the essentials in brief
- To plan a Natural stone wall preliminary considerations regarding the purpose and construction of the wall are necessary. The cost and materials required depend on whether freestanding or supporting walls are to be built with or without binders.
- Soft stones are a little cheaper than hard stones. Choosing concrete blocks can reduce costs. Additional expenses arise for foundation and grouting.
- A foundation is necessary for all walls. These can be bricked and grouted with mortar or laid dry. A wall covering is necessary in some cases.
- In addition to additional construction elements such as windows or lighting, natural stone walls can be embellished with plants.
What to consider before building
Natural stone walls are often used to support slopes
Natural stone walls set accents and offer a habitat for animals and plants. At the same time, they take on a variety of tasks. In principle, it is not difficult to build a wall from natural materials. However, some considerations are necessary in advance.
also read
- How to build a simple raised bed using drywall
- Erect a stone wall as a privacy screen
- Erect a stone screen in the garden
An overview of the possibilities:
- garden: Wall for warmth-loving and drought-resistant plants
- hillside: one meter high Slope reinforcement made of shell limestone
- Raised bed: Border made of granite or sandstone
- Property edge: surrounding natural stone wall, free-standing as a privacy screen
- terrace: Natural stone wall on the slope to compensate for different soil levels
- Inside: Exposed masonry off Sandstone in the living room
With or without a foundation?
Walls with a foundation are fundamentally more stable, so that they do not sink into the ground and thus prevent the wall from breaking apart. You should therefore not build a wall without a foundation. But with dry stone walls you can do without a foundation in frost-free soil layers. So that the individual stones do not settle too much, a sufficiently stable surface made of gravel and gravel is sufficient. Small subsidence is harmless with this natural construction method.
Digression
Types of dry stone walls
- Friesenwall: Stacking of round boulders that are compacted with turf soil
- Cyclops Wall: irregular joint pattern, without horizontal joints, typical for the Mediterranean region
- Tanca wall: Laying of loose field stones, typical of the Balearic Islands
- Premuiceva staza: Hiking trail based on the irregular dry stone wall principle
Freestanding or Supportive?
Secure supporting garden walls Embankmentsthat are at risk from landslides. They compensate for different height levels and are relatively wide and massive, as they have to withstand great pressure. The construction of these variants is significantly more complex compared to a free-standing natural stone wall. While stones are only stacked on top of each other in outdoor structures, the so-called embankment walls have to be backfilled with frost-proof gravel. They require a seal on the inside so that no seepage from the ground penetrates.
Dry stone wall or mortar wall?
A dry stone wall is the more natural variant, because reading stones are usually loosely stacked here. So that this construct is stable even without a binding agent, three aspects must be given with regard to the material:
- only use stones with a high dead weight
- these require a rough and uneven surface
- stones with an irregular shape that wedge together are ideal
With mortar masonry, the stones are connected by mortar, so that a stable structure is created. Natural stones that have been cut to size and whose dimensions match each other are better suited for this. Irregularities caused by the masonry can be evened out by grouting.
Dry stone wall | Mortar wall | |
---|---|---|
suitable materials | Sandstone, limestone, granite | almost all natural stones that have been cut to size |
Expenditure of time | high, as stones have to be stacked precisely | relatively fast |
purpose | Habitat for warmth-loving species, for planting | Slope fastening, seating or stairs |
unsuitable as | Seat or stairs | Planting object |
Wall head | meaningless, rainwater seeps into the joints | should be shaped accordingly to allow water drainage |
Materials and prices
The selection of natural stones is large - so is the price range
The costs incurred can only be roughly estimated, as they vary greatly from person to person. In principle, it is cheaper to get natural stones straight from the quarry. Deliveries are expensive because additional costs have to be paid for transport. The following table gives you an overview of the material costs for common stones.
Art | Prices per ton | Coloring and texture | |
---|---|---|---|
granite | Hard stone | approx. 80 to 150 euros | equal or uneven grain crystals |
basalt | Hard stone | around 200 to 700 euros | anthracite to black, rarely with sprinkles |
Shell limestone | Soft stone | approx. 100 to 200 euros | brownish to greyish deposits |
Sandstone | Soft stone | around 50 to 100 euros | warm orange and brown tones, Mediterranean |
limestone | Soft stone | around 120 euros | fossil inclusions, porous surface |
Additional costs
In addition to the material costs for the natural stone wall, you have to calculate additional costs. These concern tools and building materials for the foundation. Here you should expect costs between 100 and 150 euros per square meter, with this price in Depending on the preferred material or costs for skilled workers, equipment and tools are higher can fail.
