How to Build a Stone Wall
How to Build a Stone Wall
The beauty and verve of stone walls has impressed people all around the world for centuries. Stone walls are often described volubly in poetry, creating a picture of peaceful permanence. Walls made with stone are known for their durability, the Great Wall of China is a fit example here. A
stone wall can ideally be built in your garden. As the garden area enhances the look and appearance of the house, a beautifully designed stone wall can add a touch of sophistication and class to it. You can give a personal feel to your garden by building a four or five feet tall stone wall. However, when you wish to have a smaller version of the Great Wall for yourself, how should you go about it?
The process of building a stone wall requires proper planning. First you should select a piece of rock from which you would like to make the wall, by cutting it into smaller pieces. Try to analyze its features and structure since a good knowledge of the rock will be necessary for building a wall with it. After selecting a proper-sized and solid stone, the next step that you should follow is to cut it into smaller stones, which can be used to build the wall. In fact, cutting a stone is as easy as a cakewalk, for which you need only two tools: a hatchet and a sledgehammer.
First, mark the area that you want to cut, then place the hatchet on the rock and hammer it with the sledgehammer. As soon as you see a hairline crack expand due to the waves sent through by hammering, you can easily break the stone into smaller pieces. Remember to have patience and not strike the rock irregularly, this will only lead to unnecessary, jagged breaks. Maybe, practicing in advance on another piece of rock could help you understand the kind of effort required for the process. Don’t worry about the irregular pieces since they will eventually be used. However, if you do not wish to be burdened with cutting the stone, you can always buy stone pieces according to the area to be covered by the wall. To determine the area, you need to multiply the intended height with the intended length of the wall. Also, remember that the height of the stone wall should at least be double the width. For instance, if a stone wall has a width of about 5 feet, it should at least be 10 feet tall.
After procuring the stones, dig a six-inch deep trench, which is as wide as the largest piece of stone you have. Level the earth in the trench, and place a thin layer of crushed stone in it. Start by placing the largest stones first and filling the gaps between the stones with mortar. When you get the desired height, the wall can be leveled with the use of the left over thin slivers of stone. So what are you waiting for? Accessorize your garden with a stone wall, and make everybody praise you in wide-eyed wonder.