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We provide concrete and block masonry in Collierville, TN for foundations, walls, garages, and home additions. Using quality CMU blocks, rebar, and filled cores, we build straight, level walls that support loads, resist moisture, and create a solid base for finishes like brick, stone, or stucco.
Superior Masonry Collierville provides professional block masonry throughout Collierville, TN, Tennessee and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (901) 582-7374 or request your free quote.
Concrete and Block Masonry in Collierville, Done the Right Way
Concrete and block masonry is not a “one material fits all” type of work. At Superior Masonry Collierville, we match the mix, block type, and reinforcement to what your property in Collierville actually needs. That might be a reinforced footing for a backyard workshop, a block retaining wall to hold a sloped yard, or a structural block wall for an addition.
For concrete, we select the right psi (strength rating) for the job and the right aggregate size for our local Shelby County soils. Our crews routinely pour footings, slab pads, monolithic slabs, and concrete toppings over existing surfaces. For block masonry, we install regular CMU (concrete masonry units), split-face block for a textured look, and specialty units for reinforcement or utilities.
Collierville homeowners and small businesses usually call us for three main reasons: to stabilize older structures, to add usable flat space on sloped lots, or to replace deteriorated, poorly built masonry from prior work. Superior Masonry Collierville approaches each of these with a field inspection first, so we understand existing soil conditions, drainage, and load before we recommend a solution.
How We Actually Build Concrete and Block Projects
For a typical block masonry project in Collierville, we start with layout and excavation. We mark the wall line relative to your property lines, then dig to the depth required by Collierville and Shelby County codes, accounting for frost depth and the soil we encounter. If we hit expansive or loose soil, we over-excavate and bring in compacted gravel or engineered fill to create a stable base.
Once the trench is prepared, we install forms and steel reinforcement for the footing. Rebar size and spacing are based on wall height, soil conditions, and whether the wall is structural or decorative. We pour the concrete footing with a mix designed for exterior use in our Tennessee freeze-thaw cycles, then allow the footing to gain initial strength before any block goes on top.
Block laying begins with carefully setting the first course in a full bed of mortar, checked with a laser or string line for level and straight. We then stack subsequent courses, staggering joints for strength. For reinforced walls, we align hollow block cores over embedded footing dowels and install vertical rebar, then grout these cells solid with a pump or bucket method. Control joints are placed at planned intervals to relieve movement and reduce random cracking.
For flatwork like equipment pads, patios, or walkways, Superior Masonry Collierville forms the area, compacts a gravel base, sets reinforcement (wire mesh or rebar), and then pours and finishes the slab. We cut control joints within a specific time window to keep cracks straight and predictable instead of random.
Design and Material Options That Actually Matter
Most Collierville projects need more than just standard gray block. We help you choose a layout and finish that fits both performance and appearance. For walls visible from the street or patio, you can use split-face or architectural block that adds texture. For areas that will be stuccoed or veneered with brick or stone later, we use standard CMU and focus on accurate alignment for a clean finish surface.
Top details also matter. Superior Masonry Collierville offers block walls with cast-in-place concrete caps, precast capstones, or brick soldier course caps if you want to blend with existing brickwork on your home. Drainage is designed from the start, with options like behind-the-wall gravel, perforated drain pipe, and weep holes to relieve water pressure.
For concrete slabs and flatwork, we walk you through thickness, reinforcement, and finish options. A small shed pad in Collierville usually gets a 4 inch slab with fiber mesh and a broom finish so it is not slippery when wet. A driveway extension might need 6 inches of concrete with rebar in high traffic paths. If you plan to park a boat or RV, we size the slab and reinforcement for those loads instead of just “standard residential” assumptions.
Local clay soils and summer heat influence finish choices. In full sun, smooth steel trowel finishes can become slick, so we often recommend light broom or textured finishes for driveways and walkways. Around pools or play areas, we make slip resistance a priority.
What Drives Cost in Block Masonry Projects
Many people in Collierville call asking for a square foot price for block masonry. In reality, several specific factors drive cost more than just size. Wall height is a major one. A short 2 foot garden wall usually needs less engineering and reinforcement than a 6 or 8 foot retaining wall that has to hold back soil and water. Taller or load bearing walls need more rebar, more grout, and often a deeper, wider footing.
Site access is another cost driver. If we can reach the work area with a small loader or concrete truck chute, we save time and labor. Tight backyards in older Collierville neighborhoods sometimes require concrete to be moved by wheelbarrow or pump, and block to be hand carried, which adds labor hours. Existing obstacles like trees, fences, or utilities can also change how we stage materials and equipment.
Soil and drainage conditions matter too. Poor or saturated soil requires more excavation and more gravel or engineered fill to create a stable base. Where we expect heavy water buildup, we design and install drainage behind the wall, which adds materials but protects the wall and your yard from future failure.
Finish details also affect cost. Plain gray block with no cap and minimal exposed face is the most economical. Split-face architectural block, special capstones, decorative patterns, or integral color cost more in materials and require more layout time, but they can eliminate the need for later cladding or painting.
Common Problems We Fix in Collierville and How We Handle Them
Superior Masonry Collierville is called frequently to repair failed or poorly built block masonry. The most common issue is bowing or leaning retaining walls. These usually come from undersized footings, no reinforcement, or no drainage behind the wall. In these cases, we inspect, measure wall movement, and decide if the wall can be stabilized with tie-backs and drainage improvements, or if it must be partially or fully replaced.
Cracked block walls are another routine problem. Hairline cracks along mortar joints can be cosmetic, but stepped or wide cracks, especially near corners or openings, can indicate settlement or movement. We trace the cause first, such as compromised footing, tree roots, or water undermining, then choose a repair method. That might be repointing and localized rebuilds, installing new piers or footings, or replacing sections with modern reinforced block.
We also get calls about concrete slab issues: spalling (surface flaking), scaling, or random cracking. Many of these issues come from improper mix, finishing too early, lack of joints, or no reinforcement. For severe cases, we remove and replace the slab with the right base preparation and joint layout. For moderate surface damage, we may resurface or overlay with a bonded topping, after confirming the existing slab is structurally sound.
In all repair work, we focus on stopping the underlying cause, not just making it look better temporarily. That often means adding proper drainage, upsizing footings, or adding steel reinforcement that was not there before. Our goal is to leave you with masonry that holds up to Collierville’s rain events, temperature swings, and heavy clay soils, not something that needs another repair a few years later.
What Collierville Homeowners Should Decide Before Hiring
Before you hire any contractor for concrete and block masonry, there are a few decisions you should make so the project runs smoothly. First, clarify whether the wall or slab will be purely functional, visible to guests, or a key part of curb appeal. That choice drives whether standard gray block is fine or if you want split-face, brick accents, or a colored concrete finish.
Next, think about future use. If you might add a fence on top of a block wall, we can embed post sleeves or rebar where the fence will go instead of drilling through later. If a concrete pad could become the base for a future structure, we can size the slab and reinforcement for that now, instead of you having to tear it out and rebuild.
Ask to see a clear plan for drainage and reinforcement, not just a price. Superior Masonry Collierville provides sketches or descriptions that show where rebar runs, how deep and wide the footing will be, and what drainage features we plan to include. This is especially important for retaining walls and large slabs in our local storm patterns.
Finally, confirm permits and inspections when required. In many cases, structural block walls or larger slabs in Collierville need to follow local code and may require inspection at footing and final stages. We handle that process and coordinate with inspectors so the work is documented correctly. When you are ready, we can visit your property, review options on site, and give you a written proposal that spells out materials, reinforcement, and methods, not just a lump sum number.
