Stone walling

Here is an overview and more in depth look at a project using natural stone blocks to create a low wall, as well as a porcelain patio area.

This garden originally had a previously landscaped terrace which used upright wooden sleepers to retain the soil, which sat around 60cm high. Over time, these had rotted, as well as a deck which had sat under a pergola and had been ripped out.

The customer hired me to come up with a new plan and design using different materials, to hopefully carry this garden through the next couple of decades.

Materials

I decided on using a natural stone block for the wall, which could be used in a dry stone wall fashion, or set in mortar. The benefit to using a dry stone wall here was that it would provide room for plants to establish, creating a much more natural look over time, as well as providing ample drainage for the high soil level behind.

For the patio, we chose a matching porcelain paver.

Construction

Most of the work in a project like this goes in to removing the old materials and prepping the site before getting any new stone laid or constructing the new design.

The original footing for the sleeper retaining wall was suitable to fill in and use as the base to the natural stone wall.

The paved area needed a retaining edge built first with poured concrete and filled in to provide a stable solid sub base for the paving. This was then over laid with a concrete base and allowed harden, prior to laying paving to mortar.

Infill of area and retaining edge

New paving in porcelain

New stone walling completed

Completed garden

Before work began