Concrete Contractor in Downey, CA: Cement & Block Work

What cement and block work covers

Cement and block work is the masonry side of construction: concrete block walls, poured concrete for patios, walkways, driveways and slabs, and the footings and foundations that hold structures up. Concrete is unforgiving. It cures once, and mistakes in the base, the reinforcement or the finishing show up for as long as the surface is there.

Block walls are everywhere in Southern California, and Downey is no exception. Property-line walls, backyard dividers, planter walls and retaining walls are most often built from concrete masonry units laid in courses, with steel reinforcement set in the cores and grout poured in to lock it all together. A block wall that has been properly reinforced and footed can last for decades. One that was not tends to lean, crack or fail at the first real stress.

Concrete flatwork is the other half. A patio, a widened driveway or a walkway to a side gate all start with the same preparation: compacted base, forms set to the right slope for drainage, and joints cut so that the slab cracks where we want it to and not where it likes.

When cement or block work is the right answer

• A wall that leans or has stair-step cracks. Stair-step cracking in a block wall often means the footing has moved. The fix is usually rebuilding the affected section on a sound footing.
• A cracked, lifting or sunken slab. Concrete that has settled, shifted or developed trip hazards often needs replacement, not patching, especially where it channels water toward the house.
• You need a new property-line or privacy wall. Block walls offer privacy and durability that fencing cannot, and they are a common choice on Southern California lots.
• You want more usable outdoor space. A new patio slab or widened walkway turns an unused part of the yard into somewhere the family spends time.
• A new structure needs a foundation. Additions, patio covers and sheds all start with footings or a slab built to the right depth and reinforcement.

How we build cement and block work

1. Measure, locate and plan

   We confirm where the wall or slab goes, check property lines and access, and plan drainage so water runs away from structures, not toward them.

2. Excavate and set the footing

   A footing is dug to the required depth and width and reinforced with steel. Block walls are only as stable as the footing under them.

3. Lay block or form the slab

   Block is laid course by course with vertical rebar set at the required spacing. Slabs get a compacted base, forms and reinforcement before concrete is placed.

4. Grout, pour and finish

   Block cores with rebar are filled with grout. Slabs are poured, leveled, finished and jointed. Surfaces can be broom finished, troweled smooth or left for a coating.

5. Cure and finish the details

   Concrete needs time and moisture to reach strength. We protect it while it cures, then cap and finish walls, or stucco them to match the house.

What affects the cost of concrete and block work

Prices for masonry work depend on the quantity of material and the amount of preparation behind it:

Why RH Construction And Renovation for cement and block

Cement and block work is on the list of services Rigo named when describing what the company does, and it grew out of years of work on the kinds of walls and slabs Southern California homes depend on. The crew builds the footing, sets the rebar and finishes the surface, so the quality of the part you will not see is the same as the part you will.

We tell you plainly when a wall needs engineering or a permit, and we make sure the footing is right, because the footing is where block walls succeed or fail.

Where we do this work

We build block walls and concrete flatwork in Downey and neighboring cities such as Norwalk, Bellflower and Paramount, where backyard walls and wider driveways are some of the most common requests.