There is no need to build a foundation below the frost line because the loose stones can shift slightly to accommodate frost heave.
Dry stack stone retaining wall detail.
The 5 rules below are applicable in nearly all dry stone projects.
Dry stack walls are built without mortar the stones are stacked one on top of the other.
For this 18 inch high wall the footing should be at least 18 inches wide.
This makes them naturally draining which is important when using a wall to retain soil.
In a dry stacked wall the stones always lie down flat so generally the face is the largest flattest edge.
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.
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.
Learn to build a simple dry stack retaining wall for the garden using natural field stone.
While it takes a great deal of skill to build a near perfect wall building a good strong wall is within the reach of most people who like do it your self projects.
Dry stack stone wall detail.
Dry stack walls with surface bonding develop their strength through the tensile strength of small fiberglass fibers in the 1 8 3 8mm thick troweled or surface bonded cement plaster coating astm c 887 ref.
How to build a dry stack stone retaining wall tos diy the art of insteading walls trust celebration natural why i love use fences city forest hills tennessee stones select 10 basic rules for stacked pebble junction inc building tips.
Use a hand or power tamper to level the base.
Prepare a solid foundation or base.
Round field stones relatively flat stacking stones and uniformly cut dressed stones.
How to build a dry stack retaining wall plan out the wall s height and base thickness.
For dry stack walls the base should be as wide as the wall is tall.
Seeing the right face in a large pile of stones takes some degree of experience.
Dry stack walls can typically be made from three types of stones.
Choose the correct face on the stone.
Each type will give your wall a different look and feel so make sure you look at pictures to determine which would be the best fit for your house and landscape.
The 5 basic rules for how to build dry stone walls to get this article in a handy pdf click here.
Every stone can be laid in a dry stacked wall you just need to see its face.
For every every one foot in height you ll want to lay the base a foot in from the wall s face.