Cap the wall with a course of flat stones large enough to cover both wythes.
Building a rock retaining wall with mortar.
Higher walls should be engineered for stability.
Brush them flush with the surface of the capstones to keep water from collecting and freezing there it could split the mortar or the stone.
A stone wall can give your garden timeless appeal.
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.
Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye.
When the mortar begins to set up stop laying stone and finish the joints.
Ask a stone yard to help determine how much material you ll need and have it delivered as close to the site as possible.
Anything taller should be handled by professionals.
After spreading the mortar but before laying the next stone use the trowel edge to cut the mortar even with wall face.
When you mortar the capstones do not finish the joints.
The key to building a wall using mortar is when you apply the mortar it needs to go evenly onto the run of stones that are set.
How to build a rock wall 1.
Adding mortar makes your wall stable and takes the worry away.
Using your stakes string and line level.
Stone walls also look better with age.
A river rock wall adds character to any landscape and will help define property lines.
Dry stone walls are methodically stacked rock structures that can be damaged by people animals and weather.
This prevents mortar from running down the face of the wall.
Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines.
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.
Constructing a wall is backbreaking work but the results will be a structure that will for last for generations.
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.