Making A River Rock Wall With Concrete

Some good tips about making rock walls that will help build your confidence.

Making a river rock wall with concrete.

A hot wire foam cutter works well. Cut the cardboard or styrofoam to the shape you want your rock to be. Cut two two by fours to the same length as. Smooth the area and tamp the soil firmly before laying any rocks.

Combine different materials with glue to create oddly shaped rocks. You can use a variety of materials to create the shape of your rock. Step 5 continue to add layers being sure to stagger the joints and keep the wall level as the height increases. This footing is similar to a concrete retaining wall just not as engineered.

Finish by applying a wedge of concrete along the base course front and back to keep the wall from shifting. Place the first layer of rocks on the concrete using the trowel to apply a 2 inch layer of cement between the rocks. On hot dry or windy days mist the wall with water as you work so that the mortar cures slowly and completely. You ll use 5 to 6 quarts of water with a 50 pound bag of portland cement and you want to be careful to not use too much water.

The full set time is five. Mix the mortar in a wheelbarrow combining 3 parts sand and 1 part portland cement. The wide base needs to go back into the slope at least half as wide as the wall is tall. Cut a square of plywood with a circular saw 4 inches wider than you want pavers to be for example.

New videos added march 2018 much more detail in the masonry playlist at https. This makes your rock wall into a 50 year wall. Use the largest flattest rocks you have to provide a stable base. Use a plain cardboard box for a roughly square shaped rock.

Without this simple footing the rocks have a tendency to move. Step 1 choose a material as a base for your rock s shape. Styrofoam cardboard crumpled newspaperstep 2 create the rough shape of your rock. Https amzn to 2ulyfdt hi this is carl th.

You ll need to choose the method you prefer. Immediately press the river rock onto the wall or floor in the predetermined location and hold it in place for several minutes until the rock is stable on the wall. Video is not sponsored. Trowel the joints between the capstones with a brick jointer making them slightly concave to channel away water.

There are several common items you can choose from. Pour water in the wheelbarrow and combine it with the cement and sand mixture.