Building a Wall and Walk.
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I purchased my home in Killingworth Connecticut in 2005. It was 4 acres
of overgrown lot with a small geodesic house on it. I cleared most of the
front of the lot and decided to build a wall. The original driveway was a
half-circle. The previous owners pretty much drove right up to the house.
I decided to make the driveway a much bigger half circle and to build a
wall around it. I would put an arbor in the wall and then lay a stone
walkway to the house.
The first stone walkway was a disaster. One of my friends dubbed it the
"wobble walk" and my wife was in constant peril of falling over while on it.
The mistakes I had made were:
-I had used to many smaller stones
-I had not been picky enough with the stones."Almost flat" is not flat.
I had a hard time finding an arbor that had a door. This was before I had
gotten the electric fence and actually though my dog would respect a three
foot tall metal mesh fence. He is a Border Collie, I should have known
better...
I did finally find an arbor with a gate. I like it a lot. Even though it is not
used to keep the dog in....
of overgrown lot with a small geodesic house on it. I cleared most of the
front of the lot and decided to build a wall. The original driveway was a
half-circle. The previous owners pretty much drove right up to the house.
I decided to make the driveway a much bigger half circle and to build a
wall around it. I would put an arbor in the wall and then lay a stone
walkway to the house.
The first stone walkway was a disaster. One of my friends dubbed it the
"wobble walk" and my wife was in constant peril of falling over while on it.
The mistakes I had made were:
-I had used to many smaller stones
-I had not been picky enough with the stones."Almost flat" is not flat.
I had a hard time finding an arbor that had a door. This was before I had
gotten the electric fence and actually though my dog would respect a three
foot tall metal mesh fence. He is a Border Collie, I should have known
better...
I did finally find an arbor with a gate. I like it a lot. Even though it is not
used to keep the dog in....
Well, it seems flat. Until you try and
walk on it.
The steps out of the house were made
of old rail tracks. See all the way back in
picture.
walk on it.
The steps out of the house were made
of old rail tracks. See all the way back in
picture.
I had to buy a few bricks, but there
were almost enough on the property to
make the new stairs.
were almost enough on the property to
make the new stairs.
Here are finished steps, walk and a good
section of the wall finished.
I added two light post that I got at Home
Depot. They are aluminum.
I put them on a light sensing switch, so they
come on at dusk and stay on for an adjustable
period of time. Obviously in winter they are
on longer....
section of the wall finished.
I added two light post that I got at Home
Depot. They are aluminum.
I put them on a light sensing switch, so they
come on at dusk and stay on for an adjustable
period of time. Obviously in winter they are
on longer....
Here is the right side of the wall finished.
It is hard to tell from the picture, but the
stones on the top are very large.
The original farmers moved all of the
stone down to the back of the property near
the brook. They built terraces with the big
stones.
With the crane on the back of my truck
(see picture on the left) I placed them on
two layers of stone.
It is hard to tell from the picture, but the
stones on the top are very large.
The original farmers moved all of the
stone down to the back of the property near
the brook. They built terraces with the big
stones.
With the crane on the back of my truck
(see picture on the left) I placed them on
two layers of stone.
Being an amateur, I took a hard look at what
would be a simple design and last forever.
I went with the above design. The first layer
are large stones with the thin end facing inward.
The second layer are smaller stone, also with the
thin side facing inward.
This all has the effect of creating a pyramid
with a deep incline in the middler for the last
layer. Which is one really big stone.
This makes it so it cannot fall apart from the
top, the stones are falling "inward" and being a
pyramid gives it great stability.
would be a simple design and last forever.
I went with the above design. The first layer
are large stones with the thin end facing inward.
The second layer are smaller stone, also with the
thin side facing inward.
This all has the effect of creating a pyramid
with a deep incline in the middler for the last
layer. Which is one really big stone.
This makes it so it cannot fall apart from the
top, the stones are falling "inward" and being a
pyramid gives it great stability.
This is the left side of the wall. The first opening I
put a wood gate in so I could get to the other side of
the yard with my truck.
To get the two halves of the property together
(they are bisected by an old stone wall) I removed
part of the old wall and added a driveway extension
where the wall ends. See below
put a wood gate in so I could get to the other side of
the yard with my truck.
To get the two halves of the property together
(they are bisected by an old stone wall) I removed
part of the old wall and added a driveway extension
where the wall ends. See below
To make the driveway extension I had to cut into
the hill and make a berm wall. I did it with a pick
and shovel. Stumps are seen to the right. Also my
custom built shaker screener is at top right.
the hill and make a berm wall. I did it with a pick
and shovel. Stumps are seen to the right. Also my
custom built shaker screener is at top right.
This is the wall to the left making the corner and
then going across the rest of the property.
I finished this before doing the driveway extension.
Which would be at the far left of the picture.
then going across the rest of the property.
I finished this before doing the driveway extension.
Which would be at the far left of the picture.
Here is the second walk . Much larger stones,
much flatter. Due to the larger stones it was
harder to place each one, but quicker since it
is easier to get three big stones level with one
another than six small ones.
much flatter. Due to the larger stones it was
harder to place each one, but quicker since it
is easier to get three big stones level with one
another than six small ones.
Now If I can just make the
house a little better looking....
It is very nice on the inside!
house a little better looking....
It is very nice on the inside!
This is the gate I installed so I could get
through the wall into my front yard. It is a
section of wooden wall that I bought and cut
down to size. The wood and gate hardware I
bought from Lowes.
There is a wheel at the end of the gate,
which helps support it. It has a spring which
keeps constant pressure over irregular
terrain.
I bought this online.
through the wall into my front yard. It is a
section of wooden wall that I bought and cut
down to size. The wood and gate hardware I
bought from Lowes.
There is a wheel at the end of the gate,
which helps support it. It has a spring which
keeps constant pressure over irregular
terrain.
I bought this online.