how to build a dry stone wall

To be fair I can understand why BK, may be a bit irritated if he builds dry stone walls without using the 4in block...However I can also see why people are using it....I have to say I have seen stone walls being built down through the years,& only ever during the boom have I seen it being done as some may say the cheat way with the 4in block....However I think it may have been the building boom,that was the cause of this method of wall building to be used.How many house's and estates have we seen being built with stone walls at the entrance, how many of these were done at break neck speed?I have even seen the house's themselves to be clad in this way.....Now rightly or wrongly each to their own,and just my opinion here but maybe just maybe someone out there who can build dry stone walls the old way,would like to post some photos that us amature DIY'ers can see and follow...If not can you at least allow the rest of us to follow ponddigger's way please....Sorry this is so long winded.{typical littlemis}:)

Not trying to score points or anything here, but if you are saying that a 4in block wall which has stone in front of it like what is in the photos@will not fall at the point of crash impact..then I disagree with you sir.My reason is because I have come upon said accident where car crashed into wall,wall fell,wall rebuilt.I also have been in accident where car crashed into wall {no cladding} in order to avoid head on collision with lorry.Again wall rebuilt....

But yes i can see how a motorbike may not knock a wall.

brendankelly wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with your stone faced block wall.

But to build a stone faced block wall on contract when a dry stone wall is specified is dishonest and I do not think you have heard the last about falsely using Patrick mc Fees name.

Brendan I think you need to take a read back carefully through this thread.

1. Ponddigger never once mentions Patrick McFee's name never mind claiming to be an apprentice of his.
2. You are accusing him of dishonesty by claiming he built a wall that was not specified. He clearly said that the client wanted a 4inch block wall faced with 5inch stone

I think you owe Ponddigger an apology here.

To clear up any confusion here, the walls being referred to are known technically as Dry Joint Stone Walls.

Ponddigger, I am enjoying your thread. It can clearly be seen that you are improving your work as you progress. Fair play to you for giving this a go. I have worked with stone for 10 years but have started on a totally unrelated career path now.
You will find a lot of ego's in this trade and people who think they know it all. You will find that it is totally subjective, that is what style one person likes will not be what another person likes. I found this all the time with different clients and sometimes had to build in a style that I personally didn't like the look of. But the customer is always right and as long as what you build is structurally sound and in accordance with specifications then thats all that matters.
Some engineers specify using rigid wall ties (minus the plastic holder) to be built into the block you are facing. Keep them back an inch or two from where the face of the stone will be. When the block is set you can bend them to suit. Don't spare them.


I believe the thinking behind this is that cut expanded metal strips may begin to corrode at the point where they were cut over time.

Keep an eye on your vertical joints in the stonework and be sure to cross them as soon as possible.

Best of luck with it, keep the pictures coming and give me a shout if you need any advice.