Landscape Newsletter Issue 15 |
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Enjoy A Beautiful Backyard Oasis |
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| The epic battle of man versus nature raged through storm and thunder at the Doland residence in Cincinnati, Ohio. For a week and a half, a three-man crew worked to turn a undeveloped backyard into an oasis for entertainment. The Doland’s have lived in their beautiful colonial home for close to five years and determined it was time to turn their backyard into something livable and wonderful. The Doland’s sought the help of John Fisher’s Landesign to handle their backyard slope and create a functional patio. |
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As a family who entertains often, the main goal was to turn the outdoor area into a relaxing place with an
“old world feel” to spend time with friends. With Fisher’s suggestion and experience, the Doland’s found the
perfect product in the Allan Block Courtyard Collection.
Fisher suggested the Allan Block collections of products as they offered a varied block shape and a worn look with more distinct columns. He has been working with Allan Block products for over eleven years and with the assistance of supervisor Joe Kuchera, he helped create a design with the ambiance only Allan Block products can provide. |
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Using matching colored tumbled pavers for the patio, the AB Courtyard Collection for the walls and posts and the
AB Europa Collection for the retaining walls to tackle the slope, this combination of products gave the perfect
balance of form and function. With the structure and texture of the new patio walls, their sloping backyard has been
turned into a warm and inviting oasis, transforming a lost area into a focal point of not only the yard but the
entire residence. Extra space and an elegant fountain took this muddy Ohio slope and turned it into a practical
and beautiful outdoor living area. Now they are ready to party the warm summer nights of Cincinnati away in their
useful and stylish patio space. The Doland’s send raving reviews of their Allan Block experience.
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Add Distinction to Your Landscape with Allan Block® |
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| The AB Courtyard Collection is two-sided free standing wall system that is durable,
versatile and cost effective. Easily frame a patio or pool, create a seating wall, or build an entry
monument with exterior lighting. Use it alone or combine it with an Allan Block wall to give an added
touch to your project.
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The AB Courtyard Collection is a great way to finish off this new space. In this project, by using the AB Europa Collection to tackle the sloping hillside, a large new pool area with privacy and perimeter lighting was added. |
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  When building a raised patio, use the AB Courtyard Collection to create “walls” to the new room. |
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 Create a beautiful entryway and accent it with an AB Courtyard post. Add lighting or plants for an added appeal. |
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The AB Courtyard Collection works nicely with all the Allan Block wall products and their raised front lip. No need for pins or mortar, they just stack up.
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From elaborate patio enclosures to simple weekend projects, the AB Courtyard Collection allows you to
easily create beautiful and durable stone-like structures. Create elegant and stylish settings with old
world charm for any landscape.
The AB Courtyard Collection stacks up quickly. On existing surfaces such as pavers, there is no base or foundation to build, just stack it up. Its an easy addition to any project. Circles, curves and corners are all easily built to create beautiful and functional landscape accents. The interlocking blocks quickly fit together without mortar or pins. Quality, simplicity and lasting value, you get it all with the AB Courtyard Collection. By installing directly on existing surfaces like pavers or concrete this project now has a defined pool area with a separate area for the patio. Two spaces in one. |
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AB Courtyard Bench - A Great Addition |
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Basic Steps for Building an AB Courtyard BenchA courtyard bench is an easy way to add beautiful accents and seating to any landscape. You can build it on an existing surface like a patio or pavement, as well as on soil. In this example we will create a bench that is 5 blocks high, with a seating height of 18 in. (460 mm).Click here for complete detailed instructions. |
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Layout
Determine the location of the 2 posts and lay the first course of block to establish where to dig the foundation pad. Make sure the posts are directly across from each other and are appropriately spaced to accommodate your desired seating material. |
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Build the FoundationMark the location of the posts with a shovel, remove the blocks and dig a 24 in. wide (600 mm), 30 in. long (760 mm) and 4 in. deep hole (100 mm). Compact the bottom of the hole, then place 4 in. (100 mm) of crushed rock in the hole and compact again. Check for level.NOTE: The soil beneath the foundation pad must be a good quality compactable material. If soft soils are encountered, they will need to be removed and replaced with additional crushed rock. A good foundation will ensure a stable bench for years to come. |
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Build First PostInstall the base course of the first post using 6 Corner Blocks on the crushed rock foundation. Square up the blocks, tamp into place and level. (see patterns above). Build Second PostInstall the first Corner Block of the 2nd post. Use a level and a straight board to span across to ensure that the Corner Block of the 2nd post will be level with the 1st post. Install remaining blocks to complete the first course, check again for level with the 1st post. Continue Building With both posts level, continue stacking 2 more courses with the appropriate pattern. Do not stack the blocks up using only one pattern (seams should not create a straight line the full height of the post). On the 4th course, change the pattern to create the area for the seating material to rest. Only 4 corner blocks will be needed for the next 2 courses and all blocks will be installed with their long sides facing out. Finish each post with two Post Caps. Bench Material Measure and install the seating material. Cedar deck boards or a slab of natural stone make good seating materials. See your local supplier for more options. |
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