Jun
4
Landscaping and gardening are the most popular outdoor do-it-yourself home improvement activities planned by homeowners in 2015, according to a recent survey by the Home Projects Council. Beyond traditional landscaping and gardening projects like planting flower beds or laying paver paths, homeowners can drastically transform their front or backyard with a decorative garden wall made of block.
In addition to adding beauty, a decorative garden wall increases the functional space in a yard, and can be customized to double as a planter or a bench in a variety of integral colors. While building a decorative garden wall may sound daunting to some homeowners, there is actually an easy approach that requires no previous masonry experience.
Today, a beautiful, functional and permanent concrete garden wall can be constructed by even the most novice do-it-yourself homeowner with a surface bonding cement like QUIKRETE QUIKWALL. The process, which requires no mortar, is simply stacking the blocks in a desired pattern and applying the surface bonding cement evenly over the outside of the wall with a trowel. In addition to being easier, a block wall built with surface bonding cement is also waterproof and stronger than a wall constructed with mortar.
Here’s how you can build a block garden wall with minimal effort:
Note : When working with cementitious products, always wear eye protection and gloves.
* Ensure there is a solid footer or base slab that meets local building codes for construction requirements. If there is not, pour a footer or base slab.
* Stage the first course of block and snap a chalk line on each side of the block wall as a reference line to ensure corners are square and walls are straight.
* Mix surface bonding cement according to the instructions and so that it “hangs” on a trowel held at a 90 degree angle.
* Use liquid cement color to customize the look of a block wall, if desired.
* Remove the blocks and lay an 1/8-inch bed of QUIKWALL on the footing. The mix should be workable but firm enough to support the weight of the first course.
* Set the bottom course being sure to check alignment and level every three to four blocks.
* Once the first course is set, dry-stack the remaining block in a running bond pattern to the desired height and so that all corners use an interlocking pattern.
* Dampen the block wall with water as dry block will draw the water from the mix making it difficult to finish and can cause inconsistent color and cracking.
* Apply a consistent 1/8 to 1/4-inch coat of surface bonding cement to both sides of the block. Use a square finishing trowel held at a 45 degree angle and work from the bottom of the wall to the top covering the entire surface of the wall.
* Cure the entire surface with a fine water mist.
For step-by-step video instructions for building a decorative block wall with surface bonding cement, visit QUIKRETE.com.
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