DIY Network

Stone Wall 101 Stone Wall 101 From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-108

Figure A

Picking up where they left off, the team gets to work building a wall border around what will be their new courtyard. First, Dean and Kathy mark the outline for the wall and the neighboring beds. When building a courtyard, first mark the area with landscape marking paint. Part of the courtyard will have a freestanding planter, which will be 5' wide and supported by freestanding walls and stacked columns. It's important to make sure the corners are perfectly square. After the measurements have been marked onto the ground, it's time to dig (figure A)!

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	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

The trench for the wall will be 10" deep and 10" wide. Always contact your local utility and cable companies before digging. When you begin digging, start on the outside of the marking paint, and put the dirt inside the area where you'll be planting.

The area where the remaining concrete pad was will now be broken up to make way for the wall and planting beds. For this area, the diamond blade chop saw will be used again. Don't forget to add the water while cutting! After the cuts have been made, you can use the electric jackhammer. A good tip for operating the jackhammer is to put your stronger hand on the main handle and rest the other hand on the lower handle. Apply slight constant pressure and let the jackhammer do the work for you. After the concrete has been broken up, you'll need to find an area where you can dispose of the waste.

The new wall will consist of a stone product that's unique for its pin system, which allows for a variety of design options. The possibilities are limitless. Before the first sets of blocks are placed, you'll need to put gravel over the dirt. Pour it in the trench, rake it over evenly and then tamp it down to a smooth level (figure B). Almost two tons of gravel will be used for this project. It's very important to make sure the graveled ground is as smooth as possible. After you begin placing down the individual stone blocks, check each one for level, hammer it down with a mallet (figure C) and then check for level again. It's a detailed process. The average do-it-yourselfer can do this with a little patience -- and with some help moving those blocks, since each weighs about 85 pounds. Grips are used to lift them up by holes cut in the material.

The homeowners have a small bush standing in the way of their plans for a beautiful new patio. If you're in a similar situation, clip the branches as much as possible, then dig out the remaining roots. Each corner of the courtyard wall will have a freestanding stone column with an oversized cap to give it that special touch. To save time, frame the columns while you're building the base course. Using half-blocks, build outside the base course to create columns that are 20" by 20". The caps for the three columns will be the same bluestone pavers that will be used at the base of the courtyard; however, any stones can be used for caps. After the base course has been installed, surround the wall with dirt and pack tightly. You'll be ready to add the next layer (figure D)!

RESOURCES :

Black and Decker tools
Website: www.blackanddecker.com
Black & Decker, Inc. (Corporate)
Website: www.bdk.com/main_bd.htm

Porter-Cable Tools
Porter-Cable Corporation
Website: www.deltaportercable.com

Delta Woodworking Tools
Deltak Power Tools
Website: www.deltamachinery.com

Irwin Industrial Tool Company
Website: www.irwin.com

Ames True Temper Tools
Ames-True Temper
Website: www.ames-truetemper.com

Weathered Standard interlocking stone
Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems
6348 Highway 36 Blvd., Suite 1
Oakdale, MN 55128
Toll-Free: 800-770-4525