Use a hand or power tamper to level the base.
Dry stack stone retaining wall detail.
Every stone can be laid in a dry stacked wall you just need to see its face.
While it takes a great deal of skill to build a near perfect wall building a good strong wall is within the reach of most people who like do it your self projects.
The 5 rules below are applicable in nearly all dry stone projects.
Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers.
This ditch will act as the wall s footing and prevent the rocks from sliding forward due to pressure from the earth behind.
Dig a ditch the length of the wall that is about a foot wide and 8 to 12 inches 20 5 cm 30 5 cm below the ground level.
Dry stack masonry construction can prove to be a cost effective solution for residential and low rise commercial applications because of it s speed and ease of.
Excavate to a depth of 6 inches along the entire base of the stone retaining wall using the string marker as a guide.
Higher walls should be engineered for stability.
In a dry stacked wall the stones always lie down flat so generally the face is the largest flattest edge.
Strong enough for trucks strong enough for wide bridges yet always blending with nature.
To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site.
Dry stack stone wall detail.
Typical applications for mortarless concrete masonry include basement walls foundation walls retaining walls exterior above grade walls internal bearing walls and partitions.
How to build a dry stack stone retaining wall tos diy the art of insteading walls trust celebration natural why i love use fences city forest hills tennessee stones select 10 basic rules for stacked pebble junction inc building tips.
Whatever the shape whatever the size there are important principles which can ensure dry stone retaining walls are built to last.
Here are the basic steps involved in building a dry stack stone wall.
For dry stack walls the base should be as wide as the wall is tall.
Seeing the right face in a large pile of.
The ideal height for a dry stacked retaining wall is 18 to 22 inches so you can sit on it when your gardening chores are done.
Draw the wall to scale and measure the length and height.
Dry stone retaining walls hold back time as well as earth.
Even if you don t plan to sit on your wall 3 feet is about as high as i would recommend building any dry stacked wall.
The 5 basic rules for how to build dry stone walls to get this article in a handy pdf click here.
Lay high quality stones and use a geotextile backing to ensure the wall lasts a long time.
When putting your wall together mix the stone sizes throughout the wall rather than using only large stones at the bottom and small toward the top.
Durability versatility even in water.
Try to cut the ditch into native soil rather than loose added soil as the former provides a more stable foundation for the wall.