A dry stack boulder wall is a type of retaining wall that uses natural boulders and stones to create a wall. The rocks are stacked one at a time, without any mortar or concrete. This means that you don’t have to worry about using additional materials such as cement or concrete. It’s also easier to build than other types of retaining walls.
Dry Stack Boulder Wall is the most durable, cost-effective, and easiest way to get your home or business ready for the next big storm. With its patented interlocking design and reinforced base, Dry Stack Boulder Wall is the perfect solution for any property owner who wants to make sure they’re prepared for any weather event.
If you’re looking for a way to add some personality to your landscape, look no further than our dry stack boulder walls. Dry stack boulder walls are a great way to add color and texture to any outdoor space. They’re also incredibly durable and easy to install.
Dry stack boulder walls are built by placing the rocks on top of each other, without any mortar or glue. This makes them easy to clean and maintain so you don’t have to worry about keeping them pristine if you have pets or children running around.
If you are interested in building a dry stack boulder wall, this article will show you how to do it. It is not as difficult as it sounds and the many benefits of having one make it worthwhile.
What is A Dry Stack Boulder Wall
A dry stack boulder wall is a wall made from rocks that are stacked without mortar. Dry stack boulder walls are popular in the western United States and are used for many purposes, including landscaping and erosion control.
Uses of Dry Stack Boulder Wall
You can use a dry stack boulder wall for many purposes. You can use it as a decoration in your garden and backyard, or as a retaining wall to prevent soil erosion. If you’re looking for a cheaper fence option, you could build a dry stack boulder wall to keep your pets in their yard.
You could also build one as the back side of your fireplace so that guests see it when they walk into your home during wintertime. Another great idea is using it as a garden wall where you can plant flowers or vegetables on its surface.
Reasons for building Dry Stack Boulder Wall
Let’s explore the top five reasons why you should build a dry stack boulder wall:
- It helps to add a touch of nature to your home.
- It is a great way to spend time with the family.
- It helps to create a beautiful outdoor space.
- It is a great way to create an outdoor fireplace, especially during cold winter evenings.
And last but not least, If you are looking for something really unique, then building an outdoor fireplace is for you.
How to build a dry stack boulder wall
- Using a shovel, dig out the trench for your dry stack boulder wall.
- Use a spade to level the ground in between each block, then use a spirit level to make sure it is all level.
- Drive stakes into the ground around where your first row of blocks will go and use them as guides for marking out your first row of blocks using a straight edge (use something like chalk or tape). The bottom face should be parallel with the stake closest to it and one inch lower than this stake’s height (you don’t want any water collecting). The top faces should be at least one foot above grade, if not more depending on how big you want your walls: we recommend that they are at least 24″ tall, so if you have shorter rocks use some smaller ones too.
Requirements for Dry Stack Boulder Wall
To build a dry stack boulder wall, you’ll need:
- A flat surface on which to build the wall. Your base must be level and solid a slanted or otherwise uneven foundation will result in an unstable structure.
- At least 6 inches of dirt to cover the base for stability and drainage.
Materials list for Dry Stack Boulder Wall
- Boulders. You’ll need enough boulders to cover the perimeter of your site and create a layer of boulders all around the dry stack boulder wall, filling in gaps between rocks as necessary.
- Concrete blocks (or bricks, if you’re building a brick wall). These will be used throughout the dry stack boulder wall on every course except at ground level, where they are not necessary. The concrete block dimensions should be no more than 12 inches wide by 12 inches high by 8 inches deep so that they can fit together tightly when stacked together (no gaps).
Steps involved in building Dry Stack Boulder Wall
- Site preparation
- Create a cardboard template
- Stack the first layer
- Creating right-angled turns in the wall
- Backfill and finish the job
Step one: Site preparation
- Site preparation:
- -Check drainage.
- -Make sure there’s enough space to build the wall. If you’re building a dry stack boulder wall, it needs to be at least 10 feet wide and 8 feet tall.
- -Check for erosion or flood risks. If it rains while you’re building your wall, you’ll want to make sure that any extra water can flow away from the site easily and ideally not toward your house.
