DIY stone wall building. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

[@Greyskydies]

I know this is a year old, but I love these style walls. Not sure what they are called but totally artisan style! Thank you for the tutorial!

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey we call it a “tight fit” wall! Anytime!

[@Greyskydies]

@@HardscapeCanada oh hey, you’re still on the channel. This channel is great btw. Total artisan work. Just watched the stair (LED) video. Super cool. Would you mind sharing what kind of rock that is? I’m in the NW too, but in the lower 48 (Washington).

[@HardscapeCanada]

@FR-sr9sy hey the rock used for the risers is just local blast-rock, so a mix of basalt and granite mostly. The tread and surfaces are all Pennsylvania Bluestone

[@Greyskydies]

@@HardscapeCanada the basalt you guys have is pretty. We’ve got Columbia river basalt. Kind of a brown/grey. I clicked on your video because I need to make a small radius wall at my house and I live those walls like you do. That said your video said “you can do it!” So, I think I can. It’s about the prep, tools and base it seems.

[@Greyskydies]

@@HardscapeCanada thank you very much. I really enjoy the videos!

[@andrewpassey1769]

I could watch that all day. Thank you for sharing your skills.

[@darylgoulet4966]

Very nice work thanks for teaching!

[@nateearle844]

Great videos. Perfect ratio between action and explanation.

[@use0fweapons]

I'm doing a foam sculpture to mimic this kind of work and this video is great help

[@HardscapeCanada]

Love it!

[@billm7035]

Wish I had an extra month lying around to complete a job like this.

[@georgiosladas3106]

Enjoyed it, both efficient video and wall

[@frankgyori2740]

Nice job

[@donaldcurtis9229]

A lot of that up in northeastern Pennsylvania where I grew up true artistry

[@buffalomowing1188]

Nicely done ✅

[@ghouse419]

👍Excellent presentation! Thank you!

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey you’re so welcome!

[@kanittawiprakasit3738]

Thanks!

[@denisconor648]

Love it.

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey thank you!

[@paulpurves484]

Love this video nice tidy work.

[@eugeniotapia6765]

Looks good but the 'bookend' corner as you called it will be the first one first one to tumble over in 3-5-10yrs, it'll be the first to go. Looks fine other than that !

[@massa_CAT]

Why will it fall?

[@paulpurves484]

Don’t agree.

[@ShaneMclane-PrivateEye]

It'll only take 10 minutes to pick it up and fit it back into some fresh mortar.

[@АрбиДжамбеков-й6т]

Respect

[@mrForestBeard]

Great one! :3

[@ericdaniels5358]

Stylin on em with that flip

[@HardscapeCanada]

Always gotta throw some flair in there

[@Noniinthebush]

I just love this! My grandfather was a stone mason in Scotland. I must have it in my blood because I’m in love with stone. I want to make a round stone wall to plant a tree in the middle of. Your mallet, what is it made from? Rubber? Cheers

[@HardscapeCanada]

Awesome! The small hammer is metal, I do like to use a mallet from Halder tools as well.

[@Noniinthebush]

@@HardscapeCanada thanks Kev !

[@noreenpurple8617]

Great video! Straight to the point, quick and simple. I appreciate that!❤️👍🏻💪🏻

[@simonecook4176]

I love this video, rock walls are so creative and good for the brain. Thank you for sharing the level line. Does the dry mortar set firm and does it resist the elements of freezing?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey thank you! Yes indeed it does, just be mindful that wherever water may enter or accumulate it has the chance to freeze and cause cracking due to expansion

[@KarasCyborg]

Nice work. How do you keep your mortar from setting up too quickly. Usually cement starts hardening within 30 minutes of mixing.

[@HardscapeCanada]

I find a mix stays workable for about and hour or so, ideally you are mixing batches that are sized accordingly to use them up before they start to go off. If it’s really hot out I’ll mix slightly wetter and cover it immediately. Adding water to freshen it up occasionally if necessary.

[@elmagico6994]

What is the mortar made of that you use? Store bought? Brand? Thanks...your work is first class.

[@Taşevustası]

Güzel bir çalışma olmuş taşı kayarken bir sonraki taşın hesabını yapmalısın o şekilde daha seri olabilirsin

[@madimcd95]

This is awesome! What were you using as backing?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey! Chunks of old concrete broken up is the perfect backing

[@decodemodern]

Great video. Are you laying them directly on a compacked base with stone dust? How many inches did you have to excavate and fill in with road base?

[@north4961]

Beautiful 👍What kind of mortar ? 🇨🇦

[@nerrade]

Is that wet or dry mortar? It just looks like sand or something like that.

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey it’s a wet mortar, so sand cement and water, just mixed on the dryer side to allow for some structural stability when placing and setting the rocks and backing

[@msmolowe]

Do you have any photos of the back of the wall? Is there another layer of stone or is it just a wall of mortar?

[@HardscapeCanada]

You can think of it like a roughly built brick wall, but using concrete chunks with mortar

[@Chocoboranger]

No foundation? Hope it doesn't freeze there.

