How to cap a curved AB Courtyard patio wall

Written by: Gerri Hansen

With the wall in place, using the AB Wall Caps to cap the wall is simple.  Just like the AB York block that was used to build the curve, the AB Wall cap also is an angled block with 2 different sizes on each side.  Start by placing an AB Wall cap over two AB York blocks in the center of the curve.  Work out in both directions placing the longer side of the blocks facing the outside of the curve.  At the end of the curve section, turn the AB Wall cap in the opposite direction to start the straight section.

Does soil type matter when building a retaining wall and how do I tell what kind I have?

Written by: Danelle DeMartini

A retaining wall – no matter what type of material you plan to use, is designed with one main function in mind; to hold back the dirt.  Knowing exactly what kind of dirt you have makes ALL the difference in how you build that wall.  To figure out what type of dirt you are dealing with, try digging a handful of soil about a foot below the surface and form it into a ball. There are basically 3 types of soil to be able to identify when planning to construct a retaining wall:

·        Clay

·        Sandy

·        Organic

Clay type soils hold a lot of moisture, which adds additional weight to the soil, making the retaining wall’s job more difficult. You can identify a clay type soil popular type of soil and when in doubt – assume your dirt is a clay based soil.

Sandy type soils allow for water to pass through easily and are idea for building walls as they don’t add any extra weight to the soil. You can identify a sandy type soil if the dirt holds is grainy without fine particles, and falls apart when you try to make a ball.

Do I have to use caps on my retaining wall?

Written by: Danelle DeMartini

This is a question we get quite often; Do I have to use caps on my wall?  Oftentimes the question is asked because the customer doesn't like the look of the cap or they are trying to lower the overall cost of the project. Fortunately with Allan Block retaining walls there are several options for topping off the wall.  

Mulch

Decorative Rocks

Plants

Because the blocks are hollow and have a raised front lip, the top course of the wall can easily be filled with soil for plantings or decorative, rock, mulch, etc. 

You could even use a brick or a paver or natural stone on top of the wall - but these tend to be costly so if you are looking for an economical alternative, these might not be it.  Whatever you choose, think about how the top of the wall is going to be used and the maintenance that may be needed over time. Glue down any tops that could be hazardous and think about weed fabric, if you are using rock or much.

Topping off your wall can be as creative as you are. But if there are too many options to choose from, you can always use AB Capstones (this is the job they were meant for 😉 ).

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