To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site.
Building a retaining wall with natural stone.
Other materials that could be used for such a project include landscape timbers railroad ties and cinder blocks.
For this 18 inch high wall the footing should be at least 18 inches wide.
Excavate to a depth of 6 inches along the entire base of the stone retaining wall using the string marker as a guide.
How to build a rock wall 1.
Lay high quality stones and use a geotextile backing to ensure the wall lasts a long time.
If you have to buy stone choose a flat stone such as flagstone or a cut stone like ashlar.
Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye.
For dry stack walls the base should be as wide as the wall is tall.
Use a hand or power tamper to level the base.
Flat or cut stones are much easier to work with than fieldstone and will make a sturdier wall.
Tame a slope with a terrace of loose stone retaining walls.
Homeowners may build their own retaining walls from natural stone without using mortar and adhesives and with careful attention to detail.
Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers.
Stone retaining wall tips.
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.
Sedimentary flat stones such as ashlar and flagstone are among the easiest to use when building a wall of this type.
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.
You can build a stone wall with natural fieldstone that you have on your property provided the stones are flat enough for stacking.
Building retaining walls prevents this soil erosion and helps disguise the unattractive remains from excavation into a hillside.