CMU block garden wall and steps for a Downers Grove residence — reinforced construction with proper drainage detailing and a clean finished appearance.
Project Details
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After 
Before 1/3 — Retaining wall — CMU block installed with vertical rebar and grout consolidation throughout
After 
Before 2/3 — Foundation section — CMU foundation wall built to code with full grouting and drainage
After 
Before 3/3 — Corner detail — reinforced block corners with proper control joint placement
Garden walls and planter surrounds in Downers Grove frequently fail when built with insufficient block depth or no reinforcement. This project replaced a collapsed unreinforced garden wall with a properly designed CMU system that includes drainage and rebar.
CMU block without proper reinforcement fails under lateral loads and Illinois freeze-thaw cycles
Missing control joints cause cracking across entire wall sections within 2-5 years
Inadequate drainage detailing behind retaining walls causes hydrostatic pressure failure
Every project follows the same disciplined sequence — no shortcuts, no hand-offs, same crew start to finish.
We assess soil bearing, drainage conditions, and code requirements before block selection. Retaining walls and foundation walls require engineering review — we do not skip this step.
We specify the correct CMU block type, rebar schedule, and control joint spacing for the load and soil conditions. Reinforcement is not optional for structural applications in Illinois.
Block is laid course by course with properly consolidated grout fill at all reinforced cells. Consolidation is inspected at each lift — improperly consolidated grout is the most common CMU failure point.
Control joints are placed at code-required spacing to manage movement. Waterproofing is applied to below-grade and retaining walls before backfill. All work is documented before we leave.
CMU block installation requires engineering knowledge that most contractors do not have: rebar schedules, control joint spacing, grout consolidation, and drainage detailing all affect long-term performance. AMS brings 19+ years of structural masonry experience to every CMU project.
CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) block is a structural masonry unit used for foundation walls, retaining walls, garage walls, and load-bearing construction. It is stronger and more water-resistant than brick when properly installed with reinforcement and grouting.
For most structural applications in Illinois — retaining walls, foundation walls, load-bearing walls — yes, vertical rebar and horizontal joint reinforcement are required by code. We design reinforcement schedules for every structural CMU project.
A 100-linear-foot retaining wall typically takes 1-2 weeks. A full garage or addition foundation in CMU runs 2-3 weeks. We factor in curing time for grout consolidation before releasing the wall for loading.
