How to Do Masonary Stonework

Masonry stonework can set your home apart from others.

Masonry stonework can add a special touch to your home, both indoors and out. You might want a stonework wall in your den, or you might want to add a low stone border to a flower bed. The possibilities are endless. For larger jobs---such as adding stonework to the foundation or outer walls of your home---you will probably want to hire a professional. But with a good grasp of the basics, you should be able to easily complete smaller projects on your own.

Things You'll Need

• Stones
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Cement
• Trowel

Instructions

1. Decide on a masonry stonework project, and decide whether you want to use dry or mortar masonry. Dry masonry relies on the weight of the stones to hold the structure together. Mortar masonry uses concrete to stabilize the stones. If you were constructing a small border around a flower bed, you could use dry masonry. If you were incorporating stonework into a wall in your home, you would probably want to use mortar masonry.

2. Gather together medium- and large-sized rocks to meet the needs of your project. If you are doing a dry masonry project, you will want rocks of sizes and shapes that will fit together accordingly. If you are doing a mortar masonry project, size and shape depend on the individual project. The stones will need to be of sizes and shapes that fit together, if they are going to be stacked and held together with mortar. However, if you are incorporating the stones into an existing wall, their ability to stack together does not matter as much, and you might decide on smoother, more attractive stones.

3. Lay out your stones so you can get a good idea of where you are going to put them and how the finished product will look. You can use a chisel and hammer to re-size individual stones, if necessary.

4. Prepare your cement (if you are doing mortar masonry).

5. Position your stones. If you are doing dry masonry, simply stack the stones together---as securely as possible---positioning the larger stones on the bottom. If you are doing mortar masonry, use a trowel to spread cement between stones, before pressing them securely together. Once the first row is complete, spread cement across the top of the first row, before beginning on the second row. If you are adding stonework to a wall, the cement will act as a glue, holding the stones in place.

References

• Stone Masonry Construction: A Brief Overview