Shang shí dŭ yuè Stone Project

Shang shí dŭ yuè  - "Rock upon which to gaze at the moon."

Frederick Maryland

 Before.

The customer contacted me to build a wall around the large stone in his yard. As I started to build the wall I asked him to please give me the name of the project. The name says it all. I could just sit or lay on this stone. A neighbor said how when her daughter was growing up. She would stand on their large stone and sing away. Just like it was here own stage. These large flat stones are all over this mountain area of Frederick. The have beautiful grey, blues, and silver colors. They are very light stones making them easy to move.

After the dig out I marked the area and set up string lines. Now you can start to see the large flat stone.

 Foundation bed dug out 3-4" down 24" wide.

Foundation stones placed level with grade (earth) Frames set up middle frame is the top of wall. The wall will be built level across full section. This was built as a protruding foundation. This means the wall will be set back from foundation stones 4". The frames are built out of 1"x4" wood with a 1:6 batter- for every 6 inchs up the wall will come in 1 inch.

Wall build started on right side. Large stone in wall had been placed as a step. I planned on having the wall built on top of it.

Later on the build I started on the left side building up the wall head. The reason for starting at the other end was to have every thing blend into the middle. If you build from one direction you will make your work go quick. But when you get to your other end you will need to come in. Other wise you will find it even harder to find the right size stones.

You will also notice the wall frames spaced out. I space the frames out to a distances which allow me to finish building in a day. The benefit I can see what I got done every day. I also set me string lines level and build to them. As you will notice the earth changes grade just about every where on this job site. Tricky building curves - I freestyle them keeping the frames close to the outer edges not to get in my way.

 Home owner has begun to place plants. All vertical stones place for different visual perspectives from multiple vantage points. More vertical stones and plants will be installed within the months to follow. The home owner has a beautiful touch for plants and natural landscapes. With insperations from New York Central park co designed by Frederich Law Olmsted. Along with Japanese garden design.

Finished Dry Laid Stone wall 34' long x 24" height (average) Butler stone, Red Sand Stone, PA Blue Stone and Historic Cockeysville Marble Stone. Double sided on both ends. Flat cap stones with one large blue local stone for seat. Two vertical stones one on right will be the entrance.

 Four stones act as steps to large stone. Two stones to right had been placed. The other lower two by large stone uncovered.

Wall head 18" height.

 Large local blue stone for seat.

You can not see the beauty of the large Shang shí dŭ yuè  - "Rock upon which to gaze at the moon."

Small wall head reworked after placing original red sand stone. This will be the entrance by walking along curved wall down four steps to Shang shí dŭ yuè Rock. Were you can now site on the large local blue stone to gaze at the moon. 

Project finish date 8/1/11

Thank you V.S. for the opportunity to work around your Shang shí dŭ yuè Rock

How To - Compact for foundation stones

A question was asked about compacting soil. Soils vary from area to area. In my area Marlyand mid east coast. Soil is dense with clay and rock. When digging your bed for the foundation. Remove the sod, topsoil and any organic material.   Digging down 4-6 inch depending on average thickness of your stones being using. Be sure to make your bed level and compact before setting stones. Dig as needed to make adjustments.

I then set my large stones direct on earth. 

I'm able to do this since majority of jobs the soil has never been disturbed. The earth is very hard (compacted) In other cases if I have to add new soil or some kind of aggregate such as 3/4 stone.

I will need a hand tamp or more likely use a gas powered walk behind plate compactor. 

Notes: Plate compactors will have different strengths of compaction. For example 3500lb centrifugal force.  The one I use is rated 3000lb at 5500 vibrations per minute. Think of it as how much force you can apply with your hands pushing down on the ground. Then give it a rating. Some plate compactors even have such features such as water for better compaction with aggragrete. Others have reverse allowing one to walk into a corner and back out. With out having to do a circle. If you us aggregate for your base or new new soil you will need to compact the material to make the bed firm to place your stones. You can rent a plate compactor from the local rental shop.  Plate compactors are simply one of many different types of equipment used for compacting materials. Other equipment used would be  Jumping Jack, Drum Rollers...the list goes on.

Moral of the story if you are walking in 3 feet of fluffy snow with shoes you will sink. If you put snow moccasins on you will float on top. When using large stones for your foundation. They will not be likely to sink into the earth. They will act like snow moccasins and spread the load from above. They will also compact the soil as they settle over time. 

Always use tools and materials to match your needs from region to region. 

