There are many reasons to build a stone wall-- as a decorative piece for your
yard, as a retaining wall, or as a garden wall. Building your stone wall with
mortar will give it better structural integrity and will prevent stones from
falling out of place.
Before you get started building, you’ll need a few things:
- Shovel (a square-tipped shovel is ideal)
- Spray paint
- Level
- Hammer
Measuring tape
- Stones (or bricks if you choose)
- Concrete mix
- Rope or something similar
- Safety glasses
- Work gloves
Preparing the Site
After choosing the approximate location for
your wall, outline it with rope or something similar (a garden hose would work).
Adjust the rope until you’re completely satisfied with the shape. Then, spray
paint along the inside of the rope. This will be your guide when digging a base
trench for the wall.
Use the shovel to dig a base trench for the wall
along the painted line. The trench should be as deep and as wide as the stones
you are using (use the measuring tape to check this as you go). As you dig,
periodically check the trench with the level. A level foundation is crucial to
the structural integrity of the wall.
Building the Wall
Before you start carrying stones around,
remember to put on work gloves and safety glasses!
- Start by mixing the mortar, following the directions on the bag. The
mortar should be about the consistency of cake batter.
- Shovel a one-and-a-half-inch layer of mortar into the base trench,
and lay the base layer of stones into the wet mortar. You can ensure good
contact with the mortar by gently rocking the stone back and forth.
- Check that the first layer is level, adjusting any stones that are
not.
- When you’re sure the first layer of stones is level, you can move on the
next layer. Apply a layer of mortar on top of the first layer of stones,
followed by the second layer of stones.
- Each layer of stones should be staggered on top of the previous
layer; the joints should not line up from one layer to the next.
- Using a hammer, break up larger stones to fit into smaller spaces.
Also, place a small amount of mortar in between the stones as you go along.
- Check that the wall is level, adjusting stones as necessary.
- Repeat the process until the wall is at your desired height.
- If you’re building the wall as a retaining wall, backfill each layer of
stone with dirt and pack it down with the shovel.
TIP: To get a nice clean look, use a
trowel or a gloved hand to smooth out mortar between stones and to remove the
excess. Just remember to do this before the mortar dries!
The amount of time
this project will take will depend on the size of your rock wall, but you can
always take a break after one layer is finished and pick it up again the next
day. With just a little time and sweat, you should have a stone wall in place
that will last for years to come.