The ideal height for a dry stacked retaining wall is 18 to 22 inches so you can sit on it when your gardening chores are done.
Building a rock retaining wall with mortar.
Building a retaining wall is suitable for diyers as long as the wall is a maximum of 3 feet tall in most areas.
Even if you don t plan to sit on your wall 3 feet is about as high as i would recommend building any dry stacked wall.
Ask a stone yard to help determine how much material you ll need and have it delivered as close to the site as possible.
When you mortar the capstones do not finish the joints.
They can be stacked without mortar but this requires stacking them just so.
Dig a trench that s below the frost line and 2 feet wider than.
Anything taller should be handled by professionals.
A river rock wall adds character to any landscape and will help define property lines.
Higher walls should be engineered for stability.
Constructing a wall is backbreaking work but the results will be a structure that will for last for generations.
Dry stone walls are methodically stacked rock structures that can be damaged by people animals and weather.
Whether you re looking to build a wall for a raised garden or a small retaining wall a stacked stone wall can offer elegance without a lot of expense.
This prevents mortar from running down the face of the wall.
When the mortar begins to set up stop laying stone and finish the joints.
How to build a rock wall 1.
Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye.
The easiest way to build a stone retaining wall is to use the dry stack method that requires no mortar between stones and does not need a concrete footing like mortared walls do.
Using your stakes string and line level.
Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines.
Stone walls also look better with age.
After spreading the mortar but before laying the next stone use the trowel edge to cut the mortar even with wall face.
A stone wall can give your garden timeless appeal.
Adding mortar makes your wall stable and takes the worry away.