wall building guide  

key points before you start 

•  Get professional advice if you are in any doubt, particularly with walls over 1.5m high and complex or stress carrying structures.  

•  Plan the wall and draw a design; this helps with calculating quantities and makes building quicker. 

•  Get the right tools; spade, concrete mixer, trowel, spirit level, club hammer, 60-120mm bolster chisel, stringline and pointing tool.  A firm foundation is essential 

•  Walls need a concrete foundation three times wider than the thickness of the wall. Its depth should be at least 100mm with the base 300mm below ground level.  

•  For walls over 1m high the foundation base depth should be one third of the height of the wall above ground.  

construction 

•  Single skin walls 100mm thick should not be higher than 1m and need 215mm square piers every 2m. 

•  Walls over one metre high should be double skin construction, with the two skins tied together and should have support pillars at least every 3m.   

•  All walls need provision for expansion and contraction about every 6m.  

•  Protect the top of the wall with copings and pier caps or suitably sized paving slabs.  

bricklaying, mortar & joints 

•  Use normal bricklaying techniques including damp proof courses where appropriate.  

•  Mortar should be 1 part masonry cement to 4 parts soft bricklayers sand.  

•  Mix bricks/blocks from different packs to ensure a blend of shades. If using just one pack, select from the top down.  

•  With raised planters and retaining walls, leave some vertical joints un-mortared for drainage.  

•  Raised pools require a waterproof liner and a design that will support the weight of water.  

rio walling

•  Whilst Rio Walling can be built using normal mortar, we recommend the use of Marshalls M-Fix walling adhesive.

millstone walling

•  Blocks are faced on one side and both ends

•  Use almost equal quantities of all six block sizes to create an authentic antique look. One block of each size will build 0.19 sq. m of single skin wall.

•  N.B. Block lengths are in the ratio of 1:1.25:1.5. A 215mm block used to tie the skins together provides a half module andd the appearance of a fourth length.

•  Lay in random courses using blocks of different lengths but the same height in each course.

•  Use 10mm mortar joints and bond the blocks by staggering vertical joints.

•  Alternate course heights of 65mm and 140mm, though no strictly.

•  To avoid a top heavy look, place extra 140mm courses near the base and extra 65mm courses near the top.

•  For added interest, Cottage Garden Bricks may be substituted for 215 x 65mm blocks.

yorkstone walling

•  Walls up to 12 courses high that are not subject to load can be built semi-dry by using dabs of mortar within the indentations on top of each block.

•  Walls over 12 courses high should have full mortar joints and normal construction techniques.

cotstone walling

•  Carefully mix the various profiles. 

•  Rake out mortar joints to same depth as the moulded joints to achieve the appearance of continuous random natural stone. 

shirestone walling

•  Each block is faced on a minimum of one length and one end. 

•  After the wall is built and the mortar has set firm, clean the blocks with a hose to reveal the full colour. 

vintage stone walling

•  Before commencing to build, blocks should be sorted to enable blocks of similar height to be laid in the same course. 

•  As Vintage Stone is a natural stone product, block height can vary. The ends of the blocks are dressed at an angle.  

general information 

dimensions 

All dimensions given are nominal and subject to manufacturing tolerances. The quoted sizes and coverage of our paving ranges are for the overall areas including appropriate joints, making it easier for you to plan a project and order the right quantities. For precise dimensions,  measure several product samples at a stockist.  We are continually making innovations and improving products so we reserve the right to vary designs and specifications without notice.  

colours  

Variations in colour shade occur in all Stonemarket products. While the colours shown on this website are as accurate as reprographic processes allow, it is essential that you see actual materials at your local stockist before choosing. This is particularly important with natural stone products where considerable variation occurs.  Our reconstituted stone products contain natural aggregates so we cannot guarantee that products made at different times will have identical shades. When using several packs, mix products from each pack to achieve a blended overall appearance.     

weathering 

Weathering and site conditions can cause variations in shade to appear on individual units. These will not affect performance in any way and will diminish over time. Both natural and reconstituted stone products are affected by sunlight and rainfall. Natural stone may develop brown markings as its iron content oxidises.  Stonemarket cannot accept responsibility for efflorescence which may occur as a deposit and/or apparent colour fading in the form of patches or drip staining.  

terms and conditions 

In the unlikely event of products reaching you in less than satisfactory condition, please notify the retailer immediately. Please note that if you lay a product with a defect apparent prior to laying, then we may not accept responsibility for costs incurred.  While every effort has been made to give sound advice, Stonemarket cannot accept responsibility for any loss,damage or injury sustained in following it. We cannot accept any liability if products are used for purposes other than those for which they were intended, or if damage is due to not following our advice.