Dry-Stack Fieldstone Wall Ideas That Will Add Charm To Any Home When you’re looking to add natural beauty and rustic charm to an outdoor space, you can’t go wrong with a dry-stacked stone wall. Aside from practicality, these walls become focal points and true works of art when worked into any landscape. So, what exactly is a dry-stacked stone wall — and how can you incorporate this kind of design into your next exterior project? What is a Dry-Stacked Stone Wall? This type of wall refers to any wall that is built without the use of mortar to bind individual stones together. Instead, these walls are strategically designed and built using natural stones. Since the 15th century, people have long used stone to create retaining walls without needing a binding agent. How Do Dry-Stacked Stone Walls Work? A couple of the most common questions people have when learning about dry-stacked stone walls are, “How do they stay standing?” or “How do they not fall over?” It certainly takes a lot of skill and experience to build a durable wall out of dry-stacked stone so that it will not be prone to too much shifting or falling over. However, when a stone wall is properly designed and installed, the individual stones interlock so that the wall’s structural integrity is extremely solid. In fact, a dry-stacked stone wall can even be more durable than a “traditional” wall constructed with stone and mortar. That’s because the lack of mortar allows the stones to naturally shift with the changing landscape, especially during times of frost and thaw. This flexibility cannot be achieved with stones held together by mortar. Dry-stacked stone allows for proper circulation through each stone; this permeability can help protect the stone from damage caused by water over time. It also saves homeowners from needing to install drainage systems or robust foundations around these walls. When properly designed and built, a dry-stacked stone wall can easily last for decades without extensive care, maintenance, or repairs. And because each stacked stone wall is designed with hand-picked stones (often fieldstone, due to its natural size and shape), no two walls are exactly the same. 4 Ideas For Dry-Stacked Walls Dry-stacked stone fieldstone walls can be a lovely addition to any landscape. If you’re interested in experimenting with this idea for your next exterior project, there are some inspirational ideas to keep in mind. 1) Stone Wall Fencing Depending on the size and layout of the property, one option to consider is to design a dry-stacked fence or enclosure around the space itself. Stacked stone fences can serve a practical purpose of creating a border around a property while adding lots of rustic charm in the process. This type of fence requires very little maintenance and will last many years, adding value and appeal to the property itself. Gates can also be added around the perimeter of a stacked stone fence to make the property more accessible where needed. 2) Rustic Garden Walls Looking to add a little country charm to an outdoor garden space? A dry-stacked stone garden wall can be a great way to pull this off. Larger stones of varying sizes can be used to achieve a more natural and rustic look — or cleaner-cut stones can create a more contemporary appearance (depending on your client’s preferences). You might even consider adding some built-in stone benches to improve the garden’s functionality without sacrificing beauty. 3) Retaining Walls Yet another practical way to use dry-stacked stone in your next exterior project is to design a retaining wall. A stacked stone retaining wall can be a lovely way to make a sloped area of the landscape more functional without detracting from its overall beauty. These can come in handy in hilly landscapes — and dry-stacked stone walls make for naturally strong retaining walls that will hold up to changes in the landscape over time. 4) Stone Patios Last but not least, consider incorporating a dry-stacked wall into your next stone patio design. This can be a wonderful way to add natural beauty to an outdoor space, especially if your client wants to create privacy around a new patio. For added rustic charm, consider growing some moss around a stone patio and stacked stone wall. Quality Fieldstone and More From CT Stone Overall, dry-stacked stone walls can add a lot of natural beauty to any landscape — and there are many creative ways to use them. If you’re looking for a stone ideal for dry-stacked wall construction, explore Connecticut Stone’s selection of one-of-a-kind wallstone!
