Holding back a slope
A reinforced block wall on a solid footing turns a hillside that sheds dirt onto your lawn into level, usable yard, and it's the kind of wall block does best.
Concrete block walls in Loveland CO - a wall that stands on a firm, drained footing
A slope washing into the yard or an old wall leaning out? We build block walls on solid ground, with drainage planned in.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What goes into a concrete block wall
A concrete block wall in Loveland, CO is hollow concrete block laid on a poured concrete footing, the base that keeps the wall from tipping or sliding, with steel set upright in the block cores to resist the soil pushing behind it. It's how you hold back a slope, level out a yard or give a patio a solid edge.
Most folks call us because a slope keeps washing onto the lawn, an old timber wall is leaning, or they've wanted a level spot in the yard for years. The price mostly comes down to how long and tall the wall is, how deep we have to dig for the footing, how much drainage the spot needs, whether we can get equipment into the yard, and whether you want plain block, a cap or a finish over it.
The schedule turns more on paperwork and weather than on laying block, because a permit review can take weeks and a footing can't go into frozen ground. On each job we check with the city's building department, and when a permit is needed we handle the application and set up the inspections. The estimate I write at your place lays out your price and exactly what it covers.
Trained on a city masonry crew
I learned masonry on a municipal crew rebuilding sidewalks, steps and walls, then started this business in 2023 to bring that same careful, ground-up work to people's homes.
The one who prices it builds it
I'm the one who comes out, walks the slope with you and writes the estimate, and I'm on site working next to our masons, so nothing gets lost between the quote and the wall.
What you're paying for, in writing
We write down everything the price covers so you can see it in one place, including the footing and drainage, which are the easiest parts to leave off a bargain quote.
How we build a block wall from the footing up
A block wall is only as good as the ground under it, so we dig to firm, undisturbed soil or compact the fill until it's solid, then pour the footing and set steel upright for the block cores. Loveland's building code lists a frost depth of 30 inches, which is how deep the ground here can freeze, and a footing should sit below that line, so the dig on a wall here can run 30 inches or more before the first block goes down. Larimer County calls for a design by a Colorado registered engineer on every retaining wall 4 feet or taller in the county, and for walls inside Loveland city limits, that's one of the things we check with the city before we dig.
Water building up behind a wall is what usually shoves it out of line, so drainage, which also limits what frost can do, goes into the plan and the price from day one instead of showing up as an extra once the hole is open. Larimer County notes that shrink-swell soils are common here, especially along the Front Range, and in Colorado that soil is usually fairly dry until rain, snowmelt or lawn water reaches it and it swells. We keep water from collecting behind the wall with drains through it, and where a spot takes long, heavy rains, a continuous drain along the back of the wall can go in as well.
Before any block goes up, I'll show you where the control joints go and why. They're vertical breaks we build into the wall on purpose where stress is likely to build up, so the block has a planned place to move as it shrinks. Yard walls are what we're talking about here, so if the block is going under a house, see foundation block wall installation, and if you'd like a grill island or bar built on a block core, take a look at outdoor kitchen masonry.
What homeowners use block walls for
Terraces and raised beds
A few short block walls can step a sloped yard into flat terraces for planting or seating, which are easier to water, mow and actually enjoy than one long hill.
Screen and patio walls
A freestanding block wall can screen a patio, hot tub or utility corner, and it takes stucco, paint or a stone face if bare gray block isn't the look you want.
Replacing a wall that's leaning
When an old timber or stacked wall starts leaning, we take it out, work out why it moved and rebuild in block, fixing the cause instead of just the part that shows.
Get a written estimate for your block wall
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come look at the spot and write up a free estimate, with no obligation.
Wall length and height
A rough length and height, even paced off in the yard, helps me come ready with the right questions about the footing and how much soil the wall holds back.
What the wall needs to do
Tell us whether it's holding back a slope, leveling a garden or just screening a view, because a wall carrying soil gets built very differently from one standing alone.
Your home or a rental
Let us know if the property is your primary residence or a rental, since that changes which of the city's permit and license rules apply to the job.
Examples of block, brick and stone walls
Example photos of block finishes, wall caps, veneer and layouts, so you can point at what you like when we meet.
Block wall questions we hear in Loveland
Straight answers to what Loveland homeowners ask most about block wall cost, permits, doing it yourself, cracks and rentals.
How much does a concrete block wall cost per square foot in Loveland?
Installing a concrete block wall across the US usually costs about $15 to $20 per square foot. That's a national starting point, not a Loveland quote, and the footing depth and drainage your spot needs move it from there. For your own figure, the estimate I write at your place lists the price and everything it covers.
Do I need a permit to build a block wall in Loveland?
A new wall may need one, because the City of Loveland requires a building permit for new construction, additions or alterations, and we check with the city on every job. The city currently estimates 20 to 30 working days per round of plan review, so when a permit is needed, build that wait and any extra rounds into your start date.
Can I build a block wall myself at my own house in Loveland?
Yes, a homeowner can do their own work on the home that's their primary residence, though the city also requires a homeowner affidavit. If you go that route, put your effort into the footing and the drainage, because that's what decides whether a wall stays straight. If it's tall or holding back a lot of soil, I'm happy to come take a look first.
Is a crack in my concrete block wall a problem?
A thin crack from the block shrinking usually isn't, because shrinkage cracks in concrete masonry aren't a structural concern. A wall that leans, bulges or has a crack that keeps opening up is a different story, and that usually points back to the footing or water behind it. Give us a call and I'll tell you honestly if it can wait.
Does a contractor need a Loveland license to build a wall at a rental property?
If the wall counts as structural work, yes, because the city requires a valid Loveland contractor's license for any structural work on rental homes, multi-family buildings and non-residential buildings. Mention that it's a rental when you reach out so we can sort that out before anything else. We're licensed and fully insured.
Other masonry work that goes with walls
Call us about your block wall
We take calls seven days a week from 7 AM to 11 PM, so call (970) 292-7476, email hello@lovelandconcreteandmasonry.com or use the form.