Grouting - with what?
A natural stone wall can, but does not have to be grouted
Mortar is necessary for a concreted natural stone wall. Soft stones like sandstone or limestone need grout that is softer than the rock. A permeable structure is important so that water can seep through and the sandstone does not weather. A grain size of around two millimeters is ideal. With this mortar you have to reckon with costs of around three euros per kilogram. Hard rock can be grouted with a cement-based mortar mix. Here the price is around 60 cents per kilogram.
Digression
Grouting with trass cement
Comparison: natural stone or concrete stone?
In addition to natural stones, there are now also variants made of concrete that are modeled on natural bricks. Concrete block is an inexpensive option compared to natural stone. You can expect costs from around 40 euros per square meter upwards per square meter.
That speaks for concrete block:
- optics: sanded smooth, wood or natural stone grain
- properties: robust, durable, resilient and frost-proof
- particularities: available with or without sealing
Build a natural stone wall
If you want to build a drywall, you don't need any materials to glue or bond, such as cement and concrete. Here the stones are simply piled up loosely. It looks different with a concrete wall with natural stones. If you want to build this variant yourself, you have to reckon with a higher workload.
Build the foundation
A good foundation ensures the natural stone wall has a long life
Every garden wall needs a foundation, because this gives the structure stability. If you are planning a wall up to half a meter high or a dry stone wall, a layer of gravel 40 centimeters deep is sufficient. Mortar walls or building projects that are supposed to be taller get optimal stability with a concrete foundation that is at least 80 centimeters deep. This depth is necessary so that the massive foundation is not blown up by frost in winter.
How to build a concrete foundation:
- Define the course of the wall with wooden pegs and guidelines
- Dig a trench 20 centimeters wide along the guide
- Fill the trench up to 60 percent with frost-resistant gravel
- Compress material over and over again
- pour the remaining 40 percent
- Lay the first layer of stone while the mortar is still damp
Special feature: concreting natural stone walls with an incline
Many dry stone walls are filled with earth on the inside. With this variant, it makes sense that the concrete foundation is inclined slightly inwards. This way the water can drain off better. If you are exclusively using natural materials such as gravel and crushed stone, there is no need to pay attention to the slope.
Building a freestanding natural stone wall - Instructions
The laying of naturally shaped stones requires a bit of skill, because the uneven surface will quickly throw you off course. In order to avoid tilting, you should build a formwork from boards. This enables two layers of natural stone to be stacked on top of one another. You will then have to wait several days for the mortar to dry. The casing is realigned with each work step. If your wall is to be wider, you can fill the interior with a mixture of coarse gravel and lean concrete. Finally, you process the most beautiful stones as a wall crown.
Grouting the natural stone wall
Brick objects are grouted to create an aesthetic finish. This is the case, for example, with flower beds and slope fastenings. You can also stabilize non-masonry structures by pressing grout into the spaces between the bricks.
- Moisten the wall well so that the grout does not set too quickly
- Using a trowel, pull the grout over the joints from bottom to top
- Grout must be pressed evenly deep into the joints
- Work excess mass into the joints with a sponge
- After the grout has set, rub the joints to an even height
Youtube
Dry laying of a natural stone wall that can be planted - set stones
A casing is also helpful with this variant so that you can align the stones correctly. Set the stones so that they fit together perfectly and are wedged together. If you plan to plant the wall later, fill the joints with loamy sand or nutrient-poor soil. The interior is filled with crushed stone or gravel and compacted. Finally, design the top of the wall with a layer of 20 centimeters Topsoil. Here you can later plant overhanging and creeping plants.
Tips
You can also do without sand as a grouting material if, for example, you are designing a drywall without gravel filling. All you have to do is place the stones on top of each other. Make sure that the wall tapers slightly towards the top.
Covering the natural stone wall
A natural stone wall looks best when it is naturally covered
Concreted walls that do not have an irregular wall crown must be protected from rainwater with a wall cover in accordance with DIN standard 1053. If you forego this construction measure, rainwater can penetrate and dampen the wall. After a few years, the stability of the wall would be at risk. This design is not required if your wall has a slope.
Shapes of covers:
- easy installation for covers made of sheet metal
- Natural stone covers are also available
- Monk and nun bricks create a Mediterranean character
Additional components
Natural stone walls can stand on their own or be embellished with various construction elements. An integrated window gives high privacy walls a Mediterranean character. A waterfall made of natural stones looks particularly natural. Fences and light elements are also possible. The imagination knows no limits.
