Adding Strength to an AB Courtyard Wall Panel
How to Build Taller Courtyard Wall Panels
The AB Courtyard Collection is designed to let you build a variety of wall types. For taller walls you may find it desirable to add reinforcement to increase the stability of your walls. The 4 options below to show how this can be achieved.
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Option 1: Adding Strength With Metal Pipes
Adding metal posts within your wall panels will provide hidden reinforcement and resistance to overturning. The pipe adds overturning stability to the wall.
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You Will Need:
- 1 3/8 in. or smaller metal piping
(like that used for the horizontal pipe in chain link fences)
- Large diameter pipe cutter
- Small sledge hammer or fence post driver
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Step 1: Plan - Measure
Determine the length of the metal pipe by adding the height of the wall - not including the cap - and approximately 1-2 feet (300-600 mm) additional for the amount of pipe that will be pounded into the ground below.
Step 2: Place Pipe
After cutting the pipe to the appropriate length, slide the metal pipe down through the hole in the top course of wall blocks. Remove the top course of blocks as you drive the pipe to its desired depth. This provides room for the pipe to be driven into the ground.
Step 3: Drive Pipe
Pound the pipe into the ground using your sledge hammer or fence post driver approximately 1-2 feet (300-600 mm) deep or until desired stability is achieved.
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Option 2: Adding Strength With Adhesive
Securing the caps and top course of the wall together with masonry adhesive increases the stability of the wall. Secure the Wall Caps in place with a bead of masonry adhesive along both sides of the raised rings and along the side of each Wall Cap.
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Option 3: Adding Strength With Curves, Corners or Posts/Pillars
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Designing curves,
corners, or
posts/pillars
into the wall panels will add additional stability to the wall panel without any added steps.
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Option 4: Adding Strength by Interlocking the Panels into the Posts/Pillars
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Use Corner Blocks to tie the wall panels into the posts/pillar structures, by placing a Corner Block half on the wall panel and half within the post/pillar. This will interlock them together adding stability to the wall panel. See
How-to sheet #230: Interlocking Walls and Posts.
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