Where to find decorative concrete blocks – also known as architectural screen blocks? This question is coming up a lot, and I would like to build the definitive list right here. I tend to believe that you need to buy this stuff locally or regionally — or the shipping costs will kill you. Many thanks to Scathing Jane for researching this list, and to JHL III who sent me the question (and one repeat find) prompting me to finally feature Jane’s list. Do you know of a supplier in your area? Send me an email or leave a comment below, and I will add it to this list. Alphabetically, here’s what we have so far: .
Arizona:
- Phoenix & more: Superlite
California:
- Throughout Southern Calif.: Orco Block
Colorado:
Florida
- Venice: White Cement Specialities
- Orlando: A1 Block Corp. — The lead photo above is from A1′s terrific website – family-owned since 1952.
Hawaii:
- Kapolei: Tile Co. Inc.
Rhode Island:
- Cranston: Park Ave Cement Block
Australia:
- Dee Why, NSW: Besser Block
The Barbados:
- Claytone Products
Slide show of patterned concrete block styles available from various suppliers. Click on first thumbnail to start the show, then click on the arrow below the image to move forward or back:
Decorative patterned concrete blocks 
Concrete block – a favorite retro material, of course 
Eva Zeisel: A comprehensive online guide 
Become a fan
fantastic! an australian supplier! i have been admiring these bricks around our neighborhood (largely built up during the early 60s) and i was thinking i’d have to scavenge around a salvage yard to find my own!
ps: REALLY love this blog! one of my new faves
A person in or near Sacramento might have luck at http://www.thebrickyard.com or http://www.silverado.com … though I didn’t see good examples via the websites, no doubt they would have ‘em if anyone would, or at least be able to direct a person
~L
Thanks, Lauren! I may call them at some point…
There’s a place right her in Columbus, Oh called Oberfelds that still makes it too! MAybe it’s Oberfields, now I’m confused…
I love these blocks for a screening wall. I wanted to replace our hundreds of feet of chain link with them, but they’re too expensive for that much linear footage. Maybe we can figure out a creative way to incorporate them into our patio re-design. I’ll need to see if they’re carried somewhere in Oregon.
Thank you for featuring these on the blog. Concrete screen blocks have been a long time Holy Grail for me. I’ve searched the state of NC for a supplier, but have come up dry. Any help in finding a source here in eastern North Carolina would be greatly appreciated.
Annie: I’ve likewise been searching in NC…….only source I can find is Cemex (Asheville plant only); opposite end of state from you! Waiting for info on exact styles they carry (very limited I’m told). Will dig around in VA and SC too. Really, am thinking best route is to select from one of Pam’s better listings, which carries a lot of variety to choose from, in nearest state where the stuff is still somewhat popular (e.g. Florida), then inquire about shipping.
Also, keep in mind the ways other more-available masonry can be creatively used too, for that Mid-Century, or Mid-Century Modern, look…..for example, standard clay bricks (4″ x 8″ x 2-2/3″); notice how they were often lined up straight (“stacked bond”) vs. the more familiar way (“running bond”) in fireplaces etc. Same goes for CMUs (8″ x 8″ x 16″ Concrete Masonry Units). Both of course can be painted any color you like to be more seamless with the architecture. Look around & you’ll start to notice infinite ways architects have put masonry together (for all historic periods & styles, not just Mid-Century): bricks/blocks pulled out a little here, recessed a little here, left out to create a void there, to give all sorts of patterns and texture and degrees of ‘transparency’ to the walls. After all, that was the whole idea with MCM! — making high design with standard off-the-shelf materials.
Ted,
Thank you thank you thank you. Wonderful ideas! I almost hate to admit this, but I’ve been keeping an eye on a concrete block fence which is in a terrible state of repair on a rental house not far from my home. If the owners decide to remove it, I want to be there with my wheelbarrow!
Augusta Concrete Block Company
315 Jefferson Davis Highway
North Augusta SC 29841
dotty, you rock
The blocks used in the El Rancho Vista Estates are not the “screen block” but rather refered to as “shadow block”. Reall great solid blocks with a “v” ridge or double “v” and others. There is a place in Riverside Ca. that will still make this block in various patterns used in this Wexler neighborhood. They don’t keep ‘em in stock but will get out their old molds and make them as of about 2 years ago when I inquired. A $400 or so tooling fee before they’ll start making them.
Scott,
I have a house in El Rancho Vista in Palm Springs that I am renovating and I’m trying to find matching diamond block to use on a new wall. Do you know the name of that company in Riverside? Thanks!
Scott,
I also live in Palm Springs, and am looking for a source for decorative screen block to match the early-1960s block used at our development.
If you can provide a pointer to that Riverside supplier, I’d be most grateful.
-michael
I have an update that many of you may find useful.
