Go Back to the Stone Age Taylor Lumber Offers Tips on How to Build a Stone Wall Like a Pro
February 4, 2005 -- Add beauty and functionality to your yard and garden - build a stone wall. Not only is stone the oldest building material ever used, but the aesthetic use of stone can even raise the value of your property. Although they are functional and durable, building a stone wall involves hard work.
Luckily the folks at Taylor Lumber have offered some tips to help you build a stone wall like a professional. Marshfield based Taylor Lumber/ACE Hardware is a full-service hardware store and lumberyard located at 2075 Ocean Street (Route 139) in Marshfield, Mass.
- If this is your first stone wall, it is suggested that you limit the height to three feet.
- For walls less than three feet high, a six inch trench will suffice. However, for walls higher than three feet, you will need a footer trench dug to a depth below the frost line.
- Build your wall so it consists of several layers, arranged together like a puzzle.
- Stones can be trimmed to the proper shape and size by using a stone mason's hammer. A stone chisel and sledge hammer can be used to split stones.
- Place smaller rocks in between to act as fillers.
- The width of the wall at the base should be two-thirds of the height of the wall.
- Place bonding stones, the long flat stones, at either end of the trench and then again at regular four foot intervals along the length of the wall.
- Place each stone so that it rests on a flat, strong bed and overlaps two or more stones below. Since the wall is held together by gravity and friction, it is important that each stone is set properly.
- Using gravity to your advantage, the front of the wall and either end should be sloped slightly toward the center of the wall (approx. 1 inch per foot of height).
- Outline the wall using stakes and a string to use as a guideline.
- Mortar the flattest stones for the top layer of the wall.
When done properly, a stone wall can last a lifetime.
Taylor Lumber/ACE Hardware has maintained the old fashioned, personal service once offered by every good hometown lumber and hardware store. The Taylor family has been serving Marshfield's lumber and hardware needs for more than 50 years. Today they are a full-service hardware store and lumberyard serving professional contractors and the "do-it-yourselfer". Taylor Lumber combines traditional, old-fashioned service with the advances of today's building materials. As an ACE affiliate, they are able to bring the customer a wide variety of top quality, competitively priced products.
Taylor Lumber/ACE Hardware is located at 2075 Ocean Street (Route 139) in Marshfield, Mass. They can be reached at 781.834.0214 or toll free at 800.562.9663. Also, visit Taylor Lumber/ACE Hardware on the web at www.taylor-ace.com.