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| How To Build A Stone Wall
Your garden wall can be dry-stacked or mortared. This how-to will show you how to dry-stack the wall. We carry several different kinds of wall stone, some are more random in shape and others are naturally blocky. Use type-S mortar if you decide to mortar the wall, and we recommend consulting a stone mason when doing so. Either way, measure the square footage (length x height) and we can help you determine how much stone you will need. |
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1. Check with local building codes and appropriate utility companies before digging.
2. Excavate the embankment so that it will give you enough room to stack the stone and allow for a crushed gravel backfill of several inches behind the wall. If drainage is poor, increase the angle of the wall into the embankment.
3. Cut a trench about 6-9" deep the entire length of the wall, this will act as a "footing" for your wall and help support it. You may want to go deeper if drainage is poor. It should be wide enough to accommodate the largest stones in your wall. Fill the trench with crushed gravel and tamp it down firmly. Use a fine spray and water it down a couple times which will help compact it more.
4. Lay the first course on top of the gravel base. Take your time on these first stones ensuring they are laid tightly and don't move or become wobbly. You may want to consider using the largest stones on the bottom to help create a good solid base. If the embankment doesn't drain well install a perforated drain pipe (wrapped in fabric) behind the first stones. Be sure to surround the drain pipe with at least 4-5 inches of drain rock.
5. Lay the remainder of the courses so the inside of the wall will lean into the embankment at least 2 inches for every vertical foot. Backfill with gravel as you go. Keep the stones tight fitting and avoid long horizontal or vertical joints. This will give the wall more stability. You may need to chip at, or shape the stone to help them fit better. You can achieve this using a rock-hammer and/or chiseling tools.
6. Every few feet, add a "dead-man" stone, which is a longer stone that protrudes more into the backfill. These help tie the wall into the embankment.
7. Cap the wall. You can either finish the final course using the same stone, or you may consider using a different kind or shape of stone to set it apart.
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