DIY Network

Dry-stack Wall: Building From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-102

This is when everything comes together. It’s time to build the actual wall and see how it all turns out.

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	The space between the pool deck and lower yard was a mess...
	but, Derek and Dean got to work...
	and created a beautiful, fieldstone dry-stack wall...
	that added tons of character to this home.

Tools:

Tape measure
Stone hammer
String
Six foot level
Spade shovel
Wheelbarrow
Hoe with holes
Iron rake
Bullet level
Jointer
Hand tamper
Chipping hammer
Wire cutters
Safety glasses

Materials:

3 used granite steps (approximately 3 ft. long x 6 in. thick x 12 in. wide)
1 pallet, thin fieldstone
1 pallet, medium fieldstone
3/4 in. crushed stone (for footing and back fill)
3/8 in. crushed blue stone (for top of wall)
1 to 2 80 lb. bag of premix concrete per step
2 pieces of rebar cut to 3 ft. lengths

Building Wall

1. Begin your project by setting your corner stones on either end of the wall and on either side of the granite steps (figure A). Use the corner stones that you have already picked out (figure B). Build up the wall from each corner.

2. Stabilize any rocking stone with a shim underneath it. A shim is a smaller stone used to balance and secure larger stones.

3. For the corners and along the wall, use a technique called toothing in. After the first corner is set, the next stone should be about half the length of the stone below it. This will stabilize the wall by preventing cross joints.

Figure A

Figure B

4. Work into the wall from the corners. When setting your first row of stone on top of the crushed stone, set a large tie back stone every three to four feet (figure C). This is where the dry-stack wall will get some of its strength.

5. Begin building your wall using the rules below until you have reached the height of your string (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

6. As you approach the top of your string, use your cap stones to form the top of the wall (figure E). You want to have larger smooth stones with a nice face to make up the top of your wall. When the cap is completed, your wall should vertically and horizontally line up with the edge of the string. Dean and Derek install a front cap and not a back cap to allow the wall to blend in better with the crushed stone on the pool deck area. This is called creating a 'rustic cap.' They also keep the stones dry or loose, but for a more secure top, you can set the top layer of stones with a premix bag of mortar.

Simple Rules for Stone Work

Figure F

1. Use your string as a guideline for building your wall. Every few stones you set, look down at the string using one eye and make sure that the face of your stones are lining up with your string (figure F).

2. Use a 2:1 rule as a general guideline. For every two stones that you set, try to find one stone to span that joint. This will create a very strong wall.

Figure G

3. Prevent stones from rocking by using shims (figure G). Every stone that you set should be secure before you place the next one on top of it.

4. Check for ratio as you build up the wall. Ratio refers to the size of a stone in relationship to the other stones around it. To create an aesthetically appealing wall, you want to create a wall that has a wide variety of stone sizes and shapes.

Figure H

5. Use your chipping hammer (figure H) to shape stones that are close to the size or shape that you want them, but not perfect.

6. Create shims or break large stones into smaller stones with your stone hammer.

Final Touches

Figure I

1. Place your unused stone and crushed stone behind your dry-stack wall to aid in clean up and give the wall extra strength and drainage. Fill the back of your dry-stack retaining wall until it is almost level with the top area.

2. Dean and Derek finish the job by filling the area with 3/8 crushed blue stone to the back of the caps (figure I). The crushed blue stone matches the stone surrounding the upper pool area, but you can use any stone or mulch to cover the back top of the wall.

RESOURCES :

Plymouth Quarries, Inc.
Website: www.plymouthquarries.com