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....
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....
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.
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.
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.
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.
Following a path of continual
improvement, I feel my wife
will be happy with this house
in 20 years... :)
improvement, I feel my wife
will be happy with this house
in 20 years... :)
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.
The Dome Re-shingled and
stained. Next I plan to cover
the vinyl with stone.....
stained. Next I plan to cover
the vinyl with stone.....
