GOSHEN STONE CO.

How To Build A Dry Stacked Goshen Stone Wall

1. Tools and Materials Checklist

· Heavy Hammer · Chipping Hammer   · Pick and Shovel

· String Line · Selected Stone · Chisel  · Safety Glasses

2. How to Figure Amount of Stone Required

First determine the length of the wall in feet and then the height of the wall in feet. Depth of the wall should be a minimum of 18". Let’s say you determined the length to be 50 feet, height 2 feet, THEN:

27 cu. Ft

3. How to Construct Your Wall

Next you must dig a trench about 6" deep and about 18" wide or as wide as your largest stones along the base of your slope or the proposed location of the wall. There is no elaborate footing required for a dry wall since no mortar is used the stones are not bonded together and they will rise and fall with the frost causing no damage to your wall. Then place your largest stones in the trench end to end. Use a string line along the face of the wall to keep it level and straight. Now, as you begin to stack the wall up working from one end to the other, you must remember to slope it back toward the high ground, or "batter the wall" as we call it. This is accomplished by simply standing your level on end and measuring to the face of the wall as shown in the sketch.

As you build your wall try avoiding continuous horizontal and vertical joints by breaking them up with larger and smaller stones. Place stones so they fit tightly together for strength and a nice appearance. Fill in behind your stone wall with stone waste and gravel, compact it as you go. Every now and then turn a long stone into the hillside to act as an anchor or "bond stone". This will improve the stability of your wall. Save some nice flat pieces to cap the wall off on top.