Advantages of Using Modular Block for Your Retaining Wall

While natural stone can make a beautiful retaining wall, there are some advantages to choosing modular blocks. Man-made modular blocks are easily available and are very durable for building stable structures for landscaping, including retaining walls. If you are planning on building a retaining wall as a summer project, consider these advantages of using modular blocks versus natural stone.

  • Uniform size. One of the biggest advantages of modular blocks is that they are easy to stack and build with due to their uniform size and shape. Modular blocks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but whatever you choose, every block will be the same.
  • Curved walls. If you want to build a curved retaining wall, modular blocks are an excellent choice. You have more flexibility in design shapes with formed blocks that can be easily stacked in different designs.
  • Low maintenance. Modular block retaining walls do not require mortar and are easy to maintain once they are in place. Without mortar, you will not need to worry about the blocks cracking, which is another advantage.
  • Affordability. Last, but certainly not least, modular blocks are an affordable alternative to natural stone. With the extra money you save on your retaining wall, you can plan another project for your yard this summer.

Both natural stone and modular blocks are viable options for building your retaining wall, but if you are looking for an affordable, versatile material, modular blocks may be a good choice for your project. Talk to your local landscape supplier that offers modular block and natural stone to determine the best material for your new retaining wall.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617

Creative Uses For Modular Landscaping Blocks

One of the most versatile landscape supplies for building is the sturdy modular block. Unlike the boring gray blocks of years ago, modular blocks now come in many shapes, colors and sizes.  There are several ways to use these landscaping blocks, from the popular retaining wall to creating flower beds and even outdoor furniture. What makes these building items so popular is that they are inexpensive, easy to use and available at almost any landscape supply store. Here are some ideas on how to use these handy blocks creatively in your landscaping. 

Retaining Walls

When building a retaining wall, modular blocks offer an excellent choice for a stable, strong wall which is easy to put together. Modular blocks are designed to fit nicely together without mortar, creating a tight, secure wall for decorative purposes or for erosion protection. The variety in colors and shapes allows homeowners to match their retaining walls easily with other landscaping materials on their property. 

Raised Gardens

Landscaping blocks are the ideal product for creating a quick raised flower or garden bed. These blocks are heavy enough to maintain stability when stacked without additional cement or mortar. Many homeowners are choosing modular blocks over landscape timbers for building planting beds, due to their environmental benefits. While treated timbers can release harmful chemicals into the soil, modular blocks do not compromise the soil that will be held inside to grow flowers, vegetables and herbs. 

Furniture

Get creative with modular blocks, and make your own garden furniture. Create hefty benches in your garden area, quick tables or pedestals. There is no limit to what can be built with these blocks with some imagination, yielding sturdy and weather resistant furniture options for you outdoor living spaces. 

Check out the vast variety of modular landscape blocks at your local landscape supply store, and begin your next creative landscape project.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Landscape Supply

 

Easier Retaining Walls with Modular Block

Soil erosion can be a very real problem, especially on properties with steep or unnatural slopes. The most common method of combating soil erosion is the installation of a retaining wall, which can be both expensive and labor intensive when natural stone is used. Fortunately, there is an aesthetically pleasing, less expensive alternative to natural stone for retaining walls: modular block. 

Why Use Modular Block?

While it’s often more cost-effective to opt for modular block over natural stone, there are also a host of other benefits to using these innovative tools for retaining wall construction. Because site preparation requirements are less stringent than other retaining wall alternatives, installation can be quicker and less difficult. These durable blocks require very little in the way of maintenance, and because mortar is not used during the construction process, they’re also naturally resistant to cracking. 

The interlocking design provides a greater level of stability, making do-it-yourself projects with modular blocks much more feasible than building a retaining wall with natural stone. Modular blocks are designed to resist sliding and remain upright. 

Choosing the Right Modular Blocks

As with any other landscaping or hardscape project, choosing the right modular blocks for the job will depend not only upon your personal tastes, but also the best style for to meet the unique needs of your property. Working with a landscape supply company whose staff is knowledgeable and reputable can offer you a great opportunity to learn more about modular blocks and how they should be installed. If you’re in need of a retaining wall and natural stone isn’t your first choice, modular blocks can provide you with a beautiful, durable and easier alternative.

Posted On Behalf Of Alliance Stone, Inc.

