Hello everyone, I want to build an 80cm (31.5 inches) high dry stone wall using limestone blocks. The stones are very natural and untreated, so I will first need to shape them a bit with a hammer.
I have already prepared a concrete foundation at the bottom. As a base, I have built a concrete block wall that retains the load from the slope, and it has been structurally engineered. In front of that, I now want to lay the limestone stones. The stones are about 5 x 20 x 5 cm (2 x 8 x 2 inches) in size and vary greatly.
I have the following questions for the natural stone wall experts:
1) Even though I already have a foundation, do I need to set the lowest stones again in concrete, or do I simply lay the stones on the foundation? Or should I fix the first stones with hydraulic lime mortar?
2) Is the supplied hydraulic lime mortar suitable for limestone in terms of staining or discoloration?
3) I want to build a dry stone wall because I prefer joints without mortar. Can I use hydraulic lime mortar to even out unevenness in the stone setting in areas that are not visible? For example, where a stone is not perfectly straight.
4) Should I fix the natural stones to the back concrete block wall with mortar and press them tight?
Is there anything else I should keep in mind?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
I have already prepared a concrete foundation at the bottom. As a base, I have built a concrete block wall that retains the load from the slope, and it has been structurally engineered. In front of that, I now want to lay the limestone stones. The stones are about 5 x 20 x 5 cm (2 x 8 x 2 inches) in size and vary greatly.
I have the following questions for the natural stone wall experts:
1) Even though I already have a foundation, do I need to set the lowest stones again in concrete, or do I simply lay the stones on the foundation? Or should I fix the first stones with hydraulic lime mortar?
2) Is the supplied hydraulic lime mortar suitable for limestone in terms of staining or discoloration?
3) I want to build a dry stone wall because I prefer joints without mortar. Can I use hydraulic lime mortar to even out unevenness in the stone setting in areas that are not visible? For example, where a stone is not perfectly straight.
4) Should I fix the natural stones to the back concrete block wall with mortar and press them tight?
Is there anything else I should keep in mind?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
blockhauspower21 May 2014 22:26Nothing, just stacked the stones together like a puzzle and backfilled at the same time.
I assumed you are using natural stones in their rough form. If yours are similarly flat, it should work as described by blockhauspower. In my opinion, you could also use mortar, because if used sparingly, it won’t overflow through the small gaps.
So go ahead, it could already be finished.
So go ahead, it could already be finished.