Dry laid construction, Butler stone with a mix of PA Blue stone along with local stone from the old wall. Left side retaining wall 3'.5" corner length with a 19'.5" length back to driveway. 8 PA Blue step stones built into both walls. Free standing wall 11' with vertical cheek end. All walls built with a 1:6 Batter. Average height of the walls are 3'. Two tie stones 3' in from corner before steps. Walling style corse with random jumpers. Project time 34 days
The original mortared wall/7 steps were replace with the same design but modified to be much more practical to the space. This old wall was damaged when a 100 year old Beech tree fell over lifting the wall/steps right up.
After weed wacking my work area you can now really see the old wall. The steps were built with mortar the old retain wall was built dry. Which was great since a gas line was directly under the structure. Had this been build wet I would have been a little concerned using any gas or power tools to remove such a wall.
Most of the wall shown in this photo would be covered later with screened fill dirt. You can really see the over all size along with much of the all which will soon be hidden. Cap stones can be best seen in this photo with the angle going up hill to hit top step. My thinking was being a driveway if snow plowed snow would only be push over and down the steps. Since the last cap stones hit the middle of the top step. No Snow being plowed or the plow would catch them. The only possibility would be the top step being moved.
Before photo from back yard. You can really see how the force of a 100 year old beech tree just up rooted these mortared wall/steps.
14" + Flat caps on corner to steps. One flat cap on wall head / Cheek end.
8 PA Blue stone steps feather and wedged. Bottom step #1 being 3' wide with the driveway step # 8 being 4' wide but really making a full landing with the stone total length of 80" seen below. Steps have 6" rise (height) with a 14" tread = very comfortable to walk up or down. The steps extend 112" out.
This photo looking down the steps really shows the left cap stones. The freestanding wall cap stones are 15". You will also noticed in the photo the rain gutter behind the retaining wall. After heavy rain fall I realized that the car port did not have one. Not something I had noticed before. Installing one on the structure would have cost big B$$$k's with the slate roof and no facing to install one. So I figure why not. This was a home owner bonus why because I can. Plus I really felt this one little thing would be a game changer long term with the longevity of the wall. Helping to remove water away from a wall is always a good thing. This part of the project was inspired by the local street drains. Blog: Calade - Dry Laid Road Gutters. Behind the rain gutter (to right) you will notice a PA Blue stone step 5' long by 20" wide. The home owner wanted something other the dirt to step on when they opened there door. The large the stone less chance for weeds to grow under their feet.
With the drain I was sure to have one large stone over hang past the wall in order direct the water out past the wall.
Screened fill dirt, grass seed and straw put down. Most of the new wall now hidden. You can also see the benefit of having a large flat step which matches the driveway when the car door opens. The client can step out onto something safe.
Full wall. I replanted to hostas from the property to help add a little color and height back to the space. In time grass will be sprouting up. The green grass will really make the brown stones pop.
Cheek end with steps.
Freestanding wall from inside.
Retaining wall from inside with steps.
Corner of wall with flat cap stones and tie stones.
A great view from the backyard. I believe each dry laid construction I design and build should fit the space. Otherwise I'm not doing justice to the stone's, myself and the client. This home was built a 100 years ago with craftsmen who took pride in there trade.
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