2024 Spring Workshops

While many training sites have considerably raised their prices. We offer the best value for your money not to mention package discounts. We believe everyone should be able to afford to learn a new trade. Not to mention, our workshops allow you to work with regional stone...a bonus!

~ 03/28/2024 (Thursday) Shaping Workshop 1 day $300-

4 spots remain

• Stone Shaping / Stone Dressing Workshop, All Levels, Homeowner - Contractor, 1-Day, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, All Levels, Homeowner -Contractor

This Workshop will help the participant look carefully at the stone before choosing it for a specific use. This helps increase productivity and the economy of effort.

• There are many ways in which we can mark stone, this will be described and demonstrated throughout the workshop.
• Which Hammer should I use? What is its purpose? When should I use it? Which one should I buy? All part of the workshop.
• Which Chisel should I use? What is its purpose? When should I use it? Which one should I buy? Again, all part of the workshop.
• Using Diamond Blade Saws and Diamond tipped Grinders, Do’s and Don'ts.
• Working on Banker Benches, design and ease of use and practicalities.
• Texturing Stone for a finished surface.
• Tips on Drilling Stone including Feather and Wedge...and so much more!

• Shaping workshop, Hand Tools, Power tools, feather wedging and so much more!
(Note: YOU MUST HAVE - PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) for this workshop.  Safety and use of this equipment is of paramount importance during the workshop.)

~ 03/29/2024 (Friday) Fundamental Workshop 1 day $250- (This is not a workshop where you will be building a stone wall!)

6 spots remain

Fundamental Learning Skills Workshop (This is not a workshop where you will be building a stone wall!) 1 Day Workshop 1-Day  8:30 am - 4:00 pm, All Levels, Homeowner -Contractor

NOTE: This workshop does not include hands on building a stone wall.  That workshop would be the Freestanding Wall Workshop. This workshop is 50/50 How To vs Hands On. Remember you can't learn it all in a day.

This is our most in demand workshop every year. We highly recommend this workshop to everyone even if you're a contractor. Learn all about different wall frames, how to use them, build them and why you need them. What is a batter and why. This workshop will be hands on how to build 2 styles of foundations with the best tools for the job. Basic overview of tools of the trade. How and when to best use them and with what types of stone. Last but not  least how to read stone and how to put it to the best use. Hands on sorting and palletizing material. 

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!.... Assessing Space, Planning, and Wall terminology. Learning the Fundamentals are the starting point for any waller. A skill set which will be needed for any project regardless of size. 

I created this course because I believed you can't read this in a book and understand the most important parts of walling. "The Back End". Rockin Walls was the first to offer this workshop in 2016 in the US. - Why because you can't begin to spell words if you don't understand the alphabet. Don't belittle the basics. You'll be ready to rock at any future workshops. Accelerating learning is priceless. 

HIGHLY SUGGEST THIS WORKSHOP BEFORE TAKING ANY OTHER WALLING WORKSHOPS!!!! or even if you have.

• Foundation build with needed tools for the job

• How to build a wall frame

• Designing wall

• Stone types and volume needed for a project

• Tie and use string lines

• Reading stone by picking and sort bulk stone onto correct piles

• Overviews of tools

• Feather and Wedging

• Much Much More

~03/30-31/2024 (Saturday-Sunday) Freestanding Wall Workshop 2 day $475-

6 spots remain

Freestanding Wall Workshop 2 Day Workshop 
2-Day  8:30 am - 4:00 pm, All Levels, Homeowner - Contractor

Freestanding Wall Workshop is an introduction into the basic skills of Dry Laid Stone Construction. This workshop is one of the most commonly taught classes worldwide. Over two days we will cover the proper fundamental methods outlined by the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain DSWA-GB. 

All workshops are a simple and easy pace with no heavy lifting, plenty of stone and a beautiful scenic environment with horses grazing in the background. 

What you will learn:

• Proper dry laid stone methods
• Strip out, organizing and rebuilding of existing wall section a your own "V" section both sides down to below tie stone. Keeping safe distance from those next to you. 
• Sorting and selecting the right stone for the right place
• Basic tools - overview & demonstration - Hammer and Chisels
• Feather and wedging overview & demonstration (great technique for making caps, tie stones, steps and much more)
• Walking Tour of on-site examples of dry laid stone walls (discussion) 
• Safety, tools, worksite, equipment
• Possible Demo & Operation of Mini Skid Steer (participation is optional)
• Foundation is not covered in this workshop at this time - suggest fundamental workshop.

Stone type: Flat bedded sandstone local to region. Wall stone including Laurel Mountain, Colonial Blue Stone and PA fieldstone to name a few.

This workshop is also great for those who are interested in Retaining Walls. A freestanding wall is the same fundamental principles. 

(Note: this workshop will be a strip out and rebuild of an existing wall. Some tools will be covered in this workshop.)

~03/30-31/2024 (Saturday-Sunday) Cheekend Wall Workshop 2 day $475- 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
2 spots remain

(YOU MUST HAVE EITHER DSWA/DSC LEVEL 1 / TAKEN PRIOR WORKSHOPS OR PROFESSIONAL MASONRY SKILLS - to sign up for this Cheekend workshop)
(Note: you must have your own PPE, along with tools for shaping and dressing stone)

A cheekend / (wall head) is the most common way to end a wall.  Cheekends are one of the most important first features to learn. This two day workshop will cover strip out, rebuild and the proper method to finish off the end of a wall. In this workshop you will be partnered up with one other person to take on a traditional freestanding wall cheekend. You will learn how to tie the end back into the wall along with understanding how to pick, choose and make the stones you need to make it right! This workshop will also cover the setting up of a wall frame. This workshop is great for those gearing up for their Level 2 DSWA Certification. 

Combo Deals - Mix and Match

2 Workshops Deduct -$75

3 Workshops $925-  (you $ave $100)

Limited spaces available

REFUND POLICY FOR WORKSHOPS

If Rockin Walls cancels a Workshop:

~ Full refund will be paid to all enrolled participants.

If a participant cancels Payment by check:

~ More than 21 days prior: 100% Refund.

~ 14-20 days prior: Full Refund less $25 cancellation fee.

~ 0-13 days prior: No Refund.

Check payable to:

Rockin Walls

3000 Rohrbaugh Road, Hampstead MD 21074

Your spot is secured if your check has cleared our bank account. We will not hold any spots without payment.