How to Build a Garden Wall

Ron's next stop took us to the home of Rebecca Link and her husband Tom Barns. Ron picked an uncharacteristically cold and stormy day to visit this Los Angeles home where Rebecca and Tom had done several renovations to the interior of their home, but never quite made it outside to make any improvements. They asked Ron to come and help them repair a rather dilapidated brick wall that was literally falling apart with loose bricks and cracked mortar. Ron thought that using stackable stone blocks to rebuild this planter wall would be perfect. They even planted flowers for a wonderfully fresh new look.

Click Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.

The previous owners had started a wall using bricks, but never completed it. Ron suggested that since there was a significant grade, the wall really should be a bit more substantial than what was there. Ron proposed that they take all the bricks out and use some slightly heavier and wider, interlocking blocks.

Ron showed Rebecca and Tom how simple it was to stack these stones, one on top of the other. They didn't require any mortar, but instead relied on a small lip on the rear edge. One lip hooked over the rear edge of the row below. This resulted in a stepped back effect, which could resist a lot of pressure from the rear side without toppling over.

1. Remove existing wall:

• The first thing they needed to do was remove what was left of the old wall. They didn't have a wheelbarrow on hand, but a little red Radioflyer wagon did the trick. The first unfinished section of the wall lifted out almost effortlessly, but as they worked their way down the wall, the job became more difficult. Toward the bottom, they needed to resort to using a sledgehammer to break the mortar loose.

• Ron demonstrated how the sledgehammer really works with gravity. He started with one hand up near the head of the hammer. Then as he brought the hammer up over his head, he brought his hand down and allowed gravity to take over.

2. Clear away dirt:

• After removing the rubble, they cleared the dirt back almost a foot from the edge of the grass. Since they would reuse this dirt later, they laid a tarp down to keep it off the grass.

• While removing the dirt, they ran into an unusual situation. There was a concrete strip just below the ground level. Ron was not sure what it was, but quite certain that it would be difficult to remove. Ron decided to use the strip as a foundation for the blocks that they were about to put down.

3. Stakes and string:

• They used two stakes and a length of string to ensure that the first stones were placed in a level and straight row. Rebecca brought in the first stone and placed it down on the concrete ledge and then Ron and Tom tied the string off at either end exactly the same height as the stone. If the first row of stones were straight and level the others would be fine.

4. Laying and stacking stones:

• Rebecca began to position the first layer of stones while Ron scraped a clear path and Tom used a tamper to compact the dirt as much as possible to prevent settling later on.
  

• The second layer of stones was laid in place in a matter of minutes. As they reach the end though, it became obvious the final stone would have to be cut to fit the remaining space.

5. Cutting stones:

• There was a mark on the back of each stone to indicate the center. Ron showed Tom how to use a brick chisel to first score the stone all the way around and then use the chisel and a hammer to cut through the stone.

• The cut stone fit perfectly. They used the dirt they removed earlier to fill in behind the new wall. Then the three of them began to place the final layer of blocks to complete the new wall.