Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye.
Retaining wall mortared stone.
Building a retaining wall is suitable for diyers as long as the wall is a maximum of 3 feet tall in most areas.
If your wall is 2 feet high 1 1 2 feet wide and 20 feet long you ll need roughly 60 cubic feet of stone.
The basic parts of a mortared stone wall.
A stone wall can give your garden timeless appeal.
Stone wall construction.
Keeps water from collecting behind the wall filter fabric.
Whether you re looking to build a wall for a raised garden or a small retaining wall a stacked stone wall can offer elegance without a lot of expense.
Because a mortared wall is generally heavier than a dry set wall of the the same size local building codes often dictate specifications that affect the footings for mortared walls.
Ask a stone yard to help determine how much material you ll need and have it delivered as close to the site as possible.
Dig a trench that s below the frost line and 2 feet wider than.
If you remember my two most important tips for building a mortared stone wall in winter you ll be fine.
Stone walls also look better with age.
Anything taller should be handled by professionals.
Type s is the common choice for many below grade applications such as masonry foundations manholes retaining walls and sewers as well as at grade projects like brick patios and walkways.
Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines.
Most stoneyards will deliver the stones for a slight charge.
Components can vary for other types of retaining walls.
Have them placed as close to the site of your retaining wall as.
There s no doubt about it stone wall construction in winter is a challenge.
Adding mortar makes your wall stable and takes the worry away.
A dry stack stone retaining wall not only holds back the earth it adds beauty to a landscape.
The backward lean into the earth about 1 inch for every 1 foot of wall height weep hole.
Prevents soil from clogging drainage stone batter.
Mortared stone walls need a concrete footing to keep them from cracking due to frost heave.
Many codes require the use of reinforcing rod.
Although type s mortar must have a minimum compressive strength of 1 800 psi it is often mixed for strengths between 2 300 and 3 000 psi.
And like most challenges it s very rewarding when completed.
How to build a seating wall classy slate tops off this stone wall with concealed mortar holding everything together for outdoor seating everyone can get comfortable with.
How to build a rock wall 1.
The easiest way to build a stone retaining wall is to use the dry stack method that requires no mortar between stones and does not need a concrete footing like mortared walls do.
They can be stacked without mortar but this requires stacking them just so.
To figure out how much stone you ll need multiply your wall s height times the depth times the length.
