Boulders to build a dolmen in garden

Pinkycharm

I've a space to fill and my idea is to construct a dolmen in the far corner of my yard as a space just for me. Obviously need to source the stone so do I just ring a quarry and go for it or should I get a landscaper in. I'd need 4 and a capstone.

Just wondering has anyone else done this??

lazybones32

Not seen a dolmen but have seen some other innovative uses of quarried boulders. What size dolmen do you want? I'd nearly choose a stonemason to go to the quarry to pick out the most suitable ones and get him/her to advise on positioning and to oversee the capping. A landscaper might have experience with it but a good stonemason would more-likely have knowledge of the mechanics of positioning it so it will stay. You don't want pets/kids/self crushed....

or go with the Spinal Tap style

Pinkycharm

That's true!! I've priced two standing stones but the ones I want are in Donegal and its cheaper than i thought to even have them delivered. I think that it might be a better fit than the Dolmen for where I want.

Thanks for the tip- never thought of asking the local stone mason about it.

I was thinking a smaller version of Poulnabrone for the dolmen. Might be a bit unrealistic. Going to visit it today in real life to make sure it's exactly the shape I want.

tampopo

Bing hypertufa and build one of your own.

Sonnenblumen

Pinkycharm wrote: »

That's true!! I've priced two standing stones but the ones I want are in Donegal and its cheaper than i thought to even have them delivered. I think that it might be a better fit than the Dolmen for where I want.

Thanks for the tip- never thought of asking the local stone mason about it.

I was thinking a smaller version of Poulnabrone for the dolmen. Might be a bit unrealistic. Going to visit it today in real life to make sure it's exactly the shape I want.

Surely you could select the appropriate stone from the quarry yourself. better still bring someone along with you (stonemason/landscaper) to help in the selection but also to identify any potential installation issues?

Size of stone and access to site area will be key but more importantly physical shape and size of the stone will determine installation requirements, eg are you going to rely on a freestanding structure and stone to retain position etc or will you embed the standing elements in concrete? I'm not quite sure the average stonemason will be able to guide you, unless he has previous experience of similar installations. using some of the engineered stone adhesives would also be recommended to create a robust bond between the elements.

Size matters, and a large stone feature is very impressive and a lasting feature/focal point. Good luck.

looksee

Getting them delivered to your premises is one thing, getting them placed into a suitable hole and supported, at the end of your garden, could be another problem altogether.

Hocus Focus

There's a dolmen in a garden on the Malahide estuary. The owners might be willing to give some advice?

Pinkycharm

Thanks for all the advice. Dolmen not suitable for where it's going. With the amount of vehicles it would take, it would destroy the lawn so we're taking a fab 6ft custom carved monolith instead. May not be as impressive but will still fill a gap

Pinkycharm

Hocus Focus wrote: »

There's a dolmen in a garden on the Malahide estuary. The owners might be willing to give some advice?

I'm living in Limerick so massive trek up.