[@candra5002]

Content

[@BuhlzI]

How far apart should the string lines be?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Depends on the height and length of the wall. You just want to set up strings wherever you see that you would find something to work up to helpful. There’s no hard rules!

[@paigemoody1430]

Wondering how thick your original layer of motar was that is in contact with ground and the first layer of rock

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey! Just about 1.5-2”. The base prep must be done well, and any walls over 3’ should probably have a poured concrete footing (depending on project specifics). The initial layer of mortar should be stiff enough so you can accurately set those base rocks and they won’t shift before they set up.

[@gordondean1782]

Can you do something on the mortar? it looked really dry.

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey yes I’ll add it in eventually! It is pretty dry, a mix of coarse sand and type 10 (can mix with type S as well) 3:1 ratio. It’s wet enough to activate the cement but dry enough to pack and hold its shape. Should be just able to form a ball with it in your hand and have water come to the surface

[@Rbeccapi]

What type of mortar would you use for a low retaining wall of river rocks?

[@HardscapeCanada]

A mix of type ten and type S. 6 shovels sand: 1 shovel type 10: one shovel type S. Always keep a 3:1 ratio, but can go just slightly richer on the cement for more bonding if you like.

[@Rbeccapi]

@@HardscapeCanada Thank you!

[@TheFriendlyEyes]

Whats the metal pipes

[@lfuentes4098]

Can these be used for retaining walls?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Yes that’s exactly right!

[@mrForestBeard]

What is the mortar cement:sand ratio you use? 1:3 for such job?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Yes exactly! Depending on hardness of stone you may want to split the cement into half type 10(gu) and half type S

[@mrForestBeard]

@@HardscapeCanada Here locally we only see two types, one is M500 grade (white/gray) portland and another M300 grade (yellowish) portland... and some variations with sand for lazies XD I usually use M500 in every situation, gives better control over the color of the seams. Some customers are pretty touchy about color...

[@corptusion]

What kind of motor?

[@josephwalker8642]

What is the actual base made of, rock, poured cement…?

[@HardscapeCanada]

For smaller walls 6” of compacted road base is fine. For larger walls a poured concrete footing is ideal.

[@a_ya5555]

Isn't concrete better to use than mortar? As in longer lasting

[@HardscapeCanada]

We use the same cement (type 10/GU/portland) as concrete, just a finer aggregate. So it should last just as long and the finer aggregate allows it to get into smaller spaces between rocks etc

[@a_ya5555]

@@HardscapeCanada So you use cement but not concrete? I'm confused.

[@HardscapeCanada]

Yes that’s correct. Cement is the powdered ingredient used to make concrete. Normally a concrete mix has cement and an aggregate called Navvy Jack, instead we use cement and a coarse sand.

[@a_ya5555]

@@HardscapeCanada Yeah that's not as strong as an AGREGATE ROCK and cement aka concrete. Cheaper i'm sure, probably still really good and better than mortar.

[@angief4101]

What type of mortar do you recommend for a 5’ lava rock wall in Hawai’i? What ratios? Much mahalo.

[@jonathanvillegas1842]

what type of stone is that ? the mortar what type is ?

[@HardscapeCanada]

It’s a sand and type 10 mix 3:1 and the rock is a mix of basalt and granite

[@jimmccoal2693]

If its your first stone works , do something small. It is alot of work.

[@Harris_the_user]

Why do you put this pipes in the wall ?

[@HardscapeCanada]

They are weepers to allow water to flow through if it builds up behind the wall.

[@Harris_the_user]

@@HardscapeCanada thank you my friend.So this is a retaining wall.

[@eagleoverpass]

Any tips for building a 6ft wall? Would it be wider at the base?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey yes typically building the base about half of the height. So 6ft wall would be about 3’ wide at the base. I like to mortar in chunks of concrete as it is efficient to put down and adds a lot of weight and bulk (and you can usually find it for free). As long as it is all mortared/bonded together like a brick wall behind

[@otnielchillon6529]

So some men have vocal fry as well?

[@HardscapeCanada]

I guess so! I had to lookup what it was

[@suzanneschill5049]

Can I see the backside

[@cluefulwanderer]

That's what she said

[@warthogA10]

Very nice work, I enjoy the visual of a nicely assembled stone wall, but I cant watch past 4min .. way to much vocal fry... It's horrible when women use it, but as equally horrible when men use it..

[@freedom_-vn2dc]

Hey man, I'm building a house in Pennsylvania out of all stone. I've already purchased all the PA field stone from an old 1700s farmhouse that fell over. I plan on beginning construction next year. I'd be interested in hiring you on as a consultant.

[@HardscapeCanada]

Sounds very interesting! You can email me at [e-mail]

[@joshstabler3438]

That’s my dream, too, or at least, restoring four standing stone walls back into a house. I’m in PA, too.

[@elijahhue]

I’m an Amateur and I’m going to try this on the 4th. But making a wall/ garden bed. Do you wet the motor after? And do you put any on top? 😅

[@bc.oO0Oo.]

nice work