Building a dry stacked Goshen Stone wall
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To build a wall, you will need:
Carpenter’s level
Heavy hammer
String line
Iron rake
Chipping hammer
Folding rule
Pick & shovel
Selected
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Determine the length of the wall you wish to build in feet.
Multiply your wall’s length by its height to get the approximate area of the wall.
Multiply the calculated area by the depth (minimum of 18 inches or 1.5 feet) to get the volume of stone necessary for your wall.
Convert your calculated volume from cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing your previous figure by 27
Calculate the approximate weight by multiplying your calculated volume in cubic yards by 1.35 tons—the average weight of a cubic yard of stone.
For example: for a 50 (L) × 2 (H) × 1.5 (D) ft wall, you would need 150 cubic feet. This is 5.55 cubic yards, which, multiplied by 1.35 tons, means this wall would require 7.5 tons of stone.
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Dig a trench about 6 inches deep and as wide as your largest stones along the base of your wall’s location.
Start by laying your largest stones in the trench end-to-end.
Use a string line along the face of your wall as you continue stacking to guarantee it is level and straight.
Continue stacking your stones working in layers across the entire length of the wall.
When building on a slope, “batter the wall” by having it slope slightly towards the higher ground.
Avoid continuous horizontal and vertical joints by breaking them up with larger/smaller stones and staggering their placement.
Ensure your stones fit together tightly to guarantee strength and a neat appearance.
Fill in behind your wall with stone waste and gravel, compacting as you go.
Occasionally, turn a long stone into the hillside to act as an anchor or “bond stone” to improve stability.
Save your nicest, flattest pieces to serve as the final capstones atop your wall.
Note: Because this is a dry wall with no mortar, there is no elaborate footing required.
