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    • Home » Exterior » accessories, hardware » 15+ companies that sell decorative concrete screen blocks – comprehensive list

    15+ companies that sell decorative concrete screen blocks – comprehensive list

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    breeze blockWhere 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.

    Original breeze block at my brother’s house in Louisville, Kentucky.

    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: .

    West Coast:

    • Angelus Block– Southern California region, from the Central California Coast and Southern San Joaquin Valley to the Low Deserts and San Diego. Thank you, Mark, for this Dec. 2018 addition!
    • Cloverleaf seems to be on Home Depot’s website. Thanks, Marisa, for the tip! BUT NOTE HOWEVER, I think this is from a company Basalite, and you can only get it on the west coast including: California, Nevada,Washington, Colorado, Idaho, BC, and Alberta,

    Arizona:

    Arkansas:

    • ABC-Central Block and Brick — Russel in Comments says: “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.”

    Orco breeze blocks, Southern California

    California:

    Colorado:

    • Littleton & Pueblo: Boral Best Block used to be on this list, but we now get a broken link…
    • Dacono: St. Vrain

    Florida

    Hawaii:

    Illinois:

    Michigan:
    • Consumer’s Concrete — had screen block when this story was originally written, not sure any more…

     Missouri:

    Nevada

    North Carolina

    • Ted in Comments says Cemex in Ashville says they can supply it in limited styles; but it is not shown on their website. However, update June 2018, from Deborah, and she says this is no longer available — but try Cemex in Jacksonville, Fla.

    Ontario, Canada:

    • Niagara Block added July 2018 by Daniela, who said, “They have quite a few styles, but they don’t have them in stock all the time. Check under “architectural block”.”

    Pennsylvania:

    • Philadelphia area, three locations: Fizzano Brothers. Frannie’s tip in Comments: “I just went down and picked some up for a project I’m doing in Brooklyn.
      They cost between $1.20 and $3.50 each, they have two styles, and weigh about 26 pounds each. They also told me that they have a retail distributor for them in Northern New Jersey. I’m sure if you called them they could give you the info.
    • Greensburg Concrete Block, Greensburg, PA (added July 2016)

    Puerto Rico, via Carlos:

    • -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

    Rhode Island:

    • Cranston: Park Ave Cement Block

    South Carolina:

    • Dotty in Comments poitns to Augusta Concrete Block in North Augusta; website inconclusive but this one sounds promising.

    Tennessee:

    • Per Laura, July 2018: I just learned that Tankersley Concrete in Lewisburg, TN produces and sells them. At present, they have two patterns: #399 Flower (often called Cloverleaf) and #401 Half Moon (this is the only place I’ve seen this pattern), but they have until recently produced the #397 Box-in-box pattern as well (the mold is cracked and they haven’t replaced it).

    Texas

    Search the U.S. some more:

    Australia:

    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:



    Be-Safe-graphic2.3

    Comments

    1. 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.

      Reply

    3. 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.

      Reply

    5. 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.

      Reply
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