AB Metro Patio Walls Installation - Column Layouts & Options
The AB Metro Patio Wall System offers a great way to create a look with dramatic style, accents and depth by integrating columns into your design. Placing a decorative column within the wall, at a corner, at the ends of the wall or as a free-standing element - that may offer lighting - are great additions and help define your space. By building the entire first course of the wall, you can then come back and easily add columns where needed for increased stability and style. For a castellated style, build your columns one or two courses taller than the wall.
Corner Column 
Columns at the corners of the wall are easy to add in with no change to how the wall is built. When your first course is built and you have a corner in the layout, it now can be turned into a corner column. By simply using one set of blocks per course, this is built by bordering the 3 and 2 core blocks on the outside and the 1 core on the inside of the corner as shown in the layout at right. Use the AB Post Cap or a natural stone option to complete the column. All courses / blocks need to be glued together on the top and sides that meet up with the wall.
In-Wall Column
For longer patios, it is nice to break up a wall by adding columns to create an elegant and majestic feel to the space. This is also a great place to add in lighting for night time entertaining. By building the wall in the 3-2-1 layout for the entire first course, you then go back and build the columns as designed.
Using one set of blocks for each course, a column can be constructed, and with a few adjustments will be interlocked into the wall panel for stability. The best location to insert a column will be where the 2 and 1 core blocks are together within the wall panel. By moving the 2 core adjacent to the 1 core and placing the new set of blocks, as shown at the right, will quickly create the column’s first course.
It is recommended to interlock the column and blocks on every odd course as shown. Use the AB Post Cap or a natural stone option to complete the column. All courses / blocks need to be glued together on the top and sides that meet up with the wall.
Ending Wall Panels with a Column
To finish the wall project, place a column to create distinction and a grand entrance to your outdoor room. Using the column patterns and building one course at a time along with the wall panel will ensure stability and maximize the use of the block sets in the project. The walls will interlock with the columns on even courses to allow the best use of the system. Use a AB Post Cap or a natural stone to complete the column. All courses / blocks need to be glued together on the top and sides that meet up with the wall.
You will use 6 sets of blocks for a 4 course tall column and 10 sets for a 7 course tall column.
If stopping the column height at course 4 with a seating wall application, you will need to use a 1 core block to fill in the space where the wall would interlock. This block is accounted for in the sets needed.
Free-Standing Column
This feature is great for accents in the landscaping or to mark an entrance to a driveway. Lighting can easily be added with wires running up the center of the column. All courses/blocks need to be glued together. Note - you will have 2 seams on the bottom 2 courses on one panel. Positon the column appropriately or increase your sets to change the first course.
You will use 6 sets of blocks for a 4 course tall column.
