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Make a Wall of Stone by Vicky Smith
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Make a Wall of Stone |
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Business
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Man has used stone for centuries to create long-lasting structures ranging from monuments to houses to war fortifications. Making a wall of stone is a common use for this durable yet beautiful building material. Dry stone walls are typically preferable to mortared stone walls since they require less building time and shift with the ground during annual freezing and thawing cycles. Although you can construct a stone wall using just about any type of stone, Charles McRaven, author of "Building Stone Walls," suggests that you opt for sandstone and limestone when constructing a dry stone wall, since these rock species tend to produce long, flat stones that are ideal for stacking without the use of mortar. Instructions as follows: Firstly, plan your wall of sandstone. Sketch a design on a piece of graph paper with a pencil. Consider your wall's overall dimensions, including the height, length and width, as well as its shape and purpose. Keep the height of the wall under three feet to maintain its structural integrity and make it at least half as wide as it is tall. For example, if your wall is going to be 30 inches tall, it should be 18 inches wide. Secondly, collect the stones for your wall. Purchase stones at a limestone supply center or harvest fieldstone from your property, if you're on a tight budget. As a general rule of thumb, avoid using stones that are less than two inches thick or six inches long. Thirdly, hammer metal rebar posts into the ground at every corner and end point on your wall. String a piece of twine between the posts tautly to mark the face (front) of your stone wall. Dig a footer trench that is four to six inches deep. Make sure the trench is at least six inches wider than the base of your stone wall to provide a solid foundation for your wall. For example, if the bottom of your stone wall is going to be 18 inches wide, then the footer trench should be at least 24 inches wide. Fourthly, fill the bottom three-fourths of the footer trench with loose gravel or sand, spreading and leveling it with a shovel. Place a level in the trench every two to three feet to ensure that the gravel or sand is completely level. Fifthly, lay your bottom course (layer) of stone. Start at a corner or end and use your largest, flattest stones for the base layer. Fit the stones together like puzzle pieces to ensure a close, sturdy base course. Fill any small gaps with loose gravel. Sixthly, build the rest of the wall one layer at a time just as you constructed the base course. Stagger the joints between your rocks in each layer to help strengthen the wall. Angle the rocks toward the center of the wall to use the force of gravity to bind the stones together and minimize chances of collapse. Place long, narrow rocks perpendicular to the wall every two to three feet to help bind the different rows in each layer together. Tips & Warnings Check with your municipality's office regarding any permits that you may need before starting construction. Avoid lifting large or heavy stones to minimize possible back injuries. In short, as an experienced business E-platform of promoting stone industry, we are the world leading portal website in stone industry. It mainly provides professional services of Internet application such as B to B E-commerce and network marketing for stone manufacturers and traders all over the world. If you want to consult us freely, you can also see granite slab or become a loyal follower of us by @ https://twitter.com/stonebtb.
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