A river rock wall can be a beautiful addition to any property. Whether you want a useful stone wall to hold back the edges of your driveway, or are looking for an edging to create a perfect border around your flower beds, this guide will help you achieve your desired results. Read on to learn how to build a river rock wall that’ll stand the test of time and add value to your property.
Planning Your Design And Layout
The most important part of any project is the planning stage. Planning gives you the opportunity to avoid mistakes, keep costs down, stay on schedule and stay focused.
The first thing to do is plan your design and layout so that you know what type of wall you are going to build. Once you have decided on the style of such a wall, draw up a plan with measurements. This will help you measure accurately when putting in place each layer of river rock by hand or machine.
Preparing To Build Your Rock Wall
To begin, you’ll want to choose a site for your rock wall. The best place to build a rock wall is next to an area with high foot traffic and/or views of the surrounding landscape. This can be an entranceway, patio or terrace area.
Wherever you decide to place it, make sure that the ground is level and clear of debris before building begins. Also, prepare yourself by having all necessary tools (shovels, hammers) and materials on hand in advance so that when construction begins everything goes smoothly without delay or confusion over missing parts or tools needed for completion of each step along the way
Building Your Foundation
The foundation of the wall should be constructed first. It is important that you build your foundation with river rock so it will blend well with the rest of your landscape and garden. The type of soil in your yard may determine what kind of material you choose as a base for your wall. If you have clay or heavy soil, then concrete blocks are ideal because they weigh less than bricks and hold well in wet conditions; however, if there is loose sand or gravel underneath where you plan on placing your wall, then landscaping timbers would be best since they will not sink into the ground like concrete blocks would. In order to keep costs low while still achieving a high level of quality workmanship around your home’s exterior appearance (and avoiding costly repairs), we recommend using river rocks as a base layer under any kindling materials like wood chips or mulch because they’re easy to install without any excess labor involved
Building Your River Rock Wall
To get started, you’ll want to use a level to check that each rock is straight and level. If you’re building a wall that will be exposed to water, it’s best not to install any river rocks that are larger than 2 inches in diameter. For this reason, we recommend using smaller stones for your edging (1 inch or less) and larger stones for the center of your wall (2 inches or less). To keep things simple, we’ve found that sandstone works well for both purposes.
Next, take your hammer and pound each stone into place with care so as not to damage them. Use mortar between each layer of rocks if needed—you can apply it with a trowel or grout bag. When finished applying mortar between river rocks, wait until it has dried before proceeding with laying down another layer of stones on top of it; this will ensure that everything stays firmly in place once set up
Sealing Your New River Rock Wall
After you have completed the wall, it is time to seal your new rock wall with a non-toxic, waterproof sealer. There are many different kinds of sealers available, but they all function essentially the same way: they protect your finished rock wall from exposure to the elements and make it easier to clean.
If you choose a natural stone cement that has been mixed with water and allowed to dry, you will need to apply a waterproofing agent after it has dried. These types of cement do not require any special surface preparation before or after application because they can be applied directly onto masonry without any prep work or mixing required (though this does mean there will be small variations in color).
Building a wall with river rock can be a rewarding project over the weekend.
Building a wall with river rock can be a rewarding project over the weekend. It’s also good for the environment and great for your health.
- The exercise will help you lose weight and improve your overall health.
- Rocks are in season right now, so they’re relatively inexpensive to buy
- The kids will have fun helping out and learning about nature while they do it
Conclusion
A river rock wall doesn’t need to be limited to your garden or backyard. You can also use river rocks to create a beautiful stone walkway through your garden, leading up to your front door. The material is versatile enough that you can use it just about anywhere in the yard, even around existing trees and shrubs. With a little planning and some time, you can have a nice-looking rock wall that will last for years.
