Building a garden wall

With summer coming, now�is the time to get to work in your garden. A new wall can make all the difference, whether it is used to separate your property from your neighbours or as an internal feature.

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Building a dry stone wall

This is relatively easy to do as long as you aren't over-ambitious. Don't set out to build too long a wall, and don't build it too high: aim for a wall no more than one metre high. A good rule-of-thumb is to make the base two-thirds the height of the wall, and to taper inwards slightly from the base to the top.

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Flat stone such as shale or slate is ideal for your first attempt. Otherwise, builders' suppliers and quarries offer faceted stone, which has been squared off to�give roughly flat edges. Use a variety of sizes and ensure stability by using long, flat bonding stones that span the full width of the wall at regular intervals.

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Constructing a dry stone wall is a matter of patience and concentration as you sort through your stack to find the right�stone�for each place. It is heavy work, but you will be rewarded with a wall that could last for generations - think of the great dry stone walls of Northern England, for example, or the slate walls of Wales.

Using stone and mortar

If you use mortar, the selection of stones becomes much easier and you have the freedom to experiment with shapes and sizes. Pay attention to the instructions that come with your mortar. You want maximum strength from this bonding agent - but you also need to make sure you have time to clean and clear excess mortar before it sets.

Stonecutting

Use a special stone mason's hammer and chisel to get the best results. Always use heavy work gloves and protective eye-wear. If you are attempting this, make sure you have a ready supply of stones. You don't want to run out halfway through building the wall because you've cracked too many stones!

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Brick wall
Building in brick need not mean a boring wall; the variety of colour, texture and design of brick means you can create something special. (Do, however, make sure the bricks you use are frost-resistant). Lay a concrete foundation that is at least 300mm wide and 75mm thick.

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The basics

Whatever the kind of wall you plan to build, remember to think safety first. Don't try anything beyond your capabilities and always exercise caution when using heavy or dangerous equipment and materials.

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If you are building something yourself, that shouldn't stop you getting all the professional advice you need.

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Wear thick work gloves and boots when dealing with heavy materials; eye protection will be important too.

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Foundations

A low wall might need just a shallow trench to get started, but it is vital to have suitable foundations if your wall is high or heavy or, especially, load-bearing. Think concrete.

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Start small

Don't bite off more than you can chew: building a wall of any kind will take time and effort. Make sure you have a friend or partner to help take the strain. The raw materials needed will be heavy and you will need to have somewhere to store them while building.

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Planning
Peg a line of string where you want the wall to be. This will make your life much easier. As well as plotting out the work you intend to do, remember to make sure you have the right to build a wall in the first place. You will require planning permission if the wall is going to be over two metres tall.

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When you finish
Get cleaned up, pour yourself a generous glass of wine, admire your new wall and be very, very proud of yourself!

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Links

Are� you responsible for�your� garden wall or fence

Find out about courses with the The Dry Stone Walling Association

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