Building A Retaining Wall With Natural Stone

Sedimentary flat stones such as ashlar and flagstone are among the easiest to use when building a wall of this type.

Building a retaining wall with natural stone.

Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers. For dry stack walls the base should be as wide as the wall is tall. Tame a slope with a terrace of loose stone retaining walls. How to build a rock wall 1.

Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines. Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye. Lay high quality stones and use a geotextile backing to ensure the wall lasts a long time. You can build a stone wall with natural fieldstone that you have on your property provided the stones are flat enough for stacking.

Stone retaining wall tips. If you have to buy stone choose a flat stone such as flagstone or a cut stone like ashlar. To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site. For this 18 inch high wall the footing should be at least 18 inches wide.

Unlike other types of retaining walls stacked stone walls don t need drainage systems because water escapes naturally through cracks between the stones. Dig a trench that s below the frost line and 2 feet wider than. Excavate to a depth of 6 inches along the entire base of the stone retaining wall using the string marker as a guide. Ask a stone yard to help determine how much material you ll need and have it delivered as close to the site as possible.

This tutorial is designed for beginners interested in building stone retaining walls using a dry stack method but it also works for retaining block and flagstone walls. Homeowners may build their own retaining walls from natural stone without using mortar and adhesives and with careful attention to detail. Flat or cut stones are much easier to work with than fieldstone and will make a sturdier wall. Building retaining walls prevents this soil erosion and helps disguise the unattractive remains from excavation into a hillside.