- -Level out the ground as much as possible so that your construction process will go smoothly later on. You don’t have to get crazy with this step just use a shovel or rake and find flat spots where other rocks are visible underfoot (like under trees). Do this for about half an inch down from where you’ll ultimately build each course of stone in your boulder wall so that when it rains or snows heavily, water won’t pool up on top of one section but rather drain evenly throughout all layers below.
Step two: Create a cardboard template
To create the template, you will need some cardboard. You can use whatever kind you want, but I generally prefer to use cereal boxes or other paperboard products that I’m not too attached to. These types of boxes are usually made out of a combination of paper and glue, so they’re sturdy enough that they won’t bend while you’re working with them—and they’ll make it easier to cut straight lines than if you used something like cardboard from a box with lots of flaps and fold-out compartments.
To start, measure the length and width of your wall area (or just use a tape measure). Make sure your measurements are accurate; keep in mind that even small errors here will add up when building your wall. Then draw out these dimensions onto the cardboard using a ruler or tape measure along each edge. Before cutting anything out though, examine what shape has been created by these rectangles: is it rectangular? If not then go back to drawing more rectangles until it is. This step seems small but actually ends up being quite important later on when stacking rocks on top of each other; if two rocks aren’t touching perfectly then they won’t look right together once dry stacked (and sometimes when wet stacked either).
Cut out this rectangle carefully so that all sides line up perfectly without any gaps between them you don’t want any stray rocks falling through holes in between pieces later down the line.
Step three: Stack the first layer
The first layer should be the largest stones, and you want them to be as close together as possible. Use a level to make sure your wall is straight, and make sure you have enough mortar to hold it together. Spread the mortar onto the base of each stone with a trowel, then place them in place on top of each other until they are all stacked up. The mortar should be thick enough that it oozes out from between the cracks between stones when dried, which prevents water from seeping through into your wall (and ruining it).
Step four: Creating right angled turns in the wall.
For the next step, you need to create right angled turns in the wall. First, you will use your spirit level to check if everything is level so far. You can also use it to check if your wall is straight and that both top and bottom are still level. If not, adjust accordingly by moving boulders on either side of the problem area until all angles match up perfectly.
Step five: Backfill and finish the job.
- Backfill the area and finish the job.
Once you’re satisfied with your wall, backfill around it with dirt or whatever other material you’ve chosen to use for your base material. Ensure that the final grade is level and straight, as minor variations in surface elevation can cause problems later on when pouring concrete for a patio or driveway.
Benefits of Dry Stack Boulder Wall
Dry stack boulder walls are a sturdy structure that can be built in any size or shape. The construction is not expensive and it’s easy to maintain. It can be built by anyone, including children and adults of all ages.
This type of wall is also versatile, serving many different purposes. A dry stack boulder wall can act as a retaining wall for landscaping or even stand alone as an attractive piece of land art that adds character to your property.
Costs of Dry Stack Boulder Wall
The cost of dry stack boulder wall depends on the size and materials used to build it. Dry stack boulders are relatively cheap compared to other types of walls, and this makes them a popular choice for homeowners who want to add some visual appeal without spending too much money.
The price will vary depending on the material used for the baseboard, but you may be able to get away with using cheaper materials like concrete blocks or bricks if your budget is tight.
Maintenance cost of Dry Stack Boulder Wall
The first and most important thing to keep in mind when considering your dry stack boulder wall is that it does not require any maintenance. The only thing you have to do is make sure everything stays where it’s supposed to be, and that’s about it.
If you want to know how much time and money will be saved by building this kind of wall instead of other options, we can tell you what the costs would be:
- Dry Stack Boulder Wall – $10 for materials; 15 minutes for assembly; 0% chance of failure during installation process
A dry stack boulder wall is not as difficult to build as you may think.
Dry stack boulder walls are relatively easy to build and maintain. They’re also simple to add on to over time, so if you like the idea but don’t have the space for a full-on rock garden right now, they’re a great way to start. Plus, they can be used in all sorts of ways as part of outdoor living space, or even as a home décor piece that doubles as storage or display space.
In Conclusion
As you can see, dry stack boulder walls are not hard to build. They are a great way to add an extra layer of privacy and security to your backyard. The benefits of having one are numerous and they can be built by anyone who has some experience with building projects like this.
