Place the first stone at a corner with its face grazing the line.
About a foot beyond each end of a straight wall section, drive two stakes, separated by a distance equal to the width of the wall.Ģ.
To preserve a dry-laid look, I set the stones in a mortar that's pigmented a dark gray and then rake the joints clean.įreestanding mortared walls, like the fieldstone one I'm building here, need a stable, frost-proof footing to prevent shifting, and that requires a lot of digging in cold climates.Īsk a stone yard to help determine how much material you'll need, and have it delivered as close to the site as possible. I like to set stones in mortar because you can't beat a mortared wall for strength, which is important if a wall serves as seating or holds back earth. Building them is backbreaking work, but if done correctly, the wall will last a lifetime, if not a lot longer. Roger Cook replies: Freestanding stone walls are a handsome way to define and improve your property.