Concrete Block Construction in Chilliwack, BC. Strong, fire-resistant, built to BC code.
CMU and concrete masonry unit block walls for commercial and residential builds across Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley.
Concrete Block Construction in Chilliwack. What We Do
Concrete block construction in Chilliwack, BC. CMU walls for foundations, shops, garages, commercial builds, and utility structures. Block is strong, fire-resistant, and the standard for a lot of commercial and heavy residential work in the valley. We lay it to BC Building Code, with rebar and grouted cores where the design requires them.
Block is not "the ugly cousin of brick." Split-face and architectural units are a finished look on plenty of shops and commercial walls. Standard grey CMU is the structure you parge, paint, or clad. Either way, the grid, the reinforcement, and the grout are what make it a wall instead of a stack.
Seismic detailing in BC is not optional. Unreinforced block is a different product than a grouted, barred wall. We follow the drawings. If there are no drawings and the wall needs them, we say so before we lay a course.
Older Fraser Valley homes often have block foundations that need parging repairs, crack stitching, or a new section for an addition. We work to the existing grid so the new work lines up.
What's Included
- CMU foundation walls
- Commercial and industrial block walls
- Garage and shop block walls
- Block retaining walls
- Screen walls and masonry fencing
- Core-filled, rebar-reinforced construction
- Split-face and architectural block finishes
- Parging of foundation walls
When to Call a Masonry Contractor
A shop, garage, or commercial wall
Block is the practical choice for a lot of these. Fire resistance, durability, and a clear code path.
Foundation work on an older home
Block foundations are common here. We repair, extend, and parge. We don't pretend a hairline in block is always a crisis.
A retaining wall that needs to be a structure
CMU with proper reinforcing is how a lot of taller walls should be built, whether you see the block or you clad it in brick or stone.
Block in a wet, seismic region
Block walls need to stay dry at the below-grade face. We parge and coordinate damp-proofing on foundations. Above grade, split-face can stay exposed if the joints are tooled and the top is capped so water doesn't sit in the cores.
Uncapped block is a birdbath. Water in the cores freezes, and the faces pop. Caps and flashing at the top of exposed walls are part of the masonry, not a nice extra.
Grout has to fill the cores that have rebar. Partial grout, or grout poured into a core full of mortar droppings, is a wall that only looks reinforced.
Materials and Methods
Standard grey CMU
The structural unit. Parge it, paint it, or clad it.
Split-face and architectural block
Factory-fractured face, more like stone from a distance. Popular on commercial exteriors.
Rebar and grout
Per the structural design. This is the difference between a fence and a wall that can take a load.
What Drives the Cost
Nobody should expect a fake square-foot price from a website. Access, height, matching, and what's behind the masonry move the number more than the brochure photo. Here's what we look at before we quote.
Height, openings, and reinforcing
A plain wall is efficient. Lots of doors, bond beams, and extra bars add time and grout.
Finish
Split-face is a finished look. Standard block that gets parged is two operations.
Access and foundation work
Working in a dug footing is slower than laying on a clean slab.
What Goes Wrong When It's Done Cheap
No grout in the barred cores
Bars in empty cores don't work. We grout as specified.
Open tops
Water in the cells wrecks block. Cap it.
Ignoring control joints
Long block walls crack at regular intervals if they can't move. Joints are cheaper than random cracks.
Our Concrete Block Construction Process
Layout and footing
Block starts on a footing poured to the right width and depth for the load.
First course
Full mortar beds, levelled and aligned. This sets the grid for every course above.
Block laying
Face shells mortared, head joints filled, alignment checked every course.
Reinforcement
Rebar and grout per design. BC Building Code, not a guess.
Parging or finish
Foundations get parged. Above-grade can stay exposed, painted, or clad.
Why Choose Chilliwack Masonry Works?
- Reinforced block to BC Building Code
- Commercial and residential scale
- Rebar and grouting in-house
- Split-face and standard units
Masonry Contractor Serving Chilliwack & the Fraser Valley
We provide concrete block construction services across Chilliwack and the greater Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford, Hope, Agassiz, Mission, Sardis, and surrounding communities. See all service areas →
FAQ
Concrete Block Construction in Chilliwack. Common Questions
Standard CMU has a smooth grey face. Split-face is factory-fractured to show aggregate. It looks closer to stone and is popular on commercial exteriors.
Ready to start?
Ready for Concrete Block Construction in Chilliwack?
Call us or fill out the form. We'll come take a look and give you a clear, written quote.