Foundation block wall installation in Alameda CA - a wall that holds back the soil
Planning a new basement or crawlspace wall under your house? We build it from block, braced and dampproofed before any soil goes back.
Foundation block walls hold up your house. Here's when you need one.
A foundation block wall is the masonry your house stands on, built from concrete block for a full basement, a crawlspace, a short stem wall under the framing, or a row of piers. At Allied Alameda Concrete and Masonry, we build them in Alameda and across the East Bay, in Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, Castro Valley and many other cities around them.
Everything above rests on this wall, so a mistake below ground shows up later as cracked plaster, sticking doors and sloping floors. If your current wall can be saved, foundation repair may be the better answer, and I'll say so plainly.
The price mostly turns on the wall's height and length, whether it's reinforced, how much digging and soil handling it takes, how easy the site is to reach and what the ground and water call for. The schedule turns on the permit and on when the floor framing goes in, and the written estimate lays out the scope for your house.
You might need a foundation block wall. Here's what to look for.
Crumbling or cracked foundation
Old concrete or brick that flakes away, crumbles to the touch or opens wide cracks is often past patching. Waiting lets the house keep settling onto a weaker base, which means more work above once the wall is replaced.
A damp crawlspace or basement
Standing water, musty air or a white powdery crust on the walls means water is coming through. An old wall that stays wet keeps weakening, so the longer it goes, the more of it usually needs replacing.
Plans to add on or dig down
An addition, a new basement or a house set onto a proper perimeter foundation all start with new walls below ground. Getting the wall planned early keeps the rest of the project from waiting on it.
Building your foundation block wall. Here's how it goes.
When you call or write, we reply to set a time, and I come out myself to look at the house with you. I'll explain what I see, and I'll tell you what can't be known until the old wall is out or the digging starts. Then I send a written estimate that spells out the scope.
Once you're ready, we take care of the city steps and schedule the work, and our own small crew of masons builds the wall while I check in on site. Dampproofing is part of the plan from the first day, so it isn't squeezed in after the walls are up.
We brace new block walls, or wait for the floor framing, before any soil goes back against them, because a wall designed to be held at the top can crack or even fail if the dirt goes in first. When the ground is back, we clean up and walk the finished job with you.
Planning a foundation block wall? Tell us about the job.
Send your address, whether the basement is finished or has a slab, and any plans. We reply within one business day to set a free, no-obligation visit on site.
(510) 254-3205Foundation block walls in Alameda. And the cities around it.
In Alameda, the city can issue a perimeter foundation permit over the counter for an unfinished basement with no concrete slab, if the house isn't raised or changed outside, so look at the city's current foundation permit steps before planning around it. We handle the application and work with the city either way. We build the same walls in Oakland and Berkeley, and wherever a lot sits low or wet, water control gets planned before the first block goes down.
Questions about foundation block walls? Start here.
Read through the answers below about foundation block walls in Alameda, and if your question isn't here, call us at (510) 254-3205 and ask.
Is concrete block a good choice for a basement or crawlspace wall?
Yes, block is well suited below ground because it's strong, durable and economical, and it resists fire, insects and noise. Plain block walls have held back soil for a long time, but reinforced walls are catching on because a thinner reinforced wall can resist heavy soil pressure. I'll tell you which suits your wall and why.
Does a foundation contractor in Alameda need a license?
Yes, under the state contractors board's rule, any work that needs a permit needs a licensed contractor, even when the job comes to less than $1,000. Contractors applying for building permits in Alameda also need a current city business license, and we're licensed and insured.
How do I find out if my Alameda lot is at risk of liquefaction?
Start with the state's EQ Zapp map, which shows whether a property sits in an earthquake hazard zone. A federal map shows liquefaction risk in Alameda, where strongly shaken wet sand can act like liquid, but it's drawn at a regional scale, so only borings drilled at your lot settle it. New construction and significant remodels also need a site-specific geologic study.
Who is responsible for dampproofing a foundation wall in Alameda?
Where the city's retaining wall standard applies, the owner has to provide dampproofing to slow moisture through the wall, plus ways to keep water pressure from building up behind it. The standard also leaves it to the owner to check that this minimum is enough for the job, so we plan the water side from day one and go over it with you.
Will digging out for a new foundation wall tear up my walkway?
Usually, yes, any path or paving right against the wall has to come up so we can dig, and I'll note what's affected in the estimate. Once the soil is back, we can rebuild it as part of walkway construction, and if you've been thinking about outdoor kitchen masonry for the yard, that's a good time to talk it over too.
Planning masonry work under your house? Ask for a free estimate.
Tell us your address and what you're planning, and we'll set a time to come look. Calling early leaves time for the permit before digging begins.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
