(NAPSA)—Homeownerslooking for ways to introducecolor, texture and unique design elements to their home’s exterior may consider building an accent or garden wall. Using dry-stacked concrete blocks and a surface bonding cement, such as Quikrete Quik- wall, it’s easier than you might imagine to construct a low-maintenance, affordable accent wall. The material is code approved for mortarless wall construction, providing the construction design otherwise meets code requirements. The one-coat application provides structural strength and a textured “stucco” finish, in addition to sound-control and waterproofing properties. The surface bonding cementis also ideal for rehabilitating nonpainted walls with a water-resistant and decorative coating. Adding color to your wall is simple with Quikrete Stucco & Mortar Color—a liquid pigment additive available in 20 standard color choices—that can be added to the mixing water during the mixing process. Step-by-Step Instructions Begin with the construction of a footing slab. Once the footing has cured, dry-lay thefirst block row on top of the footing and chalk mark the block positions using a level and mason’s line for accuracy. Remove the blocks and apply a %-inch-thick bed of prepared surface bonding cement on the footing to bond the first course andcorrect irregularities. Place the first row, embed- Adding innovative design elements to your home’s exterior is easier than you might imagine with a surface bonding cement. ding the block to the mortar bed, to a final thickness of about % inch. Remove any excess material. Check the alignment and level after positioning every three to four blocks. Continue this process by dry stacking the remaining blocks in a running bond pattern (see picture) to the desired height. Add a cap block to the top course of block. For additional strength, fill the cavities with sand/topping mix or concrete mix. After dampening with a fine spray, apply a %-inch-thick coating of the surface bonding cement to the sides, top and exposed ends of the concrete block wall with a finishing trowel. Trowel to desired textureor finish. Moist cure the wall after eight hours by dampening with a fine spray. Repeat spraying several times daily for three days. For more project ideas, visit www.quikrete.com.