Modular Block Retaining Walls

Often residential and commercial properties will need retaining walls in various locations in order to create level areas where the grade changes significantly.  While natural stone retaining walls are preferred by a majority of people, often the cost involved in the labor and the materials makes a natural stone retaining wall cost prohibitive.  Modular block retaining walls provide a cost effective alternate, while still providing an attractive and functional retaining wall.

Modular block walls are pre-engineered “gravity walls”, which means the weight of the wall as well as the mass keeps it in place.  The nature of the product allows for many design options, including curves, while the lack of earthwork requirements in site preparation speed the construction.  The modular blocks are interlocking units simply stack on top of each other, resulting in reduced build times for the wall, especially when compared to a natural stone wall.  Since the wall is “dry stacked” with no mortar, the wall is permeable, which relieves hydrostatic pressure, as the moisture passes thru the wall.  The final product is attractive, functional and maintenance free!

Those in need of a cost effective retaining wall system should consider a modular block wall!  Currently there are five different types of modular block available, which while yielding different appearances, still result in an excellent retaining wall. The modular block supplier has a number of professional customer service professionals who are knowledgeable, helpful and experienced in modular block retaining walls.  They are there to assist in determining the best option for each specific wall application.

Posted on behalf of Alliance Stone

Modular Blocks Give You More Bang for your Block

Modular blocks are a fashionable, functional and flexible building material widely used in residential, commercial and industrial landscaping. These high-strength, precast concrete units give you more bang for your block since that are structurally more sophisticated than standard concrete bricks and provide a more aesthetically appealing finish.

Interlocking and offset stacking modular block systems are engineered for easy installation and for resistance to external forces such as lateral soil pressure, hydrostatic pressure or surcharge and seismic load in the ground. This makes modular blocks a popular choice for constructing heavy-duty retaining walls and even for larger building projects in landslide-prone and earthquake-prone areas.

The main components of modular block systems include the block units themselves, foundation soil/the base, drainage, backfill/retained soil, and wall reinforcement such as geogrid or geotextile. While there is a highly technical aspect to these sophisticated systems, integrated modular block solutions are available for quick and simple installation in any weather conditions. Ultimately, modular block systems reduce land take and can be installed with minimal site disruption.

Modular blocks are more natural-looking than concrete blocks, marrying the geometric affordances of brick with the textured look of natural stone. This makes modular blocks a stylish option for freestanding walls including sitting walls, planter walls, garden walls, privacy walls and boundary walls. The blocks also make for safe and attractive outdoor fire pits. They come in a variety of patterns, sizes, colors and textures to complement the aesthetics of any landscape. Beautiful decorative designs add substance and style to your straight, curved or terraced wall.

Modular blocks are truly the crème de la crème of low-cost building materials. They are less expensive than poured concrete walls, easy to maintain and handsomely complement other landscape features like walkways, courtyards and arbors. Whether you are building a functional retaining wall or bordering a pergola, consider using stately modular blocks for a quality that lasts.

Modular Block Retaining Walls

Do you have one of those sloping backyards that looks nice, but you can’t do much with it?  If you have been thinking about how to use that backyard for your children’s playground, a swimming pool, workshop, or patio, consider installing an attractive, functional retaining wall. 

Retaining walls can make an attractive addition to any landscape.  Retaining walls are both functional and beautiful.  They can be used to create a flat area in a sloping yard, or to control erosion, improve drainage, or to create a division between two areas such as your lawn and a flower bed.  Retaining walls can be built from many materials including timber, poured concrete, masonry blocks, stone, and other such materials. 

The design and installation of poured concrete retaining walls or retaining walls more than three feet tall are best left to a professional landscaper.   Improperly designed or installed retaining walls are a safety hazard because they can collapse, causing personal injuries and property damage. 

For retaining walls less than three feet tall, modular blocks offer an excellent alternative for the do-it-yourselfer to create attractive, functional retaining walls.  Modular blocks are a flexible and easy to use.  They rely on the weight of the blocks to hold them in place so you don’t need to use any mortar. 

Modular blocks are made with an interlocking system to add strength to the structure and they are molded with tapered sides so it is easy build smoothly curving walls.  Your local landscape supply store will have a wide variety of modular blocks to choose from and can help you design and install a great looking retaining wall.