How To Build A Rock Retaining Wall With Mortar

Stone walls also look better with age.
How to build a rock retaining wall with mortar - Dry stone walls are methodically stacked rock structures that can be damaged by people animals and weather. Slightly more work to build a mortared rock wall will stand for decades or even centuries. Constructing a wall is backbreaking work but the results will be a structure that will for last for generations. After spreading the mortar but before laying the next stone use the trowel edge to cut the mortar even with wall face.
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. To build a retaining wall begin by planning and marking out where you want your wall to be. Lay the foundation on this base and use a rubber mallet to level the blocks. Dig a trench then tamp down the soil and lay a base layer of rock dust.
They can be stacked without mortar but this requires stacking them just so. Anything taller should be handled by professionals. Adding mortar makes your wall stable and takes the worry away. Make a plan to keep everything warm.
Building a retaining wall is suitable for diyers as long as the wall is a maximum of 3 feet tall in most areas. I m a fan of dry stacked walls because they can be long lasting easier to construct and resist the freeze thaw cycles that create frost heave and soil expansion that tips over retaining walls. Mortar like all concrete products must be kept above 40 degrees to cure properly. 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.
This prevents mortar from running down the face of the wall. 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. The tips in the following pages will help you accomplish this.