How many steps do I need in my retaining wall?

Written by Danelle DeMartini

Stairs are important for getting us from one level to another, whether it’s inside your home or outside in your yard.  In most cases the stairs inside are already done for us when we buy a home, but those outdoor stairways can be great additions to our backyard spaces.

But where do we begin?  Before we can complete a design to at stairs to our outdoor space we first need to determine how many steps will be needed.  To do that, use this simple formula:

Measure the total height of the area (rise) and divide this by the height of the step (run).

Rise/Run = # of steps needed

On steep slopes, keep the steps tight together. On gentle slopes, increase the depth of the tread and length of the run or add landings to soften a long stairway.

Allan Block retaining wall blocks used for building raised patios or terraces are 8 in. So if the raised patio is 4 ft. tall and your steps are 8 in. high

48 in. rise/8 in. run = 6 steps needed

Click here for more information on building stairs or steps.

What types of fences can you build with AB Fence?

Written by Chad Julius

The AB Fence has been used in a wide variety of applications and the literature outlines some basic applications such as screening, containment, beautification and sound barriers. 

But let’s face the facts and realize you are constructing a fence for two reasons.  You either want to keep something out or something in. 😊

The “something” is what makes your application unique.  Examples of keeping something out include traffic noise, curious neighbors, security from vandals and the list can go on.  On the flip side, maybe you are just trying to keep your dogs in the yard or provide a safe place for your kids to play without worrying about them wondering off.  There are many ways to build the AB Fence to satisfy your application and create a beautiful solution. 

I would recommend that you take a look through the photo gallery on at allanblock.com to see some of the applications and projects that are featured. 

What are the capping options for AB Fence?

Written by Chad Julius

Capping the AB Fence is like the icing on the cake.  The structural requirements are done so now you are just putting the finishing options together.  Typically, the AB Fence is finished by using the AB Fence Cap Block. This is just glued on top of the panel and post blocks with a high-quality construction adhesive. 

The same cap is used for both the panels and posts to simplify the process. 

The real fun comes by creating by varying the panel and post heights.  We recommend the Castellated Finish for the AB Fence by constructing the posts one block taller than the panels. 

However, you can get creative and extend the posts even taller and have iron or steel fencing between them.  Whatever, you decide to do the AB Fence Cap Block is glued in place to finish the top of the panels and posts. For more information on capping and finishing options for your Allan Block Fence, visit our website at allanblock.com

Can I use AB Courtyard on top of my existing retaining wall?

Written by Chad Julius

Absolutely.  We have countless projects where Courtyard is used on top of the retaining wall.  You have got to check out some of the pictures we have of raised patios that show the AB Courtyard on top of retaining walls.  However, since it is an existing wall there needs to be some questions answered first.  It will depend on if that existing wall will remain structurally stable when the additional loads are applied.  Let me explain.  The Courtyard itself has weight, but so do all the people that will be standing on the patio that you are building as well.  The existing retaining wall must be able to withstand this additional weight or pressure before moving forward. 

Once the integrity of the existing wall is satisfied then you can simply install the AB Courtyard wall on top of the existing retaining wall.  The AB Courtyard does not require a footing and can installed directly on top of the cap or pavers for the patio. We would suggest adhering them to the cap for some stability, but it is not required since the AB Courtyard Caps are also glued once installed.  Check out the Courtyard Reference material on our website.

Getting off the Grid: How to know if your retaining wall needs more reinforcement

Written by: Nate VanBeek

How much geogrid do I need to build my retaining wall? Do I even need geogrid? How tall does my retaining wall need to be for geogrid to be required?

When designing a retaining wall, there are a number of questions that you must ask yourself prior to answering these questions. 

• How tall is your retaining wall? 
• What block will you be using to construct your retaining wall? 
• What type of soil is being retained by your wall? 
• Are there any additional loads on top of your wall such as a driveway or a slope?

 Once you have answered all of these questions, you may reference the table to the right.

This table as well as all of these design considerations can be found in our Commercial Installation Manual.

Now that you have determined whether or not geogrid is required, what’s next?

If a gravity wall will work for your application you don’t need any geogrid. However, if your wall is outside the parameters in the above table you will need geogrid reinforcement. But, how much? For a quick answer to this question refer to the table to the left.

 

Once you have determined an appropriate depth of grid and number of grid layers using the table to the left, multiply these numbers by your average wall height to determine how much geogrid is required for your wall.

Would you like a more accurate estimate of the geogrid required for you project? Consider using our AB Estimating Tools. These applications download in just moments and allow you to come up with a material estimate in just a few minutes.

For detailed instructions on building retaining walls using geogrid please refer to the Allan Block Best Practices document which comes from decades of industry experience.