Foundation block wall installation in Athens GA - a wall built on solid footing
Building an addition or a new house and need a block foundation? We start with the ground and the water so the wall holds.
What goes into building a block foundation wall in Athens?
Foundation block wall installation in Athens means building the below-grade wall your house or addition sits on out of concrete block, set on a concrete footing and protected from the water in the soil around it, so the house has a strong, dry wall to rest on.
Most people who call about this are putting up something new, like an addition, a garage or a whole house, and they want to know the wall under it won't crack or leak. If you've got an older foundation that's already cracking, that's foundation repair instead. Block suits work below ground because it's strong, lasts, costs less than a lot of options and stands up to fire and insects. The price moves with how long and tall the wall is, how much soft soil has to come out before the footing goes in, and what kind of water protection your lot calls for. The schedule turns on those same things, plus Athens-Clarke County's permit review and the weather while the trench is open. When I come out, the estimate I write for your wall lays out what we'll do and why.
What happens after you call us about a foundation wall?
Call or send the form
Call (706) 395-0746, send the form or email support@athensconcreteandmasonry.com with your address, roughly how long and tall the wall will be, and any spots where water collects on the lot. We'll get back to you and set a time for me to come out, whether you're in Athens or one of the cities around it like Winder or Monroe.
I look at the site
I walk the spot with you, listen to what you've noticed and answer your questions, because the ground and the way water moves across your lot shape the footing and the wall. Then I write up an estimate that says what we'll do and why, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
We take care of permits
Once you say yes, we handle any permit the job needs, the application and the inspections, with the county's Building Permits and Inspections Department, which enforces the codes on structural strength and stability. The county says processing can take up to 2 days or more, so we leave room for that before the start date.
We build and walk it
Our crew builds the wall, and I work right alongside them the whole way. When it's done, we walk the finished job with you and go over what's been built.
How we build a foundation block wall, and the work that comes after it
What's in the ground decides how a foundation wall holds up, so before the first block goes down I look at the soil where the footing will sit and at how water will move around the wall. The footing is usually cast-in-place concrete set below the frost depth, so freezing water in the soil can't heave the wall, and where the native soil is weak or soft it usually has to come out and be replaced with compacted soil, gravel or concrete. Then our crew lays the block course by course, the wall gets the water protection the site calls for, and we plan drainage that carries water away, since less water against the wall means less pressure for it to hold back and less chance of cracks or leaks. We don't put soil back against a new wall until it's ready to carry the load, because the trade's guidance is to brace it or have the first floor framed on top first, and a wall built to be held at the top can crack or even fail if it's backfilled too soon.
Once the foundation's in, the ground around the house is usually torn up anyway, so it's a good time to plan what goes next to it. We do walkway construction for the path to a new door, graded so rain runs away from the wall, and if the addition opens onto the yard, our outdoor kitchen masonry can build counters and a grill surround in block and stone to match.
Get an estimate for your foundation wall
Send your address, the rough length and height of the wall, and any drainage worries, and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free estimate at your property, with no obligation. I come out myself to look at the site and write it up.
Block foundation wall questions from Athens homeowners
How much does a block foundation wall cost in Athens, GA?
Installing a concrete block wall across the US usually costs about $16 to $19 per square foot, so treat that as a starting point and not a price for your wall. Footing work, how much soft soil has to come out, the wall's height, any steel and the water protection your lot needs all move it, and your estimate works that out for your own wall.
Does my foundation wall need waterproofing or dampproofing?
Dampproofing is usually enough where water won't build up pressure against the wall, and waterproofing is needed where it might, which a masonry trade group says is how building codes typically handle it. A high water table or backfill that drains poorly, like heavy clay, can create that pressure. Sheet membranes and panels also depend less on careful surface prep than coatings, and many stay intact if the wall settles or shifts, which counts for more on a wet lot.
Who can build a foundation wall in Georgia?
The county says a Georgia state license is needed for contracting work costing $2,500 or more, in the Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial or General Contractor category. The state licensing board licenses residential contractors and makes Residential Basic and Residential Light Commercial ones show continuing education to renew, so it's fair to ask whether a license is current. We're fully licensed and insured, and glad to answer that question.
Does a block foundation wall need steel inside?
Not always, because concrete block foundation walls can be built without reinforcing steel. Walls holding back a lot of soil may need it, though. How much backfill your wall will carry is one of the things I look at when I come out, and the estimate says whether steel is part of the job.
How do I keep water away from a new block foundation wall?
Start with gutters and downspouts, because they keep roof water from collecting near the foundation. Downspouts should send that water away from the walls through plastic drainage tubing or splash blocks, and the drainage we plan at the wall handles what soaks into the ground.
Can I still change my floor plan before a block foundation goes in?
Usually, yes. Block goes up one unit at a time, so changes to the floor plan or the wall height are easy to work in, and it's simplest to tell us before the footing is poured.
Other work that often comes with a new foundation
Walkway construction
A new addition usually needs a path to its door, and a walkway graded away from the house keeps rainwater from running back toward the foundation.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If the new space opens onto a patio, block and stone counters and a grill surround can be built to match the house and stand up outdoors.
Book a look at your foundation site
Footing and drainage choices are easiest to settle before anyone digs, so call (706) 395-0746 or send the form early, and know that every wall we build is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.