Concrete block walls in Novato CA - a wall that drains and holds back the soil
Dirt washing onto your patio or a yard you want to level out? We build block walls with the footing, steel and drainage sorted first.
What goes into a concrete block wall in Novato?
We build concrete block walls in Novato to hold back soil, level a yard or stand on their own along a property line, and every one starts with a concrete footing and steel before any block goes up.
Most people who call about a block wall have dirt creeping onto a patio, an old wall starting to lean or a yard they want leveled. If the wall will carry a house, that's foundation block wall installation, which is a separate job. The price mostly moves with the wall's length and height, how much digging the footing takes, how much steel and drainage it needs, and whether you add waterproofing or a cap. The schedule turns on the digging, the rain and whether a permit is needed, and you'll get your own numbers in a written estimate after I've seen the site. If your wall needs a building permit, which Novato requires for a fence over six feet tall, we pull it through Novato Permits and deal with the city for you.
Why people hire us for block walls
Most people call us because something is cracking or leaning, or because they want a new wall built right the first time, and they want a straight answer before anything gets dug.
I come out myself
The person who looks at your wall and writes up the estimate is the owner, not a salesperson.
Masons build your wall
My crew of masons does the work with me, so I'm on site while your wall goes up.
Building since 2017
I started this business in Novato in 2017, after years on a crew mixing mortar and hauling block.
Licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask for proof of both when I come out.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, from the footing you'll never see to the last course on top.
The block walls we build
The right wall for your yard depends on whether it holds back soil or stands on its own, how tall it needs to be and what it should look like.
Ask us about your block wall
Call (628) 209-1088 or ask for an estimate, and have the wall's planned length, height and a few photos ready.
Block walls from Optimum Novato Concrete and Masonry start underground
I care most about the parts of a wall nobody looks at once it's done. We sort out the footing, the steel and the drainage before the first block goes down, because that's where walls go wrong, and it's usually years before anyone finds out. A neat top course won't save a wall with a lazy footing.
Then we're patient. We don't fill in behind a new wall until it's ready to take the load, even if your yard sits half finished for a while, because soil pushed in too early can shove fresh block out of line. When the wall's done, we clean up so the only thing left to look at is the wall.
Block wall questions from Novato homeowners
How does a concrete block retaining wall hold back soil?
A block retaining wall holds back soil with a concrete footing that keeps the pressure of the earth from tipping or sliding it, and steel set upright in the block cores that resists the push. The block is the part you see, but the footing and the steel do the holding.
Why does a block retaining wall need drainage?
A block retaining wall needs a way to keep water from collecting behind it, because wet soil pushes harder than dry soil. Where long, heavy rains are expected, a continuous drain along the back can be added to the drains that pass through the wall, so the drain plan belongs in the design from the start.
Do I need waterproofing on a block wall in Novato?
Not every block wall needs it, but waterproofing is worth considering where rain is heavy, where frost is severe and where the soil behind the wall lets little water through. If the soil behind yours drains slowly, ask me whether it belongs in your estimate. A properly applied coating can keep a block wall weathertight for up to 10 years in most areas.
How long does it take to build a block retaining wall?
It takes longer than laying the block, because soil can't go in behind the wall until the masonry has gained enough strength or the wall has been braced. That wait is part of the schedule, and while the soil goes in, heavy equipment should stay back from the top of the wall by at least the wall's height.
What license does a contractor need to build a block wall in California?
Block walls fall under the masonry contractor class set by the state contractors board, which covers block walls for buildings and fences, with or without mortar. That class also covers the clear waterproofing, cleaning and caulking that go with masonry work, so one masonry contractor can handle the wall and its waterproofing.
How much does a concrete block wall cost in Novato?
The cost of a block wall in Novato comes down to its size and what it has to hold back, so I price each one after I've seen the spot. A tall retaining wall costs more than a short garden wall because it needs a bigger footing, more steel and more drainage, while plain block with no cap or facing and easy access for digging keeps the price down.
What happens when you call about a block wall in Novato?
We plan the job around your yard and what the wall has to do, and nothing gets dug until you've read the estimate and decided.
You get in touch
Call (628) 209-1088, email projects@novatoconcreteandmasonry.com or use the form, and tell us how long and tall you want the wall.
I come out myself
I look at the spot and tell you what I see, what I'd do and what I wouldn't bother spending your money on.
A written estimate
You get the estimate in writing, so you can read it over, ask questions and compare it before you decide.
We build, then walk it
The crew and I build the wall, and when we're done I walk it with you so you can see the finished work up close.
Concrete block walls in Novato and nearby cities
We're based in Novato and work in the cities below and beyond. The city's fence rules cap front-yard fences at three feet within 15 feet of the sidewalk and six feet elsewhere, so ask the Planning Division about your lot.
Get an estimate on your Novato wall
We pick up seven days a week from 8 AM to 9 PM, so call (628) 209-1088 or send the form for a free estimate.