If you have to buy stone choose a flat stone such as flagstone or a cut stone like ashlar.
Natural stone wall diy.
You can build a stone wall with natural fieldstone that you have on your property provided the stones are flat enough for stacking.
After spreading the mortar but before laying the next stone use the trowel edge to cut the mortar even with wall face.
Ask a stone yard to help determine how much material you ll need and have it delivered as close to the site as possible.
Stone retaining wall tips.
Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers.
Flat or cut stones are much easier to work with than fieldstone and will make a sturdier wall.
How to build a rock wall 1.
To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site.
Lay high quality stones and use a geotextile backing to ensure the wall lasts a long time.
This prevents mortar from running down the face of the wall.
Dig a trench that s below the frost line and 2 feet wider than.
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.
Once built you ll have a rock solid retaining wall without all the heavy mortar lines.