Prepare the footing photo by russell kaye.
Building a rock retaining wall with mortar.
Ask a stone yard to help determine how much material you ll need and have it delivered as close to the site as possible.
Cap the wall with a course of flat stones large enough to cover both wythes.
When you mortar the capstones do not finish the joints.
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.
Dig a trench that s below the frost line and 2 feet wider than.
Brush them flush with the surface of the capstones to keep water from collecting and freezing there it could split the mortar or the stone.
After spreading the mortar but before laying the next stone use the trowel edge to cut the mortar even with wall face.
The easiest way to build a stone retaining wall is to use the dry stack method that requires no mortar between stones and does not need a concrete footing like mortared walls do.
Anything taller should be handled by professionals.
This prevents mortar from running down the face of the wall.
They can be stacked without mortar but this requires stacking them just so.
Higher walls should be engineered for stability.
Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines.
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.
Adding mortar makes your wall stable and takes the worry away.
Dry stone walls are methodically stacked rock structures that can be damaged by people animals and weather.
A river rock wall adds character to any landscape and will help define property lines.
How to build a rock wall 1.
The key to building a wall using mortar is when you apply the mortar it needs to go evenly onto the run of stones that are set.
Whether you re looking to build a wall for a raised garden or a small retaining wall a stacked stone wall can offer elegance without a lot of expense.
Stone walls also look better with age.
Using your stakes string and line level.
Constructing a wall is backbreaking work but the results will be a structure that will for last for generations.