Fasten the fence to the natural stone wall
If you want to build a fence on top of the wall afterwards, you will need Post base. These must be firmly connected to the wall so that the fence is stable. You can either fix the post bases with a dowel or glue them in place. To do this, you need to drill holes in the natural stone with a masonry bit. For the adhesive variant, you need synthetic resin cement or special adhesive that hardens massively and offers a long-term hold.
Integrate lighting
Lighting elements set into the masonry look particularly beautiful. For this you can In-ground spotlights that are cast in with epoxy resin. The material is waterproof and protects the technology. If possible, you can also place artificial stones between the natural stones. These can be cut out or opened before the wall is built so that you can use LEDs as you wish.
Tips
So that you can expand the lighting if necessary, you should grout artificial stones with silicone.
How to plant a natural stone wall
Plants beautify masonry that provide a substrate for growth and have not been grouted or plastered. If the stones remain largely visible and are not completely overgrown, you create an aesthetic contrast. This habitat places extreme conditions on plant growth, so that not every species is suitable for planting. The selection of plants that grow on and on dry stone walls is huge, despite the extreme conditions.
Important to note:
- do not plant too densely
- Choose drought-resistant plants
- Creepers can cope with the limited amount of soil
Leave space in the joints
The joints can also be nicely planted
You can place plants in the gaps during construction or integrate them after the drywall has been completed. In the latter case, when building, you need to make sure that the joints are sufficiently wide. Most plants will thrive if the gap is about two fingers wide. There are species that can also cope well with less space. If the joint is deep enough, two to three plants within a few centimeters have enough space to grow.
Instructions for planting:
- Divide the large roots of the pot, shorten the roots if necessary
- Place species as deep as possible in the joints so that they can anchor themselves
- Fill in the gaps with substrate
- water well but proceed carefully
Wall planting
The south side of the wall is heated by sunlight during the day and stores this heat until it is released again at night. The stones work like natural heating and offer Mediterranean herbs such as lavender, rosemary and thyme an optimal habitat.
Plants for the sun:
- upright perennials: bluebells, St. John's wort and carnation
- Carpet-forming species: Blue pillows and carpet phlox
- overhanging plants: Gypsophila, Cinnabar and sedum plant
Moisture-loving species feel at home in more shady areas. There is enough space here for mosses and ferns such as potted fern. Moss colored accents provideSaxifrage, Waldsteinie, toadflax and rockcress or the early flowering one Larkspur. These plants thrive in the Penumbra ideal.
Plants for the top of the wall
Evergreen plants and cushion perennials are ideal for the plateau on the masonry. Mix upright perennials like the upholsteredBellflower and Woll-Ziest with creeping or hanging species. Andean upholstery, Delosperma species or silver grains are ideal. These store moisture under their dense cushions and in this way compensate for strong fluctuations that are favored by changing temperatures.
Numerous plants are specialists that are adapted to the extreme location of dry stone walls.
frequently asked Questions
How can I clean a natural stone wall?
Cleaning depends on the degree of soiling and the material used. Sandstone and limestone are sensitive and should be cleaned gently with a soft sponge and water. You can soak heavy soiling with a mixture of water and curd soap. If mosses, algae and lichens have already spread, you can scrape them off with a hardwood stick or carefully with a spatula. You can use a harder brush for hard rocks. Grout should be annually with a high pressure cleaner(€ 99.99 at Amazon *) are cared for so that no moss settles.
What do I have to consider when renovating?
Before every renovation, there is a thorough cleaning. In this process, tests are carried out one after the other to determine which procedure is a suitable method for the material available. No material is removed during dry cleaning, which is important with soft stones. Harder soiling usually has to be removed with wet or blasting methods.
To prevent renewed contamination, a coating with fine wax crystals is recommended. If you want to restore grout, you need to scrape the old material out of the gaps as much as possible. Special restoration mortar is suitable to compensate for larger imperfections.
Does it make sense to plaster the natural stone wall?
Plaster can make aging natural stones disappear. Time leaves its traces, especially on external walls, so that moss growth sets in or the stones slowly weather. It is easier than plastering if you cover your garden wall. There are various weatherproof options made of natural stone or plastic.
Which joint course is the right one?
You should avoid cross joints, as they do not withstand the pressure of layered stones or the earth behind them. Offset spaces are better, which at the same time loosen up the overall picture. These can be designed regularly or irregularly. In the uniform design, all stones on one level have the same height. More variety is created by using stones with different shapes and dimensions.