Landscape Newsletter Issue 9


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Backyard Makeovers Fuel Contractor's Growth
B & D Landscaping jumped on an emerging trend two years ago and is now building their business around it. In 2003 they were contacted by a homeowner who wanted to create more usable space in his backyard. The homeowner wanted a place where he could relax and entertain family and friends. In addition, he wanted natural looking landscape walls that would compliment his home's exterior and increase his property value. He had researched a variety of landscape products and did not like the commercial wall block he had seen in the area but was interested in the Allan Block AB Collection using a patterned wall design. AB Collection - Patterned Wall
Terrace Wall with stairs

 B & D Landscaping was an experienced landscape contracting company, but had never installed an AB Ashlar Blend patterned wall, stating "Allan Block definitely has the best quality block and it is the easiest to work with. Although this was our first AB Collection wall project, I was confident the job would go well."

As they moved through the design phase, the project expanded to include walls on the side of the house and along the driveway. B & D helped the homeowners coordinate all the design elements including stairs, planters and a raised patio.
The terraced walls and raised patio in the backyard were installed in the first phase, followed by the large wall behind the house that wrapped around the walkout basement door. The final phase included the wall along the driveway which incorporated a planter and a set of stairs. Total time on the project was about 3 1/2 months. B & D comments on the installation process, stating "when bidding this project, we initially estimated about 20% more time since it was a new product for us.


Terrace Wall

We quickly learned a few tips and increased our installation rate. The project turned out great. The homeowners are really happy with their new backyard and their referrals have brought us all kinds of new business. We are currently working on another AB wall project that is over 5,000 sq. ft. (456 m²)."

Landscape contractors that know how to create backyard living areas are in high demand. Building a business on this growing trend and building walls with the beautiful AB Collection, has helped take B & D Landscaping to the next level.



Backyard Makeover Tips
Outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and water gardens have become much more popular, making backyards the new “outdoor living area”. Today,the traditional patio no longer makes the grade. Homeowners want an outdoor space that is an oasis for relaxing with family and friends.

With a nation going crazy over "extreme makeovers", it is no surprise that this popular trend has now made it to the backyard. The versatile family of Allan Block products lets you create backyard makeovers that are stunningly beautiful. Turn an unusable slope into a colorful garden, transform a lifeless patio into a charming courtyard or create an outdoor kitchen with a built-in BBQ grill. It is all possible with Allan Block. 		retaining wall with corners.
Creating outdoor spaces that your residential customers will love takes a few simple steps. See the AB Landscape Walls Guide for a complete description of how you can plan, design and build beautiful backyard landscapes.

Plan
  • Work with the homeowner to define how the space will be used.

  • Create a detailed plan so you can develop an accurate project estimate.

  • Inspect the on-site soils to ensure they are suitable for construction.

  • Consider water management.

  • Verify lot lines and utility locations, and obtain necessary permits.



Design
  • Create privacy in the backyard by designing "rooms" using raised planters and seating walls as borders.

  • Add visual interest by using a range of colors and textures. Match the block to the texture and color of the home and surrounding landscape.

  • Combine the Allan Block Collections to create landscape walls, free standing vertical walls, columns, stairs and seating walls.



Build
  • Pay special attention to installing a level base course.

  • Backfill and compact properly after each course of blocks is installed.

  • Install geogrid reinforcement as needed, based on site and soil conditions. See the Allan Block Landscape Design Guide for details.



Backyard landscape improvements not only create more living space, they are also a good financial investment. 		AB Courtyard Grill

AB Abbey Blend backyard

AB Ashlar Blend backyard

AB Courtyard screen

Installation Tips for AB Ashlar and
AB Abbey Blend Patterned Walls

The Plan-Design-Build process for installing patterned walls was included in a previous issue of this newsletter. Now we will cover some commonly asked questions regarding installation. AB Collection
General Tips
  • For random pattern and pre-set pattern walls, use the AB Collection to build AB Ashlar Blend walls and the AB Europa Collection to build AB Abbey Blend Walls.

  • Build pattern walls with a 2 course pattern, repeated every two courses. A single course is approximately 8 in. (200 mm) tall, the height of one full-size block.

  • Offset each new pattern from the pattern below to maintain the "random" appearance.

  • Plan on taking 10-20% more time to build patterned walls, particularly when building one for the first time.

  1. How can I easily estimate block quantities?



    • Download the estimating tool.
    • See your local AB rep. or dealer for an AB estimating wheel.

  2. Do I start the pattern on the first course?

    No.
    Lay the first course with full-sized blocks using the AB Classic (AB Collection) or the AB Dover (AB Europa Collection).

  3. What is the best pattern for curved walls?

    When building curves always use the 2 course pattern. It is the easiest pattern to work with and requires less custom fitting or cutting of blocks.

  4. How do I end a patterned wall?

    Patterned walls may be ended with step-ups, step-downs or turn-ins. When ending the wall, discontinue the pattern and use a random selection of blocks on the end.

  5. How do I maintain the pattern when my wall steps up or down?
    • Using all full-size blocks, start the base course at the lowest elevation.
    • As the base course steps up, install additional full-size block for your next base course.
    • Transition the pattern with each step by randomly placing different blocks at the transition points. In geogrid reinforced walls, also transition up the geogrid position.



 Offset the Patterns

Patterned wall Base Course

Patterned wall with Step Downs
Patterned wall with Stepped Base
  • When your wall steps up or down at the top, randomly place the block at the transition point. If you have a grid wall and you are transitioning up to another 2-course increment, install another layer of grid.

  • Keep in mind to follow the two course pattern to ensure continuous horizontal placement of the geogrid.

  • When estimating block quantities, order a few extra blocks to allow for building transitions when walls step up or down.
Patterned wall with Stepped Base
6. How do I install 90 degree corners?
We recommend that whenever possible you build with curved walls rather than 90 degree corners. If you have 90 degree corners available:
  • Outside corners. Start at the corner and build the wall working out in both directions. Use a random selection of blocks to transition from the corner into the patterned courses. Check with your local AB representative for availability of corner blocks.

  • Inside corners are constructed in the same manner as for non-patterned walls. Remove the top lip of the course where the walls intersect.

Patterned wall with Corners

Calculating Block Quantities for Patterned Walls
Example: Wall is 4 ft tall x 40 ft long and uses the two course pattern, three times.
  1. Divide the wall height by the pattern height. 4 ft ÷ 1.3 ft = 3 (1.2 m ÷ 0.4 m = 3)
  2. Divide the wall length by the pattern length. 40 ft ÷ 10 ft = 4 (12 m ÷ 0.3 m = 4)
  3. Multiply the totals together - 3 x 4 = 12
  4. Multiply each block quantity for the pattern by 12.
  5. To calculate the base course block required, divide wall length, 40 ft (12 m) ÷ AB Dover length, 1.5 ft (0.45 m) = 27 AB Dover Blocks

         6 x 12 = 72 AB Dover Blocks
         4 x 12 = 48 AB Palermo Blocks
         8 x 12 = 96 AB Barcelona Blocks
         8 x 12 = 96 AB Bordeaux Blocks
Two Course Pattern
AB Europa Collection AB Collection
6 AB Dover
4 AB Palermo
8 AB Barcelona
8 AB Bordeaux

 6 AB Classic
4 AB Jumbo Junior
8 AB Lite Stone
8 AB Junior Lite


* Use the AB Junior Lite (an AB Lite Stone cut in half). Check with your local AB Representative for availability.