Rock walls may add beauty, distinction and value to your property. They may be utilized as they’ve existed for centuries since property boundaries or as boundaries between different regions of landscaping within your premises. There are two standard types of rock walls: dry stack rock walls and mortared rock walls. Novice builders are capable of constructing both types of walls easily, once they understand a few basic concepts.
Quarried Stone or River Rock
Quarried stone, as the name implies, comes from a rock quarry. Ranging in size from a big softball into the size of a beach ball, quarried stone has jagged edges and is jaggedly faceted, while river rock is smooth and curved. Collected from local river bars in low water times, river rock ranges in size from that of a baseball into the of a bowling ball. Quarried rock can be delivered into a property for an additional charge above the price of the rock. While river rock is free for the taking, it has to be gathered and transported.
Wall-Bed Planning
Whichever process of rock wall construction you opt for, the planning is identical. After having the place assessed for underground utilities, then create a bed to the wall. Dig down 3 to inches and 6, and amount the entire length of the intended wall into a width of 3 feet. Fill the entire wall bed with pea gravel to increase drainage. If you are constructing a retaining wall or patio, you’ll have to bury a line of 4-inch perforated pipe along the duration of the intended wall and then cover it from pea gravel. This will prevent erosion and wall failure.
Dry Stacking Method
Dry stacking is just a process of wall construction that dates back hundreds of years. Historically, farmers could stack the rocks they uncovered while plowing along the edges of their fields. Like putting together a puzzle, stones are piled to a uniform height and width along the length of the wall. Gravity and the jagged edges of the stone provide stability to the wall. Quarried stone is the most commonly used material with all the dry stacking method.
Mortared Wall Method
Mortared walls, as the name implies, utilize a brick to hold the stones or rock in the wall together. Mortared walls could be constructed of quarried stone or river rock. Mortar mix might be purchased at any home improvement retail location. Mix the mortar in small batches, usually a wheelbarrow of mortar at a time. Liberally apply mortar between and around each rock because it is added into the wall. After the mortar starts to set, use a stiff wire brush to smooth the brick uniformly along the wall.