A local contractor (in Palm Springs, but you no doubt have similar folks wherever you are) offered to make a form for casting our decorative screen blocks for $350. The form will allow eight blocks to be cast at one time. The run rate per block is $1.87, so we won’t have to make more than several dozen blocks to get a very reasonable amortized per-block price. The contractor is also willing to stockpile the completed blocks at his facility until they are needed!
For many of you who are contemplating adding a wall or making an extensive repair, this course may be just the thing.
He will be using some of our existing blocks for patterns for the form, but will provide channels on the sides (hidden from front and back) to accomodate rebar reinforcing rods, as required by current codes.
Check into this possibility. You may find that you can have exactly what you need fabricated at very reasonable cost.
-michael
Carolina Prestress
Lake City SC
dotty, you rock some more.
Carolina PreStress does not make screen blocks anymore. I just got some double y’s delivered. I ordered from A-1 in Orlando, arranged an LTL carrier to pick them up and deliver to a local Ace Hardware since I don’t have a forklift at my house.
A pallet of 198 blocks was around $940 with tax, LTL to Wilson, NC was $470 and yes my wallet still hurts but at least my new courses of wall will match the lower section. I had Ace deliver for a ‘tip” and a beer for the driver.
There was no other way to do it where I live.
It wasn’t that hard to arrange, but it came with a cost.
Cheers,
Dave
Hello everyone,
I’m in Puerto Rico and have begun documenting the huge number of designs available locally. Check out some of the designs here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fclodomiro/sets/72157621944163204/
There are several companies still manufacturing these locally, but I don’t have their contact info at hand.
Very cool, Carlos! Now: Find us some suppliers in PR to put on our list!
Ok, ok, if you insist
-Fabrica de balaustres Nelson Noriega, 787-366-4115
-Artesania Sinai, 787-243-3079
-Empresas Ferhanni, 787-251-4430 http://www.empresasferhanni.com
These might also produce blocks:
- Balaustres Alfonso 787-263-3122
- Junior’s Balaustres 787-616-2073
- Fabrica de Balaustres Ornamentales 787-823-3150
You rock, Carlos!
Carlos,
My daughter, wife and son-in-law have a house being renovated in Ponce. I mentioned decorative concrete blocks a few days ago to them as they will be rebuilding a fence and a short wall lining a walkway.
These would add a nice touch to the project.
Any help you can give to fininding local vendors would be great.
Thanks,
Rick
Has anyone else noticed that the two forklifts in the photo are being “driven” by women? One has a bouffant hairdo, while the other is wearing a plaid skirt! That photo says a lot about American culture circa 1960. (I also notice in the background a 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville with massive tail fins … no doubt that is how the ladies got to the photo shoot!)
Any in Western Massachusetts?
Look at the link Amy has posted. Looks like there may be someone in Oneonta (near Albany).
http://www.macraesbluebook.com/search/product_company_list.cfm?prod_code=9000969
Try this site.
Awesome, Amy!!!!!
There is one in Arkansas right here in the town where I live. Produces almost every kind of midcentury style you have shown. If I weren’t moving soon I would be replacing the entire wooden privacy fence around my back yard with one made of these.
ABC-Central Block
http://www.abcblock.com
3007 South Arkansas Avenue
Russellville, AR 72802-7372
(479) 968-5660
Awesome, Thomas – thank you!
Interestingly enough, their website doesn’t show any of the shaped ones they make, but driving by they have pallet after pallet of all shapes and styles. Maybe it’s not their bread and butter product lines like all the “Mcmansion” style bricks and pavers they have on their site.
This subject is near and dear to my heart — love patterned concrete blocks!
One pattern — the cloverleaf — is available from Basalite in Dixon and Tracy, CA —
http://basalite.paccoast.com/california/structural_concrete_block/specialty_shapes/cloverleaf.html
Distributors are in CA, NV, CO, ID, WA, OR, and BC.
P.S. — I think with some nudging a company might consider reintroducing a vintage pattern!
Thanks, Gretchen! I think you are right… I can’t believe the molds are that difficult…
You rock (err: concrete), Gretchen!
Anyone know any close to DC? Would SC be the closest?
These walls just set off a 50′s house!
Thanks!
Check the link Amy added, lots of additional contacts here. It’s on my list to add all the reader additions to the main list: http://www.macraesbluebook.com/search/product_company_list.cfm?prod_code=9000969
On a whim I searched Lowes.com. They show the cloverleaf screen block, but then I get a message that it’s not available in Northern Virginia area stores. I’m going to call a store manager and see if I can special order them.
If anyone is looking for design inspiration, these two Flickr groups have tons of photos of these walls, and wonderful patterns!
Concrete Block Walls and/or Architecture http://www.flickr.com/groups/795044@N23/
Perforated Screen Walls http://www.flickr.com/groups/891254@N23/pool/
In Las Vegas there is Allied Building Materials that stocks a couple of patterns:
http://www.abmnv.com/
They are great to work with, too.
