Masonry & Hardscape
CMU, pavers, retaining wall systems, veneer, mortar and stucco — concrete products that are not poured slabs.
How to choose within masonry & hardscape
This category covers concrete that arrives as units rather than as a pour. CMU block is specified by nominal dimension and comes in load-bearing and non-load-bearing grades. Pavers are set on a compacted base with a bedding layer and depend on edge restraint — a paver installation fails at the perimeter first, not in the field.
Retaining wall systems are the category where a design threshold matters most. Segmental units stack without mortar and rely on geometry, backfill and geogrid. Anything above roughly four feet typically requires engineering, and the drainage behind the wall matters as much as the units: hydrostatic pressure is what pushes walls over.
Mortar is not concrete and the two are not interchangeable. Mortar has no coarse aggregate, is formulated to bond masonry units and to be worked with a trowel, and is not designed to carry structural load in the way a slab or footing does.
What this category covers
- CMU and concrete block
- Pavers
- Retaining wall systems
- Manufactured veneer
- Masonry mortar and grout
- Stucco and EIFS
Manufacturers in this category
Listed alphabetically, in no order of preference. This site does not test products and does not recommend one brand over another.