Building a curved dry stack fieldstone wall at my driveway

[wildcherries]

I am starting a project to build a small fieldstone retaining wall at my driveway entrance and I want to make sure I get the base and backfill right. The wall will only be about two feet tall and I plan to use two to four inch stones with a solid base of compacted gravel. I am using fifty seven stone for the foundation and backfill because I already have it and want to keep things simple. Since the back of the wall is hidden against a hill I am looking for ways to save time on the side that no one sees. I am debating if I should use my gravel to fill the gaps between stones or if I really need to break up larger rocks for the hearting. And I am also worried about whether mortaring the top capstones in Virginia will cause them to crack when the ground freezes in the winter.

 

[El VMX]

I am starting a project to build a small fieldstone retaining wall at my driveway entrance and I want to make sure I get the base and backfill right. The wall will only be about two feet tall and I plan to use two to four inch stones with a solid base of compacted gravel. I am using fifty seven stone for the foundation and backfill because I already have it and want to keep things simple. Since the back of the wall is hidden against a hill I am looking for ways to save time on the side that no one sees. I am debating if I should use my gravel to fill the gaps between stones or if I really need to break up larger rocks for the hearting. And I am also worried about whether mortaring the top capstones in Virginia will cause them to crack when the ground freezes in the winter.

Have you considered using landscape fabric between your gravel backfill and the soil to keep the wall from clogging with dirt over time?

 

[t1m davis]

using #57 stone for backfill is perfect for this, because it drains so well, but be careful about using it for the hearting. I usually use smaller shards of the actual fieldstone because the irregular, jagged edges friction lock together

if you're using gravel, try to pack it in with some smaller stone chips to keep the wall from shifting outward over time

 

[bigbuZZ]

@wildcherries You should check if the crusher run would provide a more stable foundation than the fifty seven stone since it packs down much tighter.

 

[crazy reese]

It is a good idea to avoid mortar on the top layer if you do not have a concrete footing because the frost will likely pop the stones loose.

 

[masonryBUD]

@wildcherries Does your design account for a slight backward lean or batter to ensure the wall stays stable against the pressure of the hillside?

 

[wildcherries]

Thanks for these tips! This is very helpful on my project. I have already checked the design and ensured that the wall stays stable.