The Steps


Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Design the wall
Step 2:
Calculate your materials
Step 3:
Gather and sort your materials
Step 4:
Dig and line the base
Step 5:
Lay the base stones
Step 6:
Build the courses
Step 7:
Build a retaining wall (optional)



The Necessities


Stone (see Step 1 for options)

Aggregate

Work boots

Work gloves

Measuring tape

A level

A shovel

A sledgehammer

A brick hammer

A crowbar

Safety glasses

Some wooden stakes

Some string

A 1 by 2-inch (2.5 by 5-centimeter) board, cut to the height of your wall

A saw

Optional:

A wheelbarrow

Two or three 10-gallon buckets

A commercial hand tamper

A 2 by 12-inch (5 by 30.5-centimeter) board for tamping

Drainage perimeter pipe

Landscape fabric



Time


The amount of time depends on the size of your wall. For a 60 cubic foot wall (18.3 cubic meters--the limit recommended by this 2torial) allow at least three full days of work.

 

Home and Garden


2torial #0741:
Learn2 Build a Dry Stone Wall

Your very own bouldered bastion of bulwarked beauty

Built by carefully stacking stones without using mortar, a dry stone wall can give an everyday landscape a timeless air, and with good reason. This type of work is one of the oldest trades in history. If you're interested in creating a wall for your own yard, be it for aesthetics or function (such as a retaining wall), we'll take you through the materials, tools, and techniques of this ancient art form.

Before You Begin

They don't measure stone in tons for nothing. Keep your project within a manageable scale and treat your materials with respect. Always wear heavy-duty work gloves and work boots (steel-toed are the safest). If you're chipping or breaking stone, wear protective glasses. If you have any physical problems, try to work with a partner in case you need help. And finally, if you're feeling tired, take a break--fatigue and stonework don't mix.

Note: Be aware of building codes and property laws. If you live in an area that's prone to earthquakes, codes may prohibit this type of wall. If you're building to mark your property line, avoid misunderstandings by consulting your neighbors beforehand.

Go 2 Step 1




#0568
Plan a Vegetable Garden

#0506
Hire a Contractor

#0550
Water Your Lawn

#0847
Make a Compost Pile

 

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