DIY Network

Stone Column Entryway Derek and Dean build granite stone columns with bluestone caps to create a grand backyard entry. From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-302

Stone columns add a touch of elegance to a backyard entryway.

Outdoor stone columns can make quite a visual statement in just about any home setting. Columns like these are the perfect accent for entryways, whether it's a driveway or backyard.

In this Rock Solid project, expert stone masons Derek Stearns and Dean Marsico build square stone-faced columns with Weymouth granite veneer and then top it off with stunning bluestone. They use the granite's two faces (seam and split) for a classic handcrafted look.

Following are the basic steps that Dean and Derek followed in the project featured in Rock Solid, episode 302, as well as lists of tools and materials that were required.

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Materials:

Weymouth granite
concrete for footing
mortar
mason sand
cement brick (8")
wall ties

Tools:

brick hammer or chipping hammer
post digger
large square
large trowel
carbide chisel
level
square
stone hammer
jointer
nylon string
landscaping rake
tape measure
hoe with holes
brush
wheelbarrow
spade shovel
chalkmarking paint
safety glasses

Note: The quantities needed for each of these materials varies with the application. For your specific project, Dean and Derek suggest taking your dimensions to a local quarry, where they will calculate the amount of each product needed. Remember to add 10 percent for waste.

Design and Materials

Begin by surveying your site, taking measurements, and visiting a local quarry to pick out your material. Dean and Derek opted for Weymouth granite which is cut in two ways, each producing a different color and effect. Seam face blocks are cut along a seam in the granite, producing a block that is smooth and colorful. A seam is a thin layer of stratum along which a stone is more likely to break. Split face pieces have a rustic look, and are gray in tone. Mixing the two types will give your columns a rustic yet stately look.

Figure A
Figure B
Figure C

Select pieces of Weymouth granite that are both split and seam face. While the quarry will tell you the exact amount of material you need, a ton of granite will be enough for two columns, 3-1/2 feet high and 16 inches square.

Have all of your material delivered. It's always a good idea to see the stone that you're working with. You want stones that can be used as corners, and you want a variety of sizes so you can create a nice, varied pattern on each side.

Placement and Measurements

• Once you've decided where you want the columns to go, you need to make sure they are square with the house. Begin by stretching a piece of nylon string between two stakes. Using a square, establish a straight line and set the string precisely so it remains square with the house. This line will serve as a guide for the placement of the square columns (figure A).

• Next mark the location of the columns by finding the center point and measuring out the distance between the columns. Dean and Derek want a 42 inch opening between the columns, so each one is going to be 21 inches from the center point (figure B).

• Spray an outline of each column with the marking paint (figure C). The string marks the line of the back of the column. Using a square, mark the other three lines of the outline.
  

  Figure D

• With the outlines of each column marked, you can begin digging (figure D). Dean and Derek dig down two feet for columns that are going to be 3-1/2 feet tall. For extra stability, dig the bottom of the footings a bit wider than the opening at the top. You can use a shovel and post digger for removing the dirt.

• Cart your material away in the wheelbarrow as you dig. The cleaner you keep your job site, the easier you make your work.

• After you've dug the hole for the foundation two feet deep, mix the cement for the footings. Pour the cement into the holes, filling it about two inches below grade. This allows for possible ground erosion, and ensures that the footings remain unexposed.

• To give the columns extra stability on their foundation, cut pieces of rebar and place them at cross sections on the top of the wet cement. Use a grinder with a diamond blade to cut the rebar.

• Safety Alert: Remember always to use safety glasses when cutting with a grinder.

• Smooth the cement over the rebar and let the foundation dry overnight.

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