How Much Does a Poured Concrete Wall Cost?
Last Updated: January 19, 2022
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In home construction, poured concrete walls are, normally, installed below grade. They are found in a basement, or in a split-level house that has a 3 to 4 foot high retaining wall, on top of which the rest of the house sits. The walls are built using concrete forms, braces, and reinforcing bar to help hold the concrete in place and strengthen it as it dries. Concrete is, by far, the cheapest construction material available for basement and retaining walls. It should be used whenever possible in home construction to help keep costs down. A wooden wall will not be able to hold the pressure of the soil back, and will allow water and moisture through. Concrete can be treated to resist water and moisture, and is strong enough to support a house.
Poured Concrete Wall Costs #
Concrete prices vary widely by region of the country and time of year. Ready-mixed concrete will cost between $65 and $90 per cubic yard (3'x3'x3'). To put this into perspective, a wall 9'x27'x12" thick would take 9 cubic feet of concrete. Building a concrete wall also requires reinforcing metal bar, or re-bar to help solidify the wall. You can expect to pay approximately $10-$15 per cubic yard of concrete for re-bar.
Labor costs will vary depending on the company you hire. Some companies have reusable concrete forms to build walls and this keeps their costs down. These companies typically charge about $3 to $5 per square foot of wall (disregard thickness of the wall). Other companies build concrete wall forms from scratch for each job and this drives cost slightly higher. Expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $7 per square foot for a company to pour a concrete wall in this manner.