Building A Retaining Wall With Natural Stone

Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye.

Building a retaining wall with natural stone.

How to build a rock wall 1. Sedimentary flat stones such as ashlar and flagstone are among the easiest to use when building a wall of this type. Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines. Excavate to a depth of 6 inches along the entire base of the stone retaining wall using the string marker as a guide.

A retaining wall s effect on the natural flow of water could impact your neighbors so some communities require homeowners to obtain a permit before construction commences. If you have to buy stone choose a flat stone such as flagstone or a cut stone like ashlar. Stone retaining wall tips. To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site.

For this 18 inch high wall the footing should be at least 18 inches wide. Flat or cut stones are much easier to work with than fieldstone and will make a sturdier wall. Dig a trench that s below the frost line and 2 feet wider than. Tame a slope with a terrace of loose stone retaining walls.

Building retaining walls prevents this soil erosion and helps disguise the unattractive remains from excavation into a hillside. Other materials that could be used for such a project include landscape timbers railroad ties and cinder blocks. Homeowners may build their own retaining walls from natural stone without using mortar and adhesives and with careful attention to detail. For dry stack walls the base should be as wide as the wall is tall.

Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers. Use a hand or power tamper to level the base. Unlike other types of retaining walls stacked stone walls don t need drainage systems because water escapes naturally through cracks between the stones. Ask a stone yard to help determine how much material you ll need and have it delivered as close to the site as possible.