Building Instructions for Rock Stone Walls

Stone walls built with rock have been used for centuries to mark property lines.

Stone walls, usually actually a stone fence, have been part of the landscape in some parts of the country since the Colonial days. Traditionally, stone walls were built without mortar with the stones placed together so gravity held the whole fence in place. These stone walls had no cost to the Colonial era farmer other than his own labor. Building a stone wall falls within the capabilities of modern do-it-yourselfers although most will incur costs other than their own labor in the project.

Things You'll Need

• Rocks
• Stakes
• Mason's string
• Tape measure
• Stone hammer
• Stone chisel

Instructions

1. Stake out the proposed stone wall location. String a mason's line from stake to stake to mark the location and dimensions of the stone wall. The wall should be slightly wider than twice the size of the largest stones.

2. Dig out sod and topsoil within proposed area of the stone wall. Remove roots, grass or any other organic material as well as topsoil to a depth of at least 3 inches.

3. Fill the trench with gravel to provide drainage below the fence. This will help prevent frost heaves during the winter.

4. Place stones on the gravel to create the bottom course of stones for the stone wall. Use the largest stones available for the bottom course. Generally, you are building two stone walls, each facing out, with the middle area between the stones filled with rock not suitable for the finished walls.

5. Place stakes to mark the top edges of the intended wall. Each side of the wall should slope inward 1 inch for every foot of height of the wall. Drive two stakes at each end of the stone wall with the top of the stake at the outside of the top of the planned wall. Run a string from stake to stake.

6. Place additional stones along the wall. According to the University of Connecticut, the typical rule of thumb is "1 or 2 and 2 over 1." Place one stone over the gap between two stones and place two stones, with a gap between them, over a single stone. Continue adding stones up the fence in this manner.

7. Cap the stone wall by placing flat stones as the top course.

Tips & Warnings

• Tilt all rocks in a stone wall toward the center of the wall. Any movement from gravity then tightens the wall. Stones that tilt out will ultimately fall out of the stone wall causing more rocks to fall out of place. Shape rocks using a stone chisel and rock hammer to knock off knobs or other odd shapes found in the rocks.

• Wear appropriate personal protection equipment. Wear safety goggles when breaking rock. War gloves and steel-toed shoes when handling rock.

References

• University of Conneticut: Stone Walls
• Granny Store: Stone Masonry