Front Stone Wall (Part 2)

In late 2009, I started work on the east side of the Front Rock Wall. This was going to be a little rock wall to build up the slope in front of the house and frame the Front Walkways. Figured two weekends, four tops. Took eight months. That pretty much spent my rock walling spirit. Then, during the summer of 2010, we had to put stone walls around the Patio (see Patio Part 2 for that three month saga). Now its time to work on the west side of the front wall. Once this is done, I can get on to non rock oriented projects (like the Machinery Shed and replacement of the Leaning Wall of Timbers).

July 23, 2011. Before. I have 12 tons of crusher run gravel waiting to become the foundation, just like I did on the East End. But there are a few more prep items I have to do.

The Post Light that we put in many many years ago has to move. There is also a family of little rabbits ("bunnys" at this age) right behind the light post. So I dug a replacement burrow for them to move into. Its lots bigger and has room for all three.

The final "before" shot. This shows the slope of the front yard that will be flattened when the wall gets built. The rows of rock will be level like the east wall. More chances to use the machines, including the Dump Truck, the EF-3, and the G-Cart.

The trench next to the stairs. I left some room on the left to hold the tremendous weight of the front walk. That came out right before the gravel went in. Also, you can see the new bunny hovel in between the two marker flags. Three bunnies called it home. Now that they are adolescents, they left home.

Scaped the sod off the top of where the wall trench will go. I've put a little dirt in the Dump Truck. I'm amazed every time I see the volume of dirt that comes from the ground. Its like popcorn - compressed in its native state, fluffy and spacious once its been processed.

Most of the trenchs are excavated - I have a little to do on the far end. Its about 28" deep. Still a little to do at the far end.

Today, July 24. The main job was to remove the spoils and clean up the trenches (anything to keep from having to actually start the wall). Here's I'm midway through cleaning off the dirt on the grass and stowing it in the truck for a long, 50 yd. ride to the goat pasture, where the Machinery Shed will go. I can't imagine doing this with a wheel barrow and shovel. Why? Cause I wouldn't.

July 30, 2011. Filling the trenches after wallpapering them with anti dirt filtration paper. After putting in six inches of crusher run or so, I'd go back with that yellow handled toe crusher and gravel tamper and beat the gravel down. Then go back and put some more gravel in and rake it smooth.

All filled and compacted - ready for walling. But, not so fast, smart planning boy! After thinking about it for a week, I have to see if there is a better place for the wall, now that the crusher run foundation is in and beat down. Here, on August 5, I made my decision to move the wall out. To figure out how far, I cut down some trunks from a nearby tree to lay out a line.Note that that line can't take advantage of the recently dug and beatdown footer.

Since a few trunks were down anyway, I figured I would take down the rest. Here, I cut the right trunks and as it was falling, I put down the saw, went in the house, got the camera, set the focus, cleaned the lens, reset the focus, and took the picture before the trunk fell.

A couple of days later (Aug 7), I dug out the beat down gravel so I could re-excavate new trenches. Later that day, the re-excavated trenches are nearing completion. As the new trench parted ways with the original, I put the spoil into the old trench, keeping a fresh, non-fill wall for the gravel to beat against. I had to use the rest of my dirt filtering wall paper.

Aug 10, I stayed away from the drudgery and fudgery of the workplace. Instead, I rented (but did not pick up) gas powered gravel beater. Then every three or four inches, I'd drive that thing around for 10 or 15 minutes and let it beat down the gravel. Beats especially better than the toe crusher.

Done (for the second time). I have very few excuses for not actually starting to put down stones. I did clean up all the loose dirt and clay that could spill over into the wall zone.

August 14, 2011. The wall officially starts with the corner stone and the base layer. Can't tell from the picture, but the drivewaly falls off about three feet from the foreground stone to the last one down at the end. That creates an especially tough finishing challenge. We'll see how it goes . . .

August 20. Concrete (cheater rock) goes in behind the face rock. What's left of my rip-rap goes in behind.

View on August 21 after putting in the cheater rock. Nice thing about this phase is that I can keep the rocks on the back side of the work. No more pallets in the road to stop the Fedex trucks..

Junior and I sitting at a gigantic, 40 year union comemoration party jammer in the north country, the mother country of rock supply. I reflect on rock layout and juxtaposition, while Junior contemplates nail colors and topcoat application.

September 11, 2001, the 10th anniversary of a horrfic day in American History. It is also 11 days following the start two years ago of the East End of the Front Wall. I'd guess I'm now about even progress wise. I started this one earlier, but have spent less time on it. I have managed to finish off one pallet of materials and about 4800lbs of cheater rock.

Here's about 1200lbs of cheater rock, all poured and formed. Note the little rod of steel that carries electricity through the wall and provides tensile strength. I'm placing those every six or eight inches. Also note how I'm widening the wall to give me plenty of flat at the top.

This is the western corner turning back into the yard. There is a drain pipe under the wall to take away the collected water and other liquids that will drain in the four or five tons of gravel I put behind the wall. You may also notice a substitute rock.

October 10 and the leaves are changing. Compared to the East Side, I've fallen way behind the pace. One reason may be my need for overkill. Part of that trait is shown here. If a little concrete between the front and back sides is good, then more is better. It costs me about $100 for every 2" of vertical height.

So, on November 5, I decided to take the true English Castle approach: Fill the middle of the wall with rubble and concrete instead of just concrete. It might make it stronger (or weaker) and gives me a place to put all the extra rubble. Plus rubble is $80/ton cheaper than concrete bags and a lot easier to dump!

Finally, the corner by the walkway. To this point, I have only worked on the downhill slope. Now I'm level so I can start the walk side. Once the wall is done, I'll take up the slate on the bottom stair and straighten out that angle.

Now its November 13. Looking from the west side curve. This is where the wall will stop. From here, there will be timbers that go across towars the house. This hole will be filled in with gravel and anything else I want put away forever.

Here's what I mean about the slope. This end is nearing about 30 inches. The end near the walkway is eight inches. That's 22 inches of drop I had to flatten out. The substitute stone is about halfway up.

Still November 13. This is the type of rock I get to work with. Odd shapes and sizes with rarely a square or flat edge. You can see where I was using a form for the concrete until I went back to using rubble for the edges.

December 24, 2011 - The wall is put away for a long winter's nap (or until a warm day comes along). Then, I'll place some more rocks. Note the stump on the right is getting shorter and shorter as I test the rebuilt chainsaw.

All the usable rock is stowed behind the wall. I may place some of it and clean up the back. Then I'll dump the gravel over there in front of the F250 over those pipes in case we get Snow like we did in 2010.

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