Building with Panels and Posts
How-to Sheet #190
The Courtyard Collection lets you easily build both wall panels and posts. To create beautiful courtyard walls, combine walls and posts together in a three-step process, by building a post, building a wall off the post, and building a second post off the wall. Use corner blocks to build your posts. Corner blocks have a long side and a short side. The long sides are always placed on the outside of the post.
To begin, place four corner blocks in a square. Once the blocks are in place, align them with a square. On the second course, place the corner block so that they overlap the two blocks beneath them. This pattern will offset the vertical seams. Continue stacking courses to the top of your post, alternating the patterns as you go.
Now let’s begin the wall panel. On every other course of the wall, you will always use a Dublin center-split block. On alternate courses, you can either use a Dublin end-split block or York center-split block. See how-to Sheet number 210 for more information on splitting blocks.
Begin the wall panel by splitting a Dublin end-split block. Place one piece centered on the post, with the split side against the post. And set the other piece aside for the end of this course. Then place the next block. Begin the second course by splitting a Dublin center-split block. Place one piece with the split side against the post and set the other piece aside for the end of the second course. Always build the first two courses at the same time to ensure that they line up properly. Continue building both courses to where your second post will begin. End each course with the second half of the block that you split to begin that course, placing the split side against the second post.
Now, you’re ready for the second post. Install the first two courses using the same process as the first post. Place the corner blocks tight against the split blocks. Continue stacking corner blocks to the top of your post. Now, finish the wall alternating the patterns on every other course. Finish with post caps and wall caps.
Once all the wall caps are in place, you can choose to secure them with a bead of masonry adhesive. Apply the adhesive along the raised rings and between the wall caps. When combining walls and posts on walls that are four courses high or more, we recommend interlocking the walls and posts.
See How-to Sheet #230 for more information. Now, you can create walls and posts to compliment the design and style of your project. For complete library of Courtyard How-to Sheets, visit us at allanblock.com.
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