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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Wall. No Pink Floyds Were Harmed

 
 Okay, I already had 16 cinder blocks on hand. I'm a little bit redneck, don't ask. I'm sometimes surprised my dog has more than three legs. Anyway, so I grabbed the oldest Teen Minion (who became oddly suspicious when I told him to bring leather gloves for us both), hopped in the 1989 S10 pick up, and headed for Home Depot where we purchased twenty-five cinder blocks, eight half cinder blocks...

...and thirty of these little mystery doodads. They're called block caps, and I'd nabbed a few a couple of days ago as I tweaked my design. I knew most of you had never cut cement block to size as the original project called for, so I came up with a very inexpensive alternative that worked like a charm! 

I also bought 3 tubes of PS300 construction adhesive.
You'll need a total of two tools for this: a hammer and a caulking gun. First, stack the caps 4 deep and drive a nail through them a few times to create drainage holes.
 Have a plan. I sketched out my design on plain old graph paper.
Using the construction adhesive, glue the caps to your "juts," the pieces that will stick out.
 Dry stack your wall. Build the whole thing without adhesive first so you can double check your design.
Under each top block, simply place a cap to hold the soil.
Now, take a minute with a glass of wine to scrutinize your wall. Second guess yourself and text a couple of pictures to your buddy Michael to get his input.
Give his suggestion a try and decide that you like it better.
Then one section at a time, start running a thick bead of construction adhesive around the blocks and restack them. Anywhere I did a "jut" I used a half block to fill in.
l
This actually goes really fast.
Remember to place the caps under the top blocks. This will save you a ton of soil.
Grab another glass of wine, sit back, and be amazed at the nifty raised bed you just built. Basically without tools. This is a beginner project with great results if ever there was one. And we obviously have Feline Overlord approval.

Totally Cool Receipt:
25 cinder blocks: $30
8 half cinder blocks: $9.20
30 block caps: $5.40
3 tubes of adhesive: $11.94 

$56.54 for the focal point of my new patio area? OH YEAH!

Next, let's add some flowers and herbs, shall we? 

Anyone here for the first time, the last stage of this project can be seen HERE.

37 comments:

Kelly@TearingUpHouses said...

Oooh, I can't wait to see what you put in it!

Unknown said...

Sweet! That is so awesome. Wayy cool. Will you paint it too? Or leave it as-is? Ohh, I can't wait to see it with flowers!

Life in Rehab said...

Hello Ladies, thanks for stopping by! I think I'll leave this one au natural. I actually like the industrial look of it. And the screen project that's next will soften it, as will the plantings.

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

This came out so flippin' awesome!! You should show the inspiration wall right next to it. Love this!!! Blowing my mind again....

-heather

kelly o! said...

Looks so cool! Even though you're leaving it au natural...I could totally see the back side as a graffiti pad.

kelly

Life in Rehab said...

Heather,

Why thank you! And I was looking through your posts to find your wall...what's it titled?

Kelly,
I'm glad you like it! Let's see, I have teenagers...I have spray paint...OH NO!

Mel said...

fabulous, really! I'm picturing it with green and colour and it's going to be stinkin' gorgeous.

Life in Rehab said...

Well thank you Mel! Guess what I'll be linking up soon?

Recaptured Charm said...

I am looking to do something in my yard this year (inexpensively of course) and I am just completely WOW'D by this. I think I've just found my solution!
Thanks for sharing this awesome idea.
Lisa

Life in Rehab said...

Hi Lisa,

I'm glad you popped over. I took a quick peek at your blog; I know what I'll be doing over lunch!

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

Sunny are you talking to "me" Heather?? What wall (if you are?).

I also meant to tell you this project looks fun, especially the wine part. ;)

-heather
ps..ready to buy some spray paint after a fruitful trip to GW!

Life in Rehab said...

You're going to laugh at me: I misread your comment and thought it said "my inspiration wall," and I couldn't remember that post on your blog, so I was looking everywhere! Then I read it correctly and felt like a dork.

Spray paint, eh...?

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

Yep, you've inspired me! :)Time for spray paint.

I was pretty sure I hadn't posted a wall (not an outdoor one at least). Thanks for looking thru me old blog though!!

-heather

Room to Inspire said...

Great tutorial - I can't wait to see it with flowers and herbs! Thanks for linking up to Be Inspired today.

Chelsea

Melissa said...

This is totally brilliant!!

Rory from Tools Are For Women Too! said...

I LOVE THIS!! Please show it off on Modern Craftswoman Monday. Brilliant!
Rory

Life in Rehab said...

Rory,

Thank you for the compliment, and the invitation. I'll be there!

TidyMom said...

Great tutorial!! Great idea too!!
Thanks for sharing and linking up to I'm Lovin' It! Have a FABULOUS weekend!!

Infarrantly Creative said...

That looks awesome...once you have all that gorgeous greenery in there you are going to be in love!

Life in Rehab said...

Ready, peeps?

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans said...

This is truly amazing! I am totally lovin' it! :)

Anonymous said...

WOW. Luv'd this. I also was thinking about the paint.

Rory from Tools Are For Women Too! said...

Thanks for participating in Modern Craftswoman Monday. This was one of my very favorite projects I saw last week. Again, a really great job and be sure to post more photos when you get your plantings in.
Hope to see you join next week with more fun projects or just an update.
Rory

Mari said...

It looks great! Can't wait to see it with plants...it will be amazing!!!

Unknown said...

What a cool idea! You will have to post again when you get the flowers growing in it!!!
~Bridgette

Life in Rehab said...

Today's post was the update with plantings and plenty of color! Make the hop here:

http://sunnyslifeinrehab.blogspot.com/2010/05/presentingthe-wall.html

And thank you for stopping by!

Rebekah Greiman said...

I believe that every project should be accompanied with a glass of wine. I am so glad to know there is someone else out there who agrees with me! I love the cinder block wall. I just did a post on how to redo hardwood floors, and trust me, several glasses of wine were involved.....:
http://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/A/Home_Life_Archives/Entries/2010/4/22_How_to_do_it-_Sanding_Hardwood_Floors-Part_Uno.html

Life in Rehab said...

Rebekah,
You're my kind of handywoman. Salut!

Katie said...

I saw your project over on a Soft Place to Land and wanted to stop by and say how much I love it!! I've been looking for something to do in my yard that would be a focal point and take up a lot of space, but not be expensive or difficult to maintain. This is perfect!!

Mel said...

I told you this was stinkin' fab! Now you are being featured all over the town :)

Yay you!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Wow... I love this! I can't wait to find a spot to do this. And I would love to link to this as well if you didn't mind.

Life in Rehab said...

Rachel,

I'd be delighted!

meg said...

I love the idea of the cinder blocks as a wall & focal point! I made raised beds with them and did mosaic (http://growandresist.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/whimsical-raised-beds-make-them-now/)
Now I want to find some more cinder blocks! Thanks for the idea!

mommy Orkid Belle said...

That is such a clever idea! Two thumbs up! I love it! :)

trinatown said...

I love your project and your blog! I am going to build myself one of these, but I can not for the life of me find these block caps you speak of. Where did you find them?

Life in Rehab said...

Hi Trinatown,

Those were right there in the construction aisle near the blocks. They are usually used to top the blocks when you're building a wall so you don't have to waste mortar in the cavities. Hope it helps!

Alexis said...

Very creative and very inspiring. You did a wonderful job and it looks great! Now if I can just fine somewhere to do something similar....Hmmmmm

Thank you for sharing!