Creative Uses For Modular Landscaping Blocks

September 28th, 2014 Posted in Modular Block
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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

 

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Modular Block Retaining Walls

August 1st, 2013 Posted in Modular Block
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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

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Modular Blocks Give You More Bang for your Block

March 1st, 2012 Posted in Modular Block
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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.

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