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Build a stone wall

Step 1 - Lay the foundation

Use Identify where you want the stone wall and dig a trench 400mm deep x 300mm wide x length of proposed stone wall.

Box up the trench with boards constructed from timber which is 25mm thick and as wide and deep as the trench. Hold the timber frame in place with 50mm square stakes that are level with the timber frame when knocked in. Paint CEMIX CFRA on the timber - as a form release agent so that concrete does not stick to the timber boxing.

Calculate how much concrete you will require (one 40kg bag of Cemix Drimix General Purpose Concrete will produce the equivalent of 500mm x 500mm x 76.8mm of concrete) use the Quantity Calculator on this website to calculate other quantities. Empty contents of Cemix Drimix General Purpose Concrete into a wheelbarrow, mechanical mixer or onto a smooth non-porous surface. Add water gradually mixing thoroughly until a smooth mix is achieved. Under ideal conditions one 40kg bag of Cemix Multicrete would require 4 litres of water. Fill the timber frame with concrete all the time working the concrete so that it is compact and air voids are removed. Level the top and allow to cure for three days.

Step 2 - Preparing the stones

Select the stones you will be using - make sure no individual stones are wide than 300mm. The stones need to be a mixture of random shapes and can be broken up if necessary with a heavy hammer and chisel.

Step 3 - Lay the stones

Calculate how much mortar you will require (one 20kg bag of CEMIX Cemortar DIY is enough to lay 20-25 stones if they are the size of clay bricks, or 15-20 stones if they are the size of concrete blocks). Empty contents of Cemix Cemortar DIY into a wheelbarrow, mechanical mixer, or onto a smooth non-porous surface. Add water gradually, mixing thoroughly until a smooth mix is achieved. Under ideal conditions a 20kg bag of Cemix Drimix Mortar Mix would require 2.5 litres of water.

Mix the Cemix Cemortar DIY with a coloured oxide if you want the mortar to match the colour of the stones. Trowel a layer of the mortar 50mm thick onto the concrete foundation. Set a range of the stones in the mortar. Following an irregular pattern, build up the wall with additional layers of mortar and stones. Allow the natural shape of the stone to determine the final wall.

Step 4 - Finish the wall

Once the wall has almost reached the desired height, and is relatively level, apply a final layer of Cemix Multicrete and apply the final stones on to this layer of concrete.