Spring Walling Workshop

Last Weekend we had eight participants at our Spring workshop.

I usually spend the first hour discussing safety and how to use various hammers, chisels etc.

Then we set the A frames and lines.

 The build was a continuation of the section built at the Fall 2018 workshop.

With the added difficulty of a cheekend. 

On Sunday they had the confidence to tackle a right angled corner.

 Carefully chosen face stones require little or no hearting. What hearting is required is tightly packed.

Vertical, or as seen here, horizontal capstones complete a wall and give it a finished look.

 A section of wall that a professional would be proud of, let alone complete stone novices. Well done Lady and Gents.

It is worth repeating that while this stone is angular, it is not regular like bricks and careful choice of each stone is needed to keep the joints tight. Once learned, one can build with almost any stone.

Our next workshop is on the 28th and 29th of Sept 2019

contact Andrew Pighills 860-575-0526

andrewpighills@englishgardensandlandscaping.com

Fall Walling Workshop

This year our Fall weekend walling workshop is on the 29th & 30th of Sept.

Before we get to working with the stone, safety is discussed. Footwear, eye protection, correct lifting techniques, etc.

Followed by an explanation of the various tools available and how to use them correctly and safely.

Once we get to the hands on stage, within minutes, complete strangers are discussing the merits of various stones and cooperating like old friends. 

Saturday evening, as with every workshop, is spent discussing the days progress and relaxing with beer, wine and pizza.

Made in our outdoor wood fired oven

One would think that flat square stone would be easy to wall with, but while it is angular, it is not regular like bricks,

and even the slightest deviation in height, makes it difficult for C to contact both A and B.

Whereas with the rounded corners of fieldstone, C makes good contact with A and B, even though A is slightly higher than B and E makes good contact with both C and D, even though D is substantially higher.

In my opinion, the learning curve with angular stone is steeper than with fieldstone, but once learnt, will allow you to wall with most types of stone.

When is a wall not a wall?

I am often asked "How do you know when a wall is well built" The four walls photographed below, have all been called nice walls. Nice is defined as "Giving pleasure or satisfaction, pleasant or attractive." A definition that fits all four, but only two are well built.

There are a few basic principles to building a sound, structurally integral dry stone wall, which can be seen here

 https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/07/07/garden/20110707-STONEWALL/s/20110707-STONEWALL-slide-VJYH.html

and here.

When we review the first four photos. All the joints are crossed in this wall. No small pinning stones placed in the face, or outside of the wall

Whereas, with this wall. The blue lines indicate where the joints are not crossed (running joints) Numerous small stones pushed into the face, which compromises the integrity of the wall.

Here the length of the two stones circled in blue are along the face of the wall and not into the center of the wall. The heart of the wall is filled with gravel which has little to no structural integrity. The red circle indicates the area of the next photo.

This large stone has been placed on its edge, the inside face is convex, so any weight against that face will push the stone out

The same wall but a different place, the large white stone also placed on its edge has fallen over resulting in this collapse. Notice all the gravel pouring from the middle.

 Once again with this wall (below) every joint is crossed, no silly little stones in the face. This wall is also aesthetically pleasing, large foundation stones grading to smaller stones at the top.

 Believe me, the sadness of viewing your collapsing poorly built wall, will long outlast the perceived euphoria of its inexpensive build.

 To recap. the first two photos show walls that have been built with pride for the craft of Dry Stone Walling

 

 

These two are built with nothing more than the thought of profit for the contractor.

Remember, it is not just the Wild West that is full of cowboys.

Spring Walling Workshop

Saturday was a glorious day to introduce our 9 participants to the craft of Dry Stone Walling.

Once we got to the hands on stage, within minutes, complete strangers are discussing the merits of various stones and cooperating like old friends. 

Saturday evening, as with every workshop, was spent discussing the days progress and relaxing with beer, wine and pizza.

Even the Sunday morning drizzle did not dampen their spirits.

One would think that flat square stone would be easy to wall with, but while it is angular, it is not regular like bricks,

and even the slightest deviation in height, makes it difficult for C to contact both A and B.

Whereas with the rounded corners of fieldstone, C makes good contact with A and B, even though A is slightly higher than B and E makes good contact with both C and D, even though D is substantially higher.

In my opinion, the learning curve with angular stone is steeper than with fieldstone, but once learnt, will allow you to wall with most types of stone.

Our next workshop is Sept 29th & 30th.