Allan Block puts more $$$ back into your savings!

Written by Kyle Huerd
Although there are many styles and colors that can be completed with Allan Block retaining walls, the material cost is very competitively priced with other types of materials. 

Allan Block Retaining Wall

Without spending too much time getting off topic, let’s look at the least expensive route, timber retaining walls.  

timber wall

Pros

• Tried and true over the last 50+ years.  
• Materials readily available
• Easy Installation

Cons

• Life Expectancy (15-25 years)
• Maintenance – seal coating wall every 3 – 5 years
• Environmental disposal costs

Although you may have a significant up-front cost reduction, the cost of a timber wall over the lifetime of an Allan Block wall will not be a competition.  Allan Block will cost you less over the 50+ years that they are installed due to time, maintenance, and rebuild.

Next let’s discuss a natural stone type retaining wall.  These can be comprised of limestone, boulders, or other natural rock that is available in your region.  

Natural Stone wall

Pros

• Natural aesthetic

Cons

• One of the most expensive options 
• Doesn’t install as easy as module block or timber walls
• May require special equipment due to the size and weight of the material

Since Allan Block has a cost-effective solution and there are so many collections and finishes to Allan Block retaining walls, there will be a better solution using a modular block outside of just the pocket book.

Lastly, if we were to compare a traditional masonry wall, or cast in place retaining wall.  

Cast in Place wall

Pros

• Can be designed for any application
• Tried and true for hundreds of years

Cons

• Typically the most expensive
• Non-flexible – will crack in frost or seismic areas
• Specialized installation – formwork and steel required

A ball park cost savings from a cast in place retaining wall to an Allan Block system can be roughly 50%.  If you don’t like saving money AND having a wall that looks better then cast in place is your route to go!

Allan Block Retaining Wall

Now that we know Allan Block is a cost-effective solution for nearly ALL sites, it really comes down to what collection and color you would like in your backyard.  Feel free to visit allanblock.com to select a store near you or call your local dealer for cost and availability.

Allan Block Retaining Wall

AB Courtyard and Swinging Gates Bring Added Security to your Project

Written by Rich Lovdal

 Gates come in many forms from simple wrought iron or ornamental metal gates physically attached to the post/pillar to heavy industrial security gates mounted to their own structural support system. 

Either type can be used our AB Courtyard or AB Fence Posts.  For any gate not physically connected to the post, the fence installer should follow the supplier’s structural post installation procedures.

Today we will focus on how a gate can complement your AB Courtyard project and how to attach a gate to the Courtyard post.  If your project includes a gate attached to the AB Courtyard Post/Pillar, first use the strengthening techniques described in How-To-Sheet #140.  By gluing each course together and using the Concrete column and embedded pile in the center of the post, the individual block units will act as a solid structure to resist the weight of the swinging gate.  

Start your project by knowing the width of your finished gate so that you can build your Post/Pillar the correct distance apart.  If you are using a premade gate it will be difficult to modify if you have built your post too far apart or too close together.

To attach the gate to the post/pillar use the typically provided mounting hinge and commonly used masonry/concrete anchor bolts such as wedge or lag both anchors found at any big box or local hardware store location.  Start by carefully positioning your bottom hinge and making the holes to be drilled.  It is important to place the bottom bracket at the proper height to allow the gate to swing unimpeded.  The anchors you choose will recommend a drill bit diameter.  

Using a standard drill or a hammer drill for easier drilling, drill the holes and mount your lower hinge.  Once the lower hinge is mounted, to determine the exact location on the upper hinge, carefully hang the gate on your lower hinge and brace it in place so that it is in a finished plumb position.   (Plumb – to be vertical so the finished gate will not swing open or close by itself) 



 Once the gate is temporarily in place, position the upper hinge in its final position and mark the holes.  Using the same technique as for the lower hinge, drill the holes and mount the upper hinge and hang your gate.  Using these same techniques you can easily mount the latch hardware on the other post.

For more information on all of Allan Block’s products see our website at allanblock.com or our AB Courtyard How to Sheet #420 - Attaching Gates to Post/Pillar

Need your retaining wall to turn a tight radius? We have the solution!

Written by Ryan Miller

With Allan Block retaining wall products, a large sweeping curve or a quick tight one are easy to construct and will leave a great looking finished product.  A curve is the strongest, fastest and most aesthetically pleasing option when a change of direction is required within a retaining wall.  The minimum radius one can build with a full-length (roughly 18 in.) Allan Block unit such as a Classic, Lite or Dover is 4 ft. 

Learn more about installing curves by reviewing our installation recommendations.  If you need to make a tighter radius you may want to consider incorporating one of our units that are ~9 in. in length such as the Jumbo Jr, Bordeaux or Palermo.  These units will allow you to tighten that radius to 2.5 ft – (picture 2 below).  Using these products will allow for a quick installation and a finished product that will meet the aesthetic requirements necessary for your project.  Check out more on our retaining wall products here or give us a call to discuss your project in more detail.

How do I find a professional, certified Allan Block contractor?

Written by Souraya Farhat

Now that you have decided on realizing your outdoor living space and have come to the conclusion that building retaining walls, paver patios, patio walls and working with hardscapes in general is not your strongest skill. You will need to rely on a professional contractor with experience and a proven record on the field of hardscapes. 

Before you find a contractor to meet with, you will need to do some research and try to decide on the scope of your project. Online research, visits to local hardscape and landscape shows will help you make selections of products, features and elements that would fit into your project. This will help you classify these selections into needs, wants and would love to have in an effort to determine the scope of the project. Learn more how to prepare for your meeting with the contractors. 


Now that you have done your homework, you are prepared to meet with a contractor. However, where to find them and how to hire the right one is another important step to ensuring the success of your project. Here are some resources to find contractors:

• Recommendations from friends, family and neighbors
  
• Local Online directories
  
• Local media advertising, mailers and flyers
  
• Product manufacturer recommendations 

The last thing you need is to deal with a failing wall, improper water drainage and many other issues that can result from a bad installation. Relying on professionals that are skilled, trained and have obtained manufacturer’s certification may beef up the price, but it is a small price to pay for a peace of mind.     

Where do I get Engineering Assistance for my Retaining Wall Project?

Written by Ryan Miller

You may be faced with the task of building a retaining wall at your house to alleviate a grade change in your yard.  The town you are living in may require engineering to construct the wall and/or you may be wondering how to get engineering assistance on your own even if your town doesn’t require a set of drawings from a licensed engineer.  Well, there are several people/companies and/or tools you could lean on to gather that information.  Below is a list of those resources:

1. Local dealer and/or manufacturer of Allan Block retaining walls products.  Find a local resource here.
2. Local Structural, Civil or Geotechnical Engineering firms – your local dealer or manufacturer can help you find these.
3. Use Allan Block’s Engineering Manual along with our Installation guides (Commercial and Residential) to see how the engineering works within these structures and how it applies to the installation.
4. Call or email Allan Block.  We have an internal group of engineers ready to answer your call and help you answer questions pertinent to your retaining wall project.  We can be reached at 1-800-599-8309 or engineering@allanblock.com.

When you find yourself in a situation which requires engineering assistance, we have all the tools and resources for your project.  Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if there is anything we may be able to help with.