DRY WALL
A traditional and relatively undemanding construction method is the dry-stacked stone wall
The dry-stacked stone wall has a wide range of uses. It can serve as a retaining wall to prevent slope failure. It is also often used in terraced landscaping. Another option is to create a decorative wall that gives a rustic and natural look to the garden or surroundings.

In the dry, i.e. without the use of mortar, natural stones are layered side by side and on top of each other depending on their shape, size and weight. Suitable materials include granite, rula, quartzite, limestone, sandstone or slate from the surrounding area. In addition to lower transport costs, materials from the nearby area have the advantage of blending harmoniously into the landscape.

The weight of the stones themselves stabilises the wall. Nevertheless, the anchoring of the masonry is very important and therefore the narrowest possible joints, ties (stones that extend further back) and treads, each of which overhangs at least two stones, should be used. Cross joints should be avoided and butt joints should only pass through two courses. It takes a little craftsmanship and perseverance to get a beautiful joint and a wall pattern that gets smaller and smaller towards the top (the stones get smaller and smaller).

Dry stone walls are usually built as retaining walls and are therefore slightly inclined towards the slope. The rule of thumb for wall thickness is that it must be at least 1/3 of the height of the wall. A foundation joint at least 40 cm deep with layered compacted frost-resistant gravel is usually sufficient for the foundation of such a wall. The foundation joint should be slightly wider than the base of the wall. Create a drainage system behind the wall to drain rain and slope water.

The ends and the upper part of the wall are usually made up of cover plates or planting. Because dry stone walls are built leaning, they are somewhat flexible and do not require a concrete foundation. However, this limits the load-bearing capacity of the stone wall. If improperly constructed, dry stone walls can have very low stability and are therefore only suitable to a limited extent as seating walls or stairs. 

Construction can also be very lengthy as each stone is a different shape or has to be carved into shape first. The biggest disadvantage is certainly that dry-laid stone walls are not as stable as mortar walls and are very limited in height.