Foundation block wall installation in Allentown PA - a wall that holds back the soil
Building an addition or replacing a failing basement wall? We set block on sound ground and brace it before any soil goes back.
What goes into building a block foundation wall in Allentown?
Foundation block wall installation in Allentown means building a concrete block wall up from a poured footing, so it holds back the soil packed against your basement or crawlspace while the floor framing above holds its top in place.
You're probably here because you're adding onto a house, putting a basement under a new garage or sunroom, or replacing a wall that's past saving. At Brickline Allentown Concrete and Masonry, I'd rather you understand what holds a foundation wall up before you hire anyone, and if your wall is cracked but still sound, foundation repair may be the better call.
The price follows the wall's length and height, how much digging the footing needs, what we find in the ground under it, and how the wall is reinforced and drained. The schedule turns on the weather, because cold days add steps, and on when your bracing or floor framing is ready, because the soil can't go back until the top of the wall is held. I'll put the scope for your wall in writing when I come out, so you're not guessing.
- Digging out for the footing, with enough room around it for our crew to work and drain the wall.
- Steel bars and grout in the block cores, placed where the wall's design calls for them.
- A top layer of dense soil that lets little rain through, sloped so water runs away from your house.
What happens when you call about a new foundation wall?
I handle the visit and the estimate myself, and I work alongside the small crew that builds the wall. Here's how a foundation wall job runs from your first call to the final walk-through.
Call or send us a message
Call (610) 424-2415, email office@allentownconcreteandmasonry.com or use the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. We answer the phone seven days a week, 7 AM to 11 PM.
I walk the site with you
I look over the ground and any plans with you and show you what I'm seeing before we talk through your options. Then I write up the estimate, so you know what's included before you decide anything.
We sort permits and build
Once you're ready, we take care of the permit side and get you on the schedule. Then our crew digs, pours the footing and builds the wall up course by course.
We walk the finished wall
Before we pack up, we walk the wall with you and go over the drain, the backfill and how the grade sheds water. The one promise we make on every job is simple, satisfaction guaranteed.
Block foundations, footings and masonry walls going up
These photos show block and footing work at different stages, from the first courses on a fresh footing to finished walls ready for backfill. They're examples of the trade, there to help you picture the job.
Curved stone edging separates a paved path from white gravel and a dense green hedge.
An outdoor kitchen island with a pale stone countertop and dark stone veneer stands on a large paved patio.
Curved retaining wall of pale stone blocks encloses a leafless shrub beside a brick house.
Outdoor kitchen with a stone veneer island and built-in grill beneath a beige pergola beside a house.
A broad walkway of tan and gray pavers fills an outdoor dining area with wooden picnic tables and potted trees.
Stone retaining walls frame a backyard patio with a fire pit, seating, and a brick house.
Get a written scope for your new foundation wall
Send the address, the wall's rough length and height, and any plans, and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. I'll walk the site with you and write up a free estimate, with no obligation.
(610) 424-2415Questions about block foundation walls in Allentown
These are the questions that come up before a new block foundation goes in. Where a rule or a guide sets the answer, I've said so, and where your site decides it, I'll tell you at the visit.
How much does a concrete block foundation wall cost per square foot?
Installing a concrete block wall across the US usually costs about $16 to $19 per square foot. That's a national figure for the work, not our price, and the digging, footing and drainage your site needs are what move your own number. The free estimate gives you the scope for your wall in writing.
Where do I apply for a building permit in Allentown?
You apply with the City of Allentown's building permit office on the 4th floor of City Hall, or online at css.allentownpa.gov. The application asks about the project, who's doing the work, where and how it'll be done, the estimated cost, and plans if they're needed. City code officials then inspect permitted work on site to check it meets minimum standards and uses the right materials.
Why is a block foundation wall braced before backfill?
A block foundation wall is designed to be held at the top, so until bracing or the first floor is in place, the soil pushing on it can crack it or even make it fail. That's why the backfill waits, even when an open trench is a nuisance. It's a fair question to ask any contractor you're weighing.
Can block foundation walls be built in cold weather?
Yes, but cold weather adds steps. Cold-weather masonry guidance says that between 40°F and 32°F, ice and snow are cleared off the foundation, the mixing water is heated, and new masonry is covered with a weather resistive membrane. If you're hoping for a winter start, plan for that extra work in the schedule.
How do I find out if my lot in Allentown is in a sinkhole area?
Start with the Lehigh County mapping from a statewide project, which shows carbonate bedrock areas with a reported history of sinkholes and areas that may be prone to them. The state's conservation department suggests checking whether your property sits in a limestone region through online searches, a state-licensed geologist, the county planning commission or your municipality. It's worth knowing before footing work, since the footing needs sound ground under it.
What is the best way to drain a new block foundation wall?
A foundation drain should sit below the top of the footing, so water along the wall has somewhere to go before it reaches the floor. It can run along the inside of the footing, or on both sides if the site needs it, and I'll tell you which I think yours needs once I've seen the ground.