Natural Stone Walls, Steps, Patios & Walkways

Natural-Stone walls are the oldest and longest lasting type of retaining walls. Man has been building walls and fences of stone since he first build any kind of structure. Stone was readily available in most places and was strong and durable.

Stone is still used today to build retaining walls. Stone gives a natural look and is often used to match stone veneer used in home exterior walls. Natural stone is probably the most expensive type of retaining wall. The cost of the material is generally the highest per square foot. Most stone wall material is cut out of a quarry and cut to size to be used for retaining walls. This makes the cost higher than other wall materials.

Natural Stone Walls also have some limitation. Most stone retaining walls are dry stacked (no mortar is used to set the stone) so they have limited strength. Dry stacked walls can only be a few feet high, as they cannot restrain much load. Dry stacked walls can restrain moderate loads but they are used more for their decorative look than their strength.

Natural stone is used for low retaining walls and is popular for planters, garden walls and edging. For taller stronger walls, a stonemason would be required to set the stone in mortar.

A more common use for natural stone in landscaping today is to use large flat pieces of stone as stepping-stones, for patios and stairs. They provide a decorative natural look for a more formal look.