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STONE WALLS
Drystone / Drystack Stone Walls
Flat stones laid tightly without cement. This is an old-world technique that takes years to perfect. In addition to being visually pleasing, it works well in situations that require good drainage and it adapts to long-term seismic activity common in the Pacific Northwest. The styles can vary based on the material chosen, from a relatively uniform layer height to a mix of large-to-small pieces. The tops of these walls can be either a continuation of the wall material or else slabs of cut stone forming a kind of lid or bench top, ie. stone tread slabs.
Stones are mortared onto a core structure of either poured concrete or cinderblock, including a poured and reinforced slab footing below ground level. This method is often chosen where higher structural loads or taller walls are required. In the case of veneered concrete structures the available surfaces include:
- Stone Cladding
(thin or full-thickness)
- Brick
- Tile
- Stucco
And of course we can also cover existing wall structures with stone if they are structurally sound enough.
Stone Masonry Walls
Rock boulders and random rubble are used to construct retaining walls that tend to be more quickly assembled. The material is much less expensive than what is used for dry stack walls and much of it is sourced locally. Taller walls can be built using large rocks over 300 lbs. put in place using heavy machinery. Also called “Rockery Walls” they are understood to be more functional than decorative and are commonly used throughout the Seattle area for slope stabilization. . More small-scale walls can be done where heavy machinery can't go; if specified, these smaller walls can also be made to fit more tightly for a more decorative look.
Landscape Stone Walls
Interlocking Block Walls
Precast Concrete Wall Systems are a popular and cost-effective choice these days; multiple manufacturers supply them locally including Mutual Materials, Allen Block and Belgard. Each supplier carries a variety of styles along with specialized capping and corner pieces. The blocks are stacked on a prepared base of crushed rock and backfilled along with the proper drainage considerations. This type of wall works well for retaining walls raised planters where you need high strength without sacrificing planting area, ie. less wall thickness needed.
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STONE STEPS
Natural Stone Steps
Raw slabs of naturally flat stone are brought in with machinery and placed to form overlapping steps. These are also called “stone stair risers”, and some of the types available are made using a giant stone saw and are sometimes given certain finishes. Natural stone steps can often be put together in a fairly short time, most of the cost being in the materials and machinery used. They are set in and backfilled with crushed rock, held in place with gravity. The look it provides is grand and impressive.
Drystack Stone Steps
Flat pieces of stone are stacked in layers to form the risers which will support the tread stones. Tread stones are the caps of each step which you walk on, and there are multiple varieties of these rectangular slabs of stone created just for this purpose. This combination of layered riser stones and tread slabs is very visually interesting, and is a perfect solution in instances where difficult access prevents the use of machinery as the pieces can be carted in by hand.
Stone Masonry Steps
We build concrete stairs, though only with the intention of applying an exterior veneer. Veneers available include:
- Stone Cladding
(thin or full-thickness)
- Stone Treads
- Brick
- Tile
- Stucco
- Limewash Paint
New stair structures are built with proper structural considerations like steel reinforcement and proper base material and drainage. The rise and run of the stairs is carefully calculated to allow for safe and comfortable use.
Interlocking Block Steps
Precast Concrete Retaining Wall Systems are a popular and cost-effective choice and there are ways to use them as stair material. In some cases we have used the larger block varieties by themselves for the simplest version of this while in other cases we have done a riser + tread construction, sometimes even using Natural Stone Tread material instead of concrete. Either way, care is taken to make sure there is full support under these blocks to ensure optimal structural integrity.
Stone Walls
Drystone / Drystack Stone Walls
Stone Masonry Walls
Landscape Stone Walls
Interlocking Block Walls
Stone Steps
Natural Stone Steps
Drystack Stone Steps
Stone Masonry Steps
Interlocking Block Steps
Walls & Steps Full Gallery
Walls & Steps Full Gallery
Stone Walls & Steps in Seattle
Design, Construction & Craftsmanship
Shepherd Stoneworks is a contracting company operating in Seattle, including Bellevue and surrounding communities. With over 22 years in business in the region, we have built a reputation constructing high-quality stone retaining walls and stone steps.
Structural integrity is just as important to us as esthetic beauty, qualities which make our walls and steps a valued and ageless treasure in any landscape.
Below is an overview of the wall and step systems we design and build, with guidance on where each method is most appropriate.
Table of Contents:
Drystone / Drystack Stone Walls – mortar-free walls using gravity and friction
Stone Masonry Walls – mortared stone over reinforced concrete cores
Landscape Stone Walls – boulder and rockery walls for natural grade changes
Interlocking Block Walls – precast concrete units of varying styles and colors
STONE STEPS
Natural Stone Steps – large slabs of flat rock made into overlapping stairs
Drystack Stone Steps – stacked stones with flat cap treads
Stone Masonry Steps – custom masonry stairs of tile and stone
Interlocking Block Steps – precast blocks arranged into stairs
Walls & Steps Full Gallery
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