Boulder Walls

[Noodlez914]

Was wondering if anyone has some advice on how to properly build retainer walls from boulders? Have a big clean up project behind my house which involves getting rid of a ton of rocks and boulders (to grow good grass) and looking for things to do with them.

If you can tell from the picture attached, that is a bridge that goes across a creek. You kind of walk down into it and I want to make the side walls a little higher and do boulder walls on each side and have the wall taper on both ends. Figured it would add a nice touch.

What is the proper way to do this?

Also wanted to ask while kind of on the same subject.... On the other side of the bridge is completely muddy and wet at all times other then middle of summer. Would dumping some of the smaller rock and gravel from the back area into that mud and ruts begin to build dryer terrain and more solid ground there?

 

[forgeblast]

There are a few good books on building walls and things out of stone mcraven is the author i have a few of. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Building-Stone-Charles-McRaven/dp/0882665502]Amazon.com: Building with Stone (0037038005509): Charles McRaven: Books[/ame]
As for building this is what I like to do. Dig down a bit 12-16'' on a big free standing wall (two good faced wall), on a retaining wall(one good face) that hits the side of a bank I will sometimes do less digging, then I put in gravel and compact it. Then the fun starts you stack and haul stack and haul. You will have good days stacking and days when you need to stop and just haul stone. The less you think about it the better you will do.

this wall hits into the slope behind it, which means you can put your filler rocks just about anywhere and save the nice ones for the front and cap.

you can see how long it is, to keep the size the same run some masons twine and some stakes.
I will try to take some pics of how the wall looks now and how I set up the stakes.

 

[Noodlez914]

Very nice.

Problem is most of my rock is round. I would love it if they were like the ones you were working with. Gonna be tough to get them to fit together tight like that.

 

[bcp]

Call in some Inca help.

Google image search for "Sacsayhuaman" for more photos.

All done with no power equipment or hydraulics.

Bruce

 

[forgeblast]

I remember their was a saying every rock has a flat spot if you look at it enough. basically you want the flat spot on top, let the rounded part be held in the valleys.

All of my round ones make up the inside in here, once you start stacking you will get into a groove.

string set up.

Best of luck

 

[forgeblast]

Sorry had to run to work after the last post. If you want a wall with mortar there are slip-form walls (google) that people use. I know mcravens book talks about rounded stone, when I get home Ill take a look at the books I have and see what book he discusses the process.

 

[hr3]

Was wondering if anyone has some advice on how to properly build retainer walls from boulders? Have a big clean up project behind my house which involves getting rid of a ton of rocks and boulders (to grow good grass) and looking for things to do with them.

If you can tell from the picture attached, that is a bridge that goes across a creek. You kind of walk down into it and I want to make the side walls a little higher and do boulder walls on each side and have the wall taper on both ends. Figured it would add a nice touch.

What is the proper way to do this?

Also wanted to ask while kind of on the same subject.... On the other side of the bridge is completely muddy and wet at all times other then middle of summer. Would dumping some of the smaller rock and gravel from the back area into that mud and ruts begin to build dryer terrain and more solid ground there?

I'd cut a drain for your wet area get the water away from your wall is going and yes fill with some small rock but put fabric down first,, also use fabric under and behind your wall...
The wife and I built one last year and are doing a bigger one this year,, I hope you have a have a hoe with a thumb,,

 

[Noodlez914]

I'd cut a drain for your wet area get the water away from your wall is going and yes fill with some small rock but put fabric down first,, also use fabric under and behind your wall...
The wife and I built one last year and are doing a bigger one this year,, I hope you have a have a hoe with a thumb,,

Thanks for the advice. No backhoe but have a front end loader.

 

[Luremaker]

Very nice.

Problem is most of my rock is round. I would love it if they were like the ones you were working with. Gonna be tough to get them to fit together tight like that.

Here's a picture of one of my neighbor's stone walls. All round rock around here.

 

[Lloyd_E]

I read an article years ago... wished I saved it. It was about two brothers that got together at the old homestead in Vermont or NH for a couple of weeks each year. What started out as a wall project went on for years - 20+! The wall ended up meandering through the pastures and woods. It essentially became a vehicle for getting the two together every year no matter what their schedules said. They worked on opposite sides of the wall building, gathering rock etc. But more importantly they talked!

A great story... wish I could find the article again.


Lloyd