100 F Temps Hot as....

Cool off when your working on the job site

a 10 x 10 tent

a large 56 ounce cool beverage

a fan blowing fresh hot air

a radio to take your mind off the heat

a couple of buckets of water to put your feet in. (ok just packing stone)

Sweat wicking clothing and head band (Halo II)

As many of your know the last 2 weeks have been off the charts on the east coast. Nice to  finally get a little rain and see temps in the mid 80's for a change today. Working with a tent is one of the smartest things you could own. I like the 10x10. I picked up this one from Walmart for around $100. Just being in the shade keeps it about 10 degree's cooler. Plus you don't run the risk of over exposure to the sun. The 10x10 is also easy for me to set up and move around by myself every day-a big plus. I really got the fan to help slow down the little black nats that just wouldn't let up. I don't mind spraying my self with OFF every day but the home owner was ok with the use of electric. So I was happy to have the fan.  Really made a difference working in extreme 100 + temps. Every day was a good walling day in such extreme temps.

Hoffmanville Project Pics

I've gathered a few of my pictures to show the work in progress. I always love to see how others work on jobs. I never get much from pictures of finished work. I like to see the journey on how and why stone masons did what they did. It's like reading a book. 

Enjoy

Before! Wow time for a make over!

 Dig out and mark with marking paint. Cut cement patio for foundation stones.

Foundation 3 ft. + wide. Large stones placed on earth. 

Foundation built flat all the way into bank. Not stepped. Packing on foundation to make level.

 Stones placed length into wall. Building to string line - level. Covering joints. 

 Packing stones on the inside.

 Building back up to height of front as I go. String line shows grade (earth which will be covering the wall). Safety note: metal rebar has cover for job safety.

Job site. With a mix of different stones. face, packing, and back side stone. Lunch cooler not to be used in wall.

 Building curve. Notice building from one direction. This helps reduce the likelihood of getting into a corner. Having to find that special stone. Notice also all stones on same level. Except for the red stone by the pole. "Jumper"- this will break up the design giving a nice visual focal point. This style would be called "Coursed Random with jumpers". Course is like building with bricks all on the same rows. It has been said for a retaining wall, Course would have a horizontal running joint. Making a Random with jumpers stronger. The Jumper is a stone which is larger - the stones next to it will have to be 2 (best) or 3 (ok) stacked to reach the top of the jumper. 

Wall frames are built to a 1:5 = for every 5" inches of height I come in 1" inch. (1:5 batter.) You tie your strings to the inside of the wall frames to help you as a guide as you build. Not to touch them. Helping you be level and building to the correct batter. Orange flag to remind me not to hit my head. 

"Three-quarter throughs" since I didn't have 3ft length ties. 2 stones next to each other with over lap. 

Notice the # 9 (or is it a 6) in the red stone? Red stone from old foundation. 

 Building back up as I build front. Corner has rip rap stone for building wall. This will be covered by earth soon.

 Dirt placed on corner to see the grade. 

Wall head being built with rip rap below grade. Tent to keep me cool. Small wall frames set up to help build double sided wall. String line on stake to help show grade level. No point to build a pretty wall if you can't see it. 

 More corner work. Notice to right of wall head lower rip rap wall will be under grade (earth).

Building level to place first step stone.  

 Placing first stone with skid loader. This stone is 4' L x 2' w x 7"  thick. Butler stone weighs 178 pound per cubic foot. Heavy is what I call it!

 Building back to match front stone and level at same time. Then I build up to match first stone.  For second stone to sit on. Blue colored metal stakes help me roll large stones around. Levels I normally only really use the small and 2ft the most. The 4ft is rare to have out. You may have noticed I used a string line bulb throughout the job. Bucket holds my small packing stones.

 Second step - notice level. Dead on the bulb. Man I'm good. ha ha. Build level and your work will be easy. When you have a gauged stone like what I'm working with. 

 Corner stone for the porch. Yes Stone is harder then WOOD!

Thank you for looking. Pictures always tell a story. Feel free to ask any questions or offer any feedback.

Finished Retaining Wall

Foundation Digging

I've been at it again working on a new project - "Little Rock" in Frederick MD.  One of the first steps are digging for the foundation. 

I started with my skid loader to prep the site. Then wrap up with the basic lay out with a hand shovel. Digging about 3" - 4" inchs down. My foundation stones range from 5" - 8" inchs in height. Once I start placing my stones I normally do my last digging with my Rapid Digger. This tool makes my job quick - making placements of each and every stone happy to sit on earth.

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