdoor kitchen masonry on a patio or walkway construction out to a new door, we can plan it in the same visit so water from one doesn't end up against the other.
What to plan for when building in Rialto
Footings near the property line
If any part of the wall or its footing crosses onto a neighbor's lot, the city wants their written permission, and it may need to be notarized. Tell me early where the line sits.
City handouts worth reading first
The city's forms and handouts page has its block wall handouts, including freestanding and retaining walls, and reading them before we meet makes our walk-through quicker.
Checking your address for quake zones
The state's EQ Zapp map shows whether your Rialto address sits in a mapped earthquake hazard zone, such as liquefaction, where soil can briefly act like quicksand. It's worth a look before we plan.
Get a written estimate for your foundation wall
We get back to you within one business day, then I come out, measure, take photos and write up what we'll do and why. The estimate is free, with no pressure to book.
What to send us
Your address, the wall's length and height, any plans you have and where the property line sits. That lets me show up already knowing what we're looking at.
Where we work
We're based in Rialto and work in the cities around it, including Fontana, Colton and San Bernardino, with the same way of building wherever we go.
Rather talk it through?
Call (909) 546-5001 Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 10 PM, or weekends from 6 AM to 9 PM, and give us the same details over the phone.
Block and masonry work examples
These photos show block courses, footings, wall finishes and nearby masonry layouts we can talk through while planning your foundation wall.
Questions about foundation block walls in Rialto
Here's what homeowners usually ask before we build a block foundation wall, from cost and permits to water and who can do the work.
How much does a foundation block wall cost in Rialto, CA?
A basic concrete block wall usually costs about $15.50 to $19.50 per square foot to install, going by national averages, so treat that as a starting point and not a Rialto price. A foundation wall adds digging, drainage and waterproofing a basic wall may not need, so your figure comes in the written estimate after I measure the job.
Do I need a permit to build a foundation block wall in Rialto?
Check with Rialto's Building Department, which issues building permits in the city and has the current rules for walls that hold back soil. The city's standard block wall sheet requires permits for walls over 42 inches, but a foundation wall retains earth, so it falls outside that sheet. If I'm not sure what your wall needs, I check with that office before we start.
Does a block foundation wall need waterproofing or just dampproofing?
Building codes typically call for waterproofing where water pressure in the soil may build up, and dampproofing, a lighter coating, where it won't. A high water table or heavy clay can create that pressure, so the ground around your house decides which one your wall gets. Draining water away also cuts that pressure, which lowers the chance of cracks and leaks.
Who is allowed to build a foundation block wall in California?
A contractor with California's C-29 Masonry Contractor classification, which covers installing block for load bearing walls for structures. Ask whoever you're considering whether they hold it before you sign anything. Fieldstone Rialto Concrete and Masonry is licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
What kind of fill goes back against a new foundation wall?
The best backfill is free-draining granular material, gravel-like fill that lets water through, with no expansive soil mixed in. Expansive soil swells when it gets wet and pushes on the wall, so it's worth asking any contractor what they plan to put back. Your written estimate from us spells out the fill for your wall.
Related masonry work around a new foundation
Tell us about the wall you need
Call (909) 546-5001 or send the form before your plans are final, so drainage and the footing get planned with the house, not around it.