January HAMOM?

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sure does....... on DOT projects lol
OK. I kid. It can look pretty good and meets a need, im just a real stone snob :P
but either way you nailed it...... its only as good as your first course


thats a nice example though and the techo blok is one of the nice units in my eyes
but you start chasing nice block and start getting close to stone prices at times
Whatever you do Ryan dont get the budget 1 square foot block. SOBs are heavy!!!


Ryan have you considered welded wire and tpost for the fence?
Ive installed a few of those. Same rules apply just may be faster and cheaper.



2'' PA colonial blend

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Those terraced walls look WAY better than the cast concrete we used to use. It's also WAY more labor intensive though, I'm sure. We used to spend anywhere from a day to a week laying the first course, then stack it up. Those larges weigh something stupid like 90# each. We built a 7' wall once with built in stairs and the block was unloaded to the bottom elevation. I dropped one or two larges while hucking them up to the top course. That hurt.

When you do those natural stone walls, is the whole wall glued or is it just the cap?

Last thought for this post. My experience is only building walls up north where we had to make deep footers due to the frost line, and I'm an amateur as I only did it for 4 years worth of summers (and college breaks). Listen to Mike and Jason!
 
all dry stack. Those are 4' tall in the corner (shhh) but they are 24'' wide at base and 18'' wide at top. Little over an 1''/foot batter. The caps were cut and chiseled to fit with no joints between. Cant recall exactly but i bet they cap course may have gotten the smallest amount of mortar to secure but its scratched back and not visible in any manner.

I just hurried some caps last week before the freeze with mortar and guess what i get to redo...doh

Definately lots of ways to do it. I just prefer the motto of your grandkids kids should be able to dance and run across the wall without fail. I prefer trusting gravity to mortar. But like you said not the cheapest way to do it. Esp when you end up with 4 tons of unseen rock in a wall :D

given proper base and drainage the block will perform just fine
 
jfz80 said:
all dry stack. Those are 4' tall in the corner (shhh) but they are 24'' wide at base and 18'' wide at top. Little over an 1''/foot batter. The caps were cut and chiseled to fit with no joints between. Cant recall exactly but i bet they cap course may have gotten the smallest amount of mortar to secure but its scratched back and not visible in any manner.

I just hurried some caps last week before the freeze with mortar and guess what i get to redo...doh

Definately lots of ways to do it. I just prefer the motto of your grandkids kids should be able to dance and run across the wall without fail. I prefer trusting gravity to mortar. But like you said not the cheapest way to do it. Esp when you end up with 4 tons of unseen rock in a wall :D

given proper base and drainage the block will perform just fine
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Mortar, gotcha. I figured there was something in there. I've heard of people using polymeric sand to adhere natural stone walls before, like you do with paver walkways.

http://www.groundtradesxchange.com/pavers/polymeric_sand.htm

Completely agreed on the drainage comments. Drainage is key to everything.
 
My own experiences with constructing walls is that those big block walls suck and I never want to do it again. Great for large commercial projects with huge crews and huge budgets but stone is by far the most gratifying from step one to completion. So many different variables when choosing what stone to use but with the right stone it can be very easy with very little mortar. Jason, I like your work.
 
I'm trying to be as cost conscious as possible. But I also want it to look good! Jason you seem to know my area well. Any specific suggestions in cheap(er) block/stone? My house is white with black and Grey stone on the front.

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If its not where people can see it maybe go cinder block with a stone veneer? Or that might end up close to stone $, I'm not sure. Then there's always the 'do it right first' mentality. I'm learning to go with that.

We've got a couple dry stacked 3'+ retainers in front that have held well. One is mortared on the top and the other I'm waiting on to fail to rub it in the builders face. Had a neighbor build it against my wishes while I was gone. I tore it down once in obvious anger and he rebuilt it.

I'm of no help on your fence issue. Sorry.

--john
 
just the ones i had above.

Luck stone looks like its just in RDU now so scratch that

Scott stone... went to school with his grandson who runs the gso location here and also had a 40
they will have block and stone. I can buy it for you to save a buck or two and youll have to be my employee for a day
http://www.scottstone.com/

and I dont know the name of the spot on wendover/70 heading out of GSO near mccleansville. Its near the salvage yard there and used to be a boat marina. has tons of random pallets of stone now sitting out front. He will wheel and deal if you got cash and dont want delivery. cant even find with a quick google.

Were all spending your money as of now. First house id be throwing up block too... well maybe not but sounds like it might match? With that scheme you could pick any stone you want really but gray stone on front? may repeat it thru the landscape. Dont be afraid of the block but look at your stone options and price. and throw up some specs on Length? Height?
if its super shady throw up some block and hose em with buttermilk and get your moss on :D

depending on height, the boulder wall would be an option too..... less skill required and attention to level, bigger puzzle pieces, goes fastish. Would depend if you could get a bulk deal on the right size boulders... not too small and not too big. if your interested contact me as I might have just the answer that would include delivery total red style :D

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Love that look Jason, the natural rock wall is sweet. I've always been cheap and used railroad (real) ties for retaining walls, laying rock under the first one (ala railroad track construction) and rebar rods pounded through. I get a long auger bit and sacrifice an inexpensive power drill because drilling thru those things will burn up a drill...
 
Jason mike and jonny, and anyone else with more experience than me. Here is the best way I can represent my small back yard. With pics!

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That last one is the line for fence I am having problems with.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using IH8MUD Forum mobile app

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You might want to think French drain in your backyard before a fence. How wet is the back after a good rain?
 
GarnerFJ40 said:
You might want to think French drain in your backyard before a fence. How wet is the back after a good rain?
Click to expand...

Yup. Plan on doing that on top of the wall. It is routed around the house right now.. kind of. Lol

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GarnerFJ40 said:
You might want to think French drain in your backyard before a fence. How wet is the back after a good rain?
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Yup. Saw that too.

Ryan. You can do some sculpting at top but you need drainage work at that current quasi swale that is even with the back edge of poured concrete pad. That's where I'd put my French drain. Except I'd call it subterranean aquatic collection and conveyance system and charge a whole lot more :) add pipe and gravel curtain behind wall and then Some sculpting above that if you wish. But if focus your drain in the lawn area so it doesn't be one a muddy mess with tank in and out through it. Could tie your gutters into it and run to the front if you have the relief in elevation. Don't buy the black corrugated. Do it right. 4"s$d pipe. Perforated. Felt fabric. Holes up in the trench on top of fabric. Add gravel. Wrap like a burrito and leave near surface. Turf on top.

Don't have fabric in place yet but you get the idea

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Quick sketch. I'm going to either concrete or lay pavers of some sort on the bottom level.

Jason, why don't you come the 18th and help us with the fencing on the hill. haha

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If any of you are in or around Elon around the 8th and want to drink some beer and celebrate:::

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Wish I could get the 4x4labs kit here by saturday!!!

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Here is my list of things to do. I will also edit first post::
1. Fix exhaust rattle
2. Fix exhaust leak
3. Figure out seat heater problem
4. Possibly find a/c leak
5. Mount my new winch and control box!
6. Socialize and fix anyone else's problems.
May do body lift. Still in debate.

Need to know who is coming, and what everyone would like for lunch!
 
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