Thank you, Heidi!
While there probably is no substitute for authentic mid century styled concrete blocks, I did find quite a cool selection of vinyl lattice screen panels on the Home Depot website, with some great patterns that lend well to MCM styling, including Asian motif patterns.
Check out the page here, the decorative panels are at the bottom and also click “next” or “2″ to see some more on the second page. By clicking zoom, you can enlarge each to see better detail.
http://tinyurl.com/23fhghq
BONUS! I just noticed that on the Home Depot website, they are made by Acurio, so I looked them up also, WOW, awesome vinyl lattice panels and screens, plus you can order direct in COLORS!!! They even do custom design panels!
Check it out here:
http://www.acuriolattice.com/design/
Wow, Tami, that is a cool find. I was worried when you said “vinyl” because I personally do not like the look of vinyl fencing – I can always spot it – even though I know a lot of folks like the maintenance free aspect. But it looks like this Acurio stuff can be painted – so I bet you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. I am calling them to see if they can send me a sample to report on. Thanks!
Pam, I saw after I posted they say it is paintable – just think, the perfect stuff to use all those great California Paint colors on!!!!
I also think these would be excellent as screening in the bathroom or entryway, as we have seen so many times in the time capsule houses posted here – if someone wanted the “look” but doesn’t already have their own original screens.
Another note on Acurio, be sure to check out all the great gallery photos and links on their website, they even do screen doors! And wainscotting!
This information could not have come at a better time. My husband and I were just walking around our neighborhood the other day admiring the short patio walls that are on a lot of the houses in our neighborhood. We were talking about adding one to our house, but I wanted it to be as authentic as possible with the cool shapes and designs. I was just afraid we weren’t going to be able to find them!
In Houston, Texas area, I found:
US Concrete
http://www.us-concrete.com/products/masonry.asp
Apparently, Dolese Bros in Oklahoma City and Enid, OK make decorative concrete blocks, but they don’t have any pics on their website. http://www.dolese.com/web/block.aspx
Chandler Materials in Tulsa used to, but don’t anymore (except for one style of block, from what I understand), unfortunately. The styles they used to make can still be seen as part of the fence outside their facility.
Central Texans can find screen block here:
http://www.featherlitetexas.com/
I bought the star-cutaway shaped ones to hide my ugly A/C unit.
Has anyone ever made their own decorative concrete blocks? I bought a vintage “concrete landscaping” book that has a page on making them at home (it looks like they actually sold molds back in the day, but I don’t think it’d be too hard to make one yourself). Of course, concrete work is much difficult than they make it out to be in this book.
I’m looking for square in square screen blocks in Portland, OR
Any ideas?
You can also get punched metal with geometric patterns, but it is expensive (although the vinyl probably is too).
You can make your own – a square – in square mold would be easy to make with 2×8′s (must line with plastic to remove set concrete). But it is a LOT HARDER than books make it seem, unless you invest in a concrete mixer. Sets up too fast and you go through a lot more concrete than you’d expect.
Plastic fencing – yeah, it looks fake (because it is
But when we replaced our fence back in 2003 they said that new cedar fences are only guaranteed for 5 years because the new-growth wood is not as rot-resistant as the old-growth. A wood fence would have cost $7,000 back then; the vinyl cost twice the price, but at least it will last forever. The problem is that it gets covered in mildew and only bleach removes it. I live on the coast, so everyone now has vinyl.
That being said, I would NEVER use vinyl siding on my house because it is toxic and it does not breathe and it will rot your house (even though the manufacturers and contractors will proclaim otherwise). Siding doesn’t touch the ground, so if it’s properly maintained (with oil-based sealer or primer only) it will last at least 100 years.
Painting vinyl – it can be done, but I’d get the lattice in a similar color because no paint will truly adhere forever (because plastic expands and contracts a lot) and painting white vinyl a dark color will look bad eventually.
OH.
MY.
GOD!
I have been DESPERATELY trying to find these blocks in Florida and CAN NOT believe there’s a resource just 30 minutes from me!
Hurray you!!!
Hi all,
Have been searching Craigslist for vintage wall block…scored 12 16″ x 16″LaCosta blocks from a neighbor for free. Noticed his carport had this block on my nightly walk. Several weeks later I noticed it was gone and he was having the carport converted to a garage. Knocked on the door and he gladly loaded the block into the back of my truck. WOOHOO!!
Way to go!!!
love you for the short cut! thanks!
I am looking for architectual screen blocks in Minnesota. I have a nice patio slab which I would like to enclose for privacy. Any help would be much appreciated!
Hi,
I am looking for moulds for making the Orca Lacosta Screen block.
Could you let me know where I could find a mould or what mould you used for these blocks?
Eddie O’Malley
We’re looking for screen concrete blocks in Canada (preferably Alberta). Anyone know where we can find them?
Thanks!