Consider building a freestanding outdoor wall in your new landscaping if you plan to include a patio. A patio can be enhanced with a freestanding patio seating wall. It also serves as a ledge for sitting and gives a touch of privacy. Although these appear to be difficult, they are simple to complete with a bit of knowledge, ability, and hard effort, or you can engage a landscaper to do it for you.
This article will show you how to build a block patio seating wall using one approach. There are several options depending on the materials, site parameters, patio enclosure and personal preference.
What is a Patio Seating Wall?
A patio seating wall can give a unique element to a standard patio design. It adds some verticality to what would otherwise be a flat hardscape. Adding contrasting (but complementary) wall materials can also provide intrigue.
They are attractive, but they also serve a practical purpose by providing additional sitting. More seating options are desirable, but they also save space because these hardscape components are often placed along the patio border. These modest landscape buildings are sometimes used to divide a space, such as a massive patio, into two distinct regions.
Material Required in Building a Patio Seating Wall
The material you use for the walls is determined by the type of patio you have. A patio seating wall for a paver patio can be made of complementing concrete blocks or stone. For block walls, the cap might be block or even bluestone. A bluestone or limestone topping should be applied to stone walls. Brick or sandstone seat walls with bluestone or marble crowns complement a brick patio design. Almost anything can be used as a sitting wall for concrete patios. Because most concrete patterns aren't too busy, stone, brick, or concrete allan block will all work. Make sure the colors complement each other. Many different types of stone can be used as a material.
Even if you don't have a vast plot to mark off, your patios and flower beds deserve a border, and one that also serves as a seating area will make your landscape even more delightful. But, unlike the Yankee farmers, there's no need to scrape up the yard seeking pebbles.
Steps to Build a Patio Seating Wall?
Here we have compiled 12 steps for building a patio wall.
Step 1: Lay Out and Excavate the Area
For stability, at least half of the first course of the patio seating wall must be buried; thus, dig a trench before assembling the blocks. Allow at least 1 inch of backfill on each side of the blocks to prevent the wall from leaning when the ground settles.
A level line serves as a reference point for checking the depth of the trench after it has been put out. Map out the breadth and shape of the ditch using stones put at the opposite edges of the patio seating wall as a reference. At least 1 inch should be added on each side of the rocks. At each end, place a stake.
Step 2: String a Line Level
Stretch a mason's line between the stakes and string a line level on it. To keep the rope from shifting, instead of tying it, nick each stake and knot the string in the notches; this way, you may unhook it as needed when digging.
Step 3: Dig a Trench
Dig a ditch at least six inches deep or till you reach the softer soil beneath the loamy topsoil with a spade, commencing at the lowest point of any slope. As you excavate the area, measure off the level line and keep the trench's base level.
Step 4: Lay the Base
A ground mix known as paver base creates a solid, closely packed base for the stones. Build up the depth of the remaining trench to about half the thickness of your stone by laying down the ground in layers so that it may be packed well. Three inches of paver's base should be shoveled into the trench.
Step 5: Use a Hand Tamper
Compact the base with a hand tamper. To ensure that the floor remains level, measure the length from the foot to the level line. If required, pour more base layer of paver bottom and tamp each one till the surface of the base is half the depth with one block plus one inch from ground level at the low point of the slope.
Step 6: Shovel Stone Dust into Trench
Fill the trench with a single inch of stone dust. By dragging a shovel across the uneven surface, you can scatter and level the stone dust. Ensure that the finished length of the trench, including the foundation and stone dust, is half the width of one stone at its shallowest point.
Step 7: Lay the First Course
The placement of the first course is crucial for a level and robust wall. A tilted first course will lean the block piled on top of it, and a gapped first course will throw the rest of the sections off. If your location has a slope, start laying the stones from the top of your trench and work your way down to avoid removing any stone dust.
Place the first stone in the trench, centered between the trench's sides. Check the stone from edge to edge, front to rear, and corner to corner using a four-foot level. Tap the stone with a rubber mallet to set it.
The next stone should be placed. Set it with the mallet and make sure it's level in all directions and flat with the adjacent rock. In this fashion, set the initial course till you come to the end of the patio sitting wall.
Step 8: Backfill the Gaps
Backfill any gaps along either end of the blocks with more stone dust and earth using a shovel. Step on the dirt to compact it, careful not to knock the stones loose. When placing a stone against the adjoining stone, drop it straight down to avoid pulling stone dust into the joint.
Step 9: Cut the End Stones
The junctions between courses must be staggered to give the wall strength. As a result, the second row of the wall should begin with a half stone to balance the joint alignment. Mark and scrape every side of the block at the location where it will be cut with a mason's chisel. Using a wide mason's chisel, create a narrow channel along with the scoring by cutting it out at an angle, side end.
Step 10: Built the Wall
A comfortable seating height for a wall, including capstones, is 17 to 23 inches. The majority of cast concrete stones are large enough to stand independently. However, for safety's sake, you should use construction adhesive intended for stonework to glue down by at least all other courses—and indeed the capstones.
Apply masonry construction glue in two lines on the upper edge of the first course of stones with a caulk gun. Place the second session on top of the first, making sure the joints are staggered.
Step 11: Stack the Courses
Stack courses till the wall are only a few inches short of the desired height. Set the capstones in position after applying two beads of masonry glue to the last course. To make a finished top, turn them upright to overhang the wall's sides.
Step 12: Make Your Seat Wall Look Nice
While this isn't part of the outdoor design process, we suggested that you dress up your seating walls with cushions, pillows, or even blankets to make it more comfortable. We've seen homeowners do this after their landscaping project is completed, and we can understand how it helps to "complete" the look of the place. It can add color and make it more comfortable to sit in!
Why Built a Patio Seating Wall?
As you arrange your outdoor living area's landscape design, you'll see that the "small touches" aren't so minor after all; if you want to have a space that you can utilize and enjoy to the utmost every element of your project, matters.
Patio seating wall can be created merely for aesthetics and seating (even if a retaining wall isn't required).
Although it may appear to be one of those seemingly insignificant features, a seat wall may be a welcome addition to your outdoor living area, allowing you to better use and enjoy your space.
A seat wall is a fantastic way to "double the value" of a retaining wall. Controlling erosion typically necessitates the use of retaining walls. Even a slight slope in your yard can cause your landscaping to washing away. The function of a retaining wall is to prevent erosion. They're frequently used in tandem with grading.
If the retaining wall is in a hang-out area near and around a patio or a pool, it can sometimes be used for seating.
However, some homeowners want a seating wall even if they don't need erosion prevention. If you're holding an event and all of the seats or couches are taken, a short wall surrounding the patio might be a terrific solution to add "overflow seating."
Conclusion
Patio seating wall can be a fantastic method to increase the sitting area without adding more furniture (which might be a necessity in a small space). They can be a terrific method to expand the number of individuals you can engage in your area in this way! It is easy to build a patio sitting wall. Now, you don't need to engage a building wall panel, or other wall panels for building it.
