Merrymount Roland Park, Finished Project, Nov 2012

November 2102 Merrymount Roland Park Baltimore Maryland. 

Dry Laid Stone Construction, Retaining wall 80' L x 20" H, with over hanging flat cap stones, 4" protruding foundation, foundation stones set 4" to 6" below grade in earth, 90 corner, curve, free standing wall with wall end, drain lintel 11" H x 12" W and 3 steps. Built with Western Maryland stone from Bedrock Stone Quarry (thank you Donna and Jeremy for all your help!) mixed with PA Blue stone. Back of wall and packing stone local from Meadow Creek Farm Hampstead MD. Build time 30 days. Primary function setting wall, helping to define the space for entertaining. 

Curved section

3 Steps

Wall End with free standing wall and corner.

 Wall end/ Cheek end

Related Blogs:

Merrymount - Roland Park MD, Project Story, Dry Laid Retaining Wall 11/2012

Merrymount Project Lintel Drain Build and Rebuild

BEFORE

Thank you for viewing the Merrymount project. Please feel free to comment! 

How To - PA Blue Stone Steps - Beechdale Rd, Roland Park MD

Beechdale Project includes 8 PA Blue Stone Steps. The bottom steps measures in at 3 ft long with the top step being 4'. The interesting thing with PA Blue stone slabs each stone ranges in sizes these are from 3"-5" as seen with the 4th step up is 5" thick. This build incorporates tying the steps into a freestanding wall on right and retaining wall on left (as seen below) . The steps have a 6" rise with a 14" tread. Making walking up and down them very easy for any one. 

I start with slabs of stones. Then I use feather and wedges to make the slabs into the sizes I need. My goal is to create a min of a 16" tread. 

Related blogs:

How To - Wedge and Feathers Voodoo Magic

Video - How To - Wedge and Feathers / Shims

How To - Plugs and Feathers DSC KY shaping workshop 2012

Next I measure out my stone step to determine what I need to build under each one to get me to my goal of 6" rise. Some of the biggest issues with natural stone - one side might be 3" the other 4" and the back side some thing totally different. Making it very challenging some times to get the stone to be level. Most of the time I shoot to have each step drop a little at the front in order for water to run off quicker. Then again your working with natural stone you do the best you can. 

The steps I'm building with I've kept the drill marks since the home has a great deal of stones with them over the window frames. So it gives the look that the steps had been built at the same time period. Visually tying the two together. 

Next I set up my square to make my marks for the next steps. Using a crayon I mark a cross two lines one for 14" and the other for 16". ( placement of the step above)

The 16" mark is where I start to build up my stone under the step to get me to the 6" rise I need. The 14" mark is my over hang of 2" to give a little contrast and negative space under the step. 

Next I'll use a string line or my 8' level to get me to the needed height for my under step build. I find the size stones and build to the string line or level. Taking into consideration of any size differences of the step I'm setting ie. one side being  3" and to other 4".

As seen in this photo I set my first stone at 3" since I'm using a 3" step in order to get my 6" rise. 

Then I build back just like a wall. Compensating as needed in order to make my step level or pitch a little down at the front for water to run off. Building steps for me are like setting tie stones. Once you set the stone you have to make sure all voids under the stone step/tie are filled. ( no wobbles )

Related Blogs:

How To - Tie Rocks / Through - Stones

Looking down 6 steps. Only 2 to go and I'm at the top of the wall. The top wall is the board that goes across the top by the driveway. ( level )

Whats missing? How do I set each step that weighs 600 pounds...... my brand new/used Komatsu PC 27 Mini Excavator with the Geith Thumb/bucket. Yup this is why I bought this machine just for this kind of work. Four guys = $$$$ or one skid loader with straps = Pain in my butt.  Both could do the same task but not with agility, speed and skill as this machine. 

The biggest challenge with the job has been working over a bank. I was at my furthest reach setting my first step 112" out. I have really had a great time on this project. My only heart break to date was breaking one of my steps when it fell out of the thumb. Sh--t happens! Just had to go get another one to keep me on track. Just stone. Then I was able to pull out the drill, feather and wedges to make that 4th step up. Good times...

Walk Bridge & 5 Stone Steps

My wife needed a bridge built for here Equine Assisted Learning. We have a stream which runs through our property. Being able to take clients back to her riding ring with out getting their feet wet was a small ticket to fill. I started with the building a walk bridge. I was able to find all reclaimed materials. I picked up 2 telephone poles 18 ft long. Our neighbors had given us a old lumber from a deck they removed. The posts which hold the telephone poles are fence posts. The bridge was a blast to build. I had never created any thing like it. But simply used a little common sense. A few string lines with a line level, rebar to stake the telephone poles to the vertical posts and some screws. All and all just a day's work. 

(2 steps)

Then came time for the steps. What to do? With the stream flooding at any given time, horses wondering around. I had to come up with something. I walked the farm for a half day thinking how great it would be to build with stone. BUT I didn't want to create a work of art which could take more time to build then the bridge. I just needed a simple solution.

 

(2 steps looking down on the two first steps)

( 3 steps. Old pavers below stones to get the needed height. Then covered by the dirt bank built up on both sides to avoid flood erosion. Plus hide boring pavers--shhhhh don't tell any one I said that)

I found the answer, several stones I had put aside in hopes of building steps. I passed over them several times thinking I need to save these. But after coming to terms I asked why? This was just what I needed. Wooden steps, dirt, boulders...ect just didn't make sense. This was the perfect fit. If you clicked on the link above you will understand. Why? Healing and Teaching with Horse power. Equine Assisted Therapy could best be described as helping People Heal throw Horses. Why would my large stepping stones be the perfect match? They create the feeling of strength and confidence due to there size. One will make the trip up the steps and over the bridge and back down the steps to reach a place to help them heal. 

 (3 steps looking down)

Life is about taking the steps to move spiritually from one place to another. If we don't take those steps we will fall down.

Finished Hoffmanville Retaining Wall

It's always bittersweet when I finish a job. I develop a great relationship with all my customers. Some even treat me like family bring me sweet ice tea and offering lunch from time to time. I love my job.



The client had an existing retaining wall made from railroad ties. For over 40+ years this has helped keep earth back. But the time had come when the wood had run its course. Ready for a new replacement, the homeowner considered and priced out pavers for the low cost of $4500. But when she gave more thought to the idea of a replacement she realized that nothing fits better then natural stone. The house was built with Butler stone, so why not build a retaining wall with Butler stone?




The sketches of the retaining wall.

The retaining wall includes 6 elements:

1) a retaining wall with a 1:5 pitch.

before

after

2) free standing wall showing only 2 feet coming out of the curve with a large seating stone at the end.

 before

after

3) 3 Steps to the upper porch

before

 after

Great colors- I love how they twinkly.

4) Corner post to hold up the porch




5) 5 protruding stone shelves. (for candles)

before

after

6) Curve in wall

The retaining wall uses Butler stone, local stone, historical red sand stone, and PA blue stone mixed in to help the browns pop. The style of the stone work would be referred to as Course Random with jumpers. This means I have used stone of equal size like bricks but once in a while you will see where a large stone is used to force what is called a jumper. This now causes the pattern to be changed. It has been said, that on course retaining walls, you have a horizontal running joint causing a weak wall. Some will argue this. I personally love the look and trust the concept and of course my instructor.

The wall is 5'5" measured from the lower patio to the flat coping, 22' feet long with 3 steps not included measure out at 19" inches height with over 18" inch step 3' feet wide with first step being 4' feet.

Hoffmanville Project Pics