Concrete block walls in Lincoln NE - a strong wall, built and finished the way you want
Need a new wall for your yard, garage or patio? We build strong block walls and plan where any shrinkage cracks will show up.
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Is a concrete block wall the right fit for your Lincoln property?
A concrete block wall in Lincoln is built from concrete blocks, either set in mortar or stacked dry and coated on both faces. People pick it because it's strong, durable and economical, and it stands up to fire, noise and insects.
Most folks who call about block want a wall that does a job, like closing in a yard, screening a patio or walling off part of a garage, and they want to know what it'll take. The price moves mostly with the wall's size, how it's built and finished, how easy the spot is to reach and how much work the base needs. The schedule turns on the method you pick, the weather and any permit the city asks for. When I come out, I put all of that in writing for your wall so you're not guessing.
How we build a concrete block wall
We start by marking out where the wall runs and getting the base ready for it. Then I talk you through a mortared wall and a dry-stacked, coated one, so you can weigh speed against the look you want. Before the first block goes down, I plan where the control joints, the planned breaks in the wall, will go, so if the block shrinks a little as it dries, any cracks show up at those joints instead of wandering across the face. Then our crew lays the wall with me on the job, and we clean up and haul off what's left.
Some block jobs tie into other work. If the wall will carry part of your house or sit below ground, that's foundation block wall installation, and we plan it as its own job. If the block is going under a counter for a grill, sink or bar, it's part of outdoor kitchen masonry.
A mortared block wall
This suits you if you want the familiar look of block with mortar lines and you're not in a rush. It takes a skilled crew to lay it straight and true, so if the wall is the first thing people see, this is usually the way I'd go.
A dry-stacked, coated wall
Also called surface bonded, the block is stacked without mortar and then coated on both faces, so it goes up faster and depends less on the crew's skill. The coating sheds rain very well, which makes it a good fit when speed and weather protection matter more than the look of mortar joints.
If an old wall is already cracking or leaning near where the new one will go, call before you plan around it, so I can see what's causing it.
What happens after you call about a block wall?
From the first call to the last walk-through, you deal with me. I see the spot myself, our own crew builds the wall, and nothing starts until you've seen the plan in writing.
Call or send the form
Call (402) 202-7624 or send the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. I do the site visits myself, so you're talking to the person who'll be on the job.
I look at the spot
I check where the wall goes, talk through mortared or coated, and explain what I'd do and why. You get a written estimate that spells out the work and what it costs, and if a smaller wall will do the job, I'll tell you so.
We handle permits and build
If you go ahead and the wall needs a permit, we take care of the application and set up the inspections. Then our own masons build it, with me there.
Walk the finished wall together
When the wall is up and cleaned off, I walk it with you and we go over anything you want looked at before we call it done. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Get a written estimate for your block wall
Send the form and we'll reply within 1 business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the spot and give you a free written estimate, with no pressure to book.
(402) 202-7624Concrete block wall permits and rules in Lincoln
Putting up a wall is on Lincoln's list of homeowner projects that Building and Safety issues building permits for, so we plan on a permit for a new block wall here. If your lot sits in a flood plain, the city also requires a separate Flood Plain Permit, and that's worth knowing before the wall is designed. The city inspects against the residential code it has adopted with its own local changes, and we take care of the paperwork and inspections as part of the job. If you have a question about your own wall, Lincoln Building and Safety can answer it at 402-441-7882.
We're based in Lincoln and work in the cities around it, and the calls we get are usually for walls around patios, yards and garages. The job runs the same way in Seward or Gretna, except we check with the office that covers your address.
Block wall questions we hear in Lincoln
How much does a concrete block wall cost in Lincoln NE?
Across the US, a concrete block wall of about 220 square feet usually costs about $2,100 to $2,800 per job, before sales tax, fees and dump charges. That's a national figure and not our price, and your wall's size, method, finish and site will move it. Your written estimate shows what yours will cost.
Will a concrete block wall crack?
Most exposed block walls get some shrinkage cracking, and those cracks aren't a structural problem. Control joints keep them where they belong and help keep air and moisture out, because hairline cracks left alone can let wind-driven rain through and make the wall perform worse. That's why we plan the joints before we build.
What causes cracks in a block wall with brick trim?
Clay brick and concrete block move differently, so a block wall with brick bands can crack unless the design allows for that movement. If you want brick accents, we plan for it from the start.
Does a block foundation wall need control joints?
Usually not. Below-ground foundation walls have traditionally gone without them, because a joint is hard to waterproof against water pressure and shrinkage cracks below ground tend to matter less. A foundation wall is a different job from a yard wall, and we plan it that way.
How do I prepare the ground before building a block wall?
The base under the wall has to be level and clean, with no ice, dirt, oil or mud on it, so the mortar bonds the way it should. We do that prep as part of the job, so all you need to do is clear the way.
What should I ask a contractor before building a block wall in Nebraska?
Ask how they'll build your wall, because block only works the way it's meant to when it's built right, and ask whether they're registered with the state. Nebraska requires contractors who work on someone else's property to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to walk you through how we'd build yours.
Related work that often goes with block walls
When the wall carries part of a house or sits below ground, it's a foundation wall, planned and built as a separate job from a yard wall.
Block makes a sturdy core for a grill island or bar counter, and we can face it in brick or stone to match your patio and house.
Talk with me about your block wall
Call (402) 202-7624 or use the form with the wall's location, rough size and whether your lot sits in a flood plain, so I come out ready to talk about permits.