Adding Structure with Stones
Adding Structure With Stone
Creating attractive landscaping requires much more than choosing the right plants. A stone wall has a charming and useful presence when properly sited. A stone wall defines borders between a lawn and landscaped bed. This definition lends structure to the landscape, even after the brilliant colors of the garden have faded.
Stone is a logical and natural choice for walls. It is durable and low maintenance, though more expensive than other wall building materials such as wood. Stone walls can be designed to suit any style of landscape and will give your landscape a unique character and will certainly outlast wooden counterparts.
Dry stone walls which rely only on gravity, friction and the skill of the builder to stay together, can be built as decorative freestanding versions or functional retaining types, either will help define and enhance your landscape.
Good stones for building dry walls have relatively flat faces, have at least two angled edges and include limestone, sandstone, and granite. A dry stone wall doesn’t require a concrete foundation but it should rest on a firm footing and seem to grow out of the ground, rather that sit on top of it.
Dry Stack Stone Wall
A dry stack stone wall ranges from twelve to twenty four inches high, any higher and mortar would be recommended. While dry stone wall relies on friction and gravity to hold together, wet-laid walls rely on the binding strength of mortar, a mixture of cement, sand and lime.
Mortared Stone Wall
Because mortared walls don’t have the inherent flexibility of dry walls, they require a more substantial foundation to prevent settling and cracking. In some situations a gravel footing is needed to provide adequate strength. Once the footing is in place, a mortared wall is actually easier to build than a dry stack wall because gaps between the stones are filled with mortar, making stone placement less critical. In addition, a wider variety of stone can be used in a mortared wall and a wider range of wall styles can be built, from formal retaining walls to relaxed looking, free standing walls, that appear to be dry laid.
Veneer Stone Wall
It is possible to get the look of a mortared wall using alternative techniques. In a traditional stone veneer wall, a single layer of stones is supported by a sturdy poured concrete or reinforced block wall. Veneered walls use considerable less stone than conventional mortared walls. Of course, stone used in veneer construction need to be of reasonably uniform thickness. If your site requires retaining walls and you like the look of stone but not the price, you might consider one of the many different styles of interlocking concrete blocks that are available.
Decorative Block or segmental interlocking wall
Segmental wall systems, also called interlocking blocks are made with pre-cast concrete blocks, and can be found in a wide range of styles including some that look just like cobble stones. While these modular systems cost more than landscaping timbers, they will last considerably longer. They are self aligning, the individual blocks go together easily and because they do not require a concrete foundation or mortar to hold them together, segmental retaining wall systems can be built relatively fast. When properly installed with solid footings, good drainage and sturdy tiebacks to help keep the wall from toppling over, interlocking concrete blocks can be used for building tall retaining walls. Most interlocking concrete blocks allow you to build curved walls and some are designed to accommodate stairs and planters. They generally cost about half as much as a comparable mortared field stone wall.
To create more interest and curb appeal for your homes landscaping, consider placing stone walls as tree rings, around annual and perennial flower beds, as terracing along a hill, or as an accent to an existing planted bed.
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