Block Masonry in Ann Arbor, MI

Strength You Can Build a Whole Property Around

A nominal 8 x 8 x 16 inch block actually measures 3/8 inch smaller in every dimension, because the nominal figure already includes the standard 3/8 inch mortar joint. Layout has to account for that from the first course. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration delivers block masonry in Ann Arbor, MI, building decorative walls, retaining structures, addition walls, arches, custom finishes and commercial work using ASTM C90 units rated at a minimum 2,000 psi net area compressive strength.


Precision on a block wall starts with the first course and the planning behind it. Every job here runs the same path, beginning with a call, then a consultation on site, material selection, a confirmed schedule, site preparation and the construction and finish work. Nothing gets subcontracted out along the way, and 40 years of running jobs this way has kept the sequence tight. Send drawings or a description through our contact page to get a consultation booked.

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Our Block Masonry Solutions for Your Property

  • Decorative Block Walls

    Screen walls, garden enclosures and property dividers get laid with the same 3/8 inch joint used on structural work, tooled concave or V shaped so water sheds. Type S mortar at 1,800 psi carries exposed exterior walls through repeated freezing and thawing.

  • Block Retaining Structures

    Retained soil pushes constantly, so drainage does half the work. At least 12 inches of clean angular gravel sized 1/2 to 3/4 inch goes behind the wall, with Type M mortar at 2,500 psi below grade and weeps sized to wall height.

  • Block Walls for New Additions

    Foundation and addition walls start with footings 42 inches below grade, as Michigan code requires. Grout is placed at an 8 to 11 inch slump, lifts never exceed 12 feet 8 inches, and grouted work stays protected for 48 hours in cold weather.

  • Elegant Block Arches

    Curved openings in block demand layout before anything is cut, since every unit above the arch depends on that geometry. Lintels bear 4 inches on each side of an opening, and a bond beam ties the courses above into a continuous reinforced band.

  • Custom Block Finishes

    Split-face, ground-face and scored units change how a wall reads without changing its structure. Where brick or stone facing goes over block backing, a 2 inch air space is recommended and 1 inch is the minimum, with anchors set on a consistent grid.

  • Commercial Block Construction

    Storefronts, warehouses and mixed-use shells run on the same fundamentals at larger scale. Cleanouts in solid-grouted walls stay at least 3 inches wide and no more than 32 inches apart, and grout arrives between 70 and 120 degrees at mixing.

Why Our Block Masonry Makes a Difference

Level Courses From the First Block

Everything visible on a finished wall traces back to course one. A base course set level and to line keeps every joint above it a consistent 3/8 inch, which is what makes long runs look deliberate instead of wavy from across a yard.

Drainage Planned Before the Wall Goes Up

Hydrostatic pressure, not weight, topples most retaining structures. You get gravel backfill of at least 12 inches, clean angular stone 1/2 to 3/4 inch, and weep holes sized and spaced for the wall height, decided before a single unit gets set.

Finishes That Suit the Building

Bare gray block rarely matches what surrounds it. Split-face, ground-face, scored and veneered options are shown side by side against your existing elevation, so the wall belongs to the property instead of reading as a utility structure dropped beside it.

Reinforcement Sized to the Load

Over-grouting wastes your money and under-grouting costs far more later. Vertical steel and grouted cells are specified against actual wall height, retained fill and load, and walls holding over 48 inches of unbalanced fill get built to an engineered design.

Clear Timelines You Can Plan Around

Knowing when a wall starts and when access returns lets you schedule around it. Grouted masonry needs 48 hours of protection in cold weather, and we tell you that upfront rather than after a delivery truck shows up at your gate.

A Wall That Stays Where You Put It

Settlement, leaning and stair-step cracking almost always trace back to a base or drainage shortcut. Footings below the 42 inch frost depth, correct mortar type for grade, and real backfill mean you stop thinking about the wall once it stands.

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Solid Structure, Set Right the First Time

Block does the unglamorous work on a property, holding back soil, carrying additions and squaring up commercial shells, and it only earns that trust when the base course, the steel and the drainage were all handled correctly. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration builds block walls throughout Ann Arbor, MI for homeowners, builders and business owners who would rather get it right once. Nothing about a conversation obligates you. Describe the wall you need, or send a photo of the one giving you trouble, through our contact page, and we will set up a consultation, talk through materials and finishes, and prepare a clear project estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do cinder block walls need to be filled with concrete?

    Not always. Freestanding garden and screen walls often perform fine hollow, while retaining structures and load-bearing walls need grouted cells placed at an 8 to 11 inch slump, with lifts capped at 12 feet 8 inches in height.

  • Does a cinder block wall need rebar?

    Most exterior walls do. Vertical steel in grouted cells resists lateral pressure from soil and wind, and anything retaining unbalanced fill relies on it. Walls holding over 48 inches of fill without lateral support at the top need engineered design.

  • What is the maximum height a cinder block wall can be?

    Hollow masonry walls are limited to a height-to-thickness ratio of 18, while single-wythe solid masonry stops at 20. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration works within those ratios in Ann Arbor, MI, and retaining walls at 4 feet or taller require a permit.

  • What are the disadvantages of block walls?

    Plain block reads industrial, absorbs water readily, and shows efflorescence and cracking when drainage or reinforcement was skipped. Repairs mean cutting units out rather than patching a face, and any grouted work adds curing time to the schedule.

  • What is the difference between a bond beam and a lintel?

    A bond beam is a continuous reinforced course running horizontally through a wall to tie it together and distribute load. A lintel spans one opening only, bearing at least 4 inches on the masonry each side of the opening.

  • What is the best mortar mix for block retaining walls?

    Type M at 2,500 psi is specified for below-grade work, foundations and retaining walls, with Type S at 1,800 psi also suited to retaining walls and masonry foundations. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration matches mix to exposure on Ann Arbor, MI projects.

  • How many bricks equal one block?

    Roughly 6 standard modular bricks cover the same wall face as a single nominal 8 x 16 inch block face. Block therefore goes up faster on large runs, while brick offers finer coursing, tighter detail and more color variation.

  • Can you seal a cinder block wall so that it is waterproof?

    No coating alone makes block waterproof. Sealers reduce surface absorption, but lasting dryness comes from drainage, gravel backfill, functioning weeps and sound tooled joints, since water enters at separations between units and mortar rather than through solid material.