How to Build a River Rock Wall With Mortar

How to Build a Fieldstone Wall with Mortar This page describes how I built the fieldstone wall on the south side of the house. I used a combination of stacked and coursed fieldstone, stacked stone in the chimney and a very thin mortar (more like plaster – see my explanation at the bottom of this page) to hold it together.

A river rock wall, fieldstone wall and stone wall all have one thing in common.They’ve all been around for hundreds of years. They were built or constructed by hand or with simple tools you can purchase from a hardware store. They are durable, long-lasting and beautiful, and they’ll add value to your home’s exterior and landscaping.

🧱 1. Prepare the Foundation

“Dig a trench about 6 inches wider than your wall. It must be deeper than the frost line … and at least 12 inches deep for a 3‑foot‑high wall. Tamp gravel in the bottom of the trench, then pour at least 8 inches of concrete, topping it off 2 inches below grade.”

⚙️ 2. Dry‑fit First Course

“Dry‑set the first course, starting with bondstones … Lay down stones that fit neatly in between the bondstones. Plan the layout so square stones are set at the corners and flat‑faced ones line the edges.”

🧱 3. Mortar the First Layer

“Spread a generous layer of mortar—at least 1 inch—on the footing. Replace the stones and tap them into place with a rubber mallet.”

🧩 4. Fill Gaps & Check Level

“Fill the gap between the front and rear wythes … Set a 4‑foot level on the stones to make sure they’re close to level.”

⚙️ 5. Pack the Mortar & Core

“Pack mortar into the joints. For any space in the core … add a small piece of stone or rubble … fill the core in layers, adding mortar between layers.”

🧱 6. Build Up in Courses

“Drive stakes … tie mason’s line … dry‑lay the second course … Choose stones that will sit approximately ½ inch below the staked mason’s line.”

🧼 7. Strike & Finish Joints

“When the mortar begins to set up, brush off the excess … once the mortar is firm enough to hold a thumbprint, run a concave jointer over the joints to compact and smooth the mortar.”

✅ Step-by-Step Builder Summary
Excavate & pour concrete footing deep enough to beat frost—about 8″ thick, trench 12″ deep.

Dry-fit the first layer, placing bondstones at ends and corners.

Spread 1″ of mortar, reset stones, and tap them down.

Fill core gaps with smaller stones & mortar, pack layers thoroughly.

Use guide lines and continue building up in tight, level courses.

Finish joints by striking and brushing once mortar sets.

Mortar is the glue that holds stones together as they support a wall or structure. The mortar should be able to flex and move with the stones, so it needs to be flexible. Mortar is made of sand, lime (or cement), water and sometimes other materials.

The part of the wall where you will see the mortar is called the face, and it can be made of stone or brick. The inside part of the wall, which you cannot see from outside, is called the backing. It supports the face and provides better drainage for rainwater.

A wall of stacked stones is a beautiful architectural feature. But if you’re not prepared, it can be an expensive project.

River rock walls are made from rocks of various sizes and shapes that are stacked together to form a wall. They’re not difficult to build, but there are some things to consider before starting the process.

Step 1 – Use mortar to hold stones together

The first step in building a stone wall is to use mortar to hold the stones together. The mortar will fill in any gaps between the stones so they don’t fall out or move when you walk on them. There are many types of mortar available, but all mortars must have water as one of their ingredients. You can choose from cement-based or lime-based mortars depending on your preference and what type of stone you’re using for your project.

Step 2 – Weigh down stones with bricks or wood blocks

If you’re using larger stones such as fieldstones, it’s best to weigh them down with bricks or wood blocks so they stay in place while drying overnight. You can also use stakes or steel rods inserted through holes drilled into each stone before placing them on top of each other for extra support.

The two main ways to build a stone wall without mortar are dry stack and mortared. Dry stack is the easiest and fastest method, but requires that you have a very level base to work with. Mortared walls are more stable and last longer, but they require more materials and tools.

Mortared Walls

For a mortared wall, start by building a sturdy foundation out of concrete blocks or cinderblocks. The foundation should be at least 12 inches thick, with thick enough walls so that the mortar has something to bond to. Then lay out your stones on the ground in the pattern you want them on the wall.

Mix up some mortar (a mixture of sand and cement) in a wheelbarrow or bucket according to package directions, then spread it over the entire surface of one side of each stone with a trowel or putty knife. Press each stone into place so that it sits flat against the foundation and there are no gaps between stones. Use a level to make sure all stones are level with one another before moving on to the next step.

Once all stones have been laid out and leveled, mix up another batch of mortar according to package directions, then scoop it onto one side of each stone using

A fieldstone wall is a functional, beautiful and affordable way to enclose your property. This type of wall can be built without mortar, which makes it easy for anyone to erect. A stone wall can be built on virtually any size lot, and with the right design, it can be the focal point of your garden.

1 Choose the best location for your stone wall. The ideal spot is next to a natural area such as a meadow or forest. If you have no natural areas in your yard, look for an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day

2 Mark off the perimeter of the area where you want to build the stone wall. Use stakes and string or rope to mark off the perimeter. Make sure there is enough room between each stake so that when you place your stones they won’t overlap or touch one another. You’ll need at least two inches (5 cm) between each stone

3 Dig holes along your marked line where you want each stone placed. Make sure they are deep enough so that when you place a stone in them it extends above ground by at least 1 inch (2 cm). Place one pound (0.5 kg) of cement into each hole

How to Build a Fieldstone Wall

A fieldstone wall is a beautiful addition to any landscape. It provides structure, privacy and beauty, but it can also be difficult to build. If you’ve never built a fieldstone wall before, we have some tips and advice to help you get started.

The first thing you’ll want to do is determine what type of material you will use for your foundation. You can choose from brick or concrete blocks, or even use cinderblocks if you are on a tight budget. Whatever you decide, make sure that the blocks are level so that they don’t fall over when the mortar dries.

Once you’ve chosen your foundation materials, lay them in place and begin stacking stones on top of them. The size of the stone depends on how tall your wall will be — for example, small stones can be used for shorter walls while larger ones will be needed for taller ones.

Use mortar between each stone and stack them as high as possible without using any kind of support structure (such as wooden stakes or metal rods). Once all of the stones are stacked in place, seal them with mortar so that they won’t absorb water from rain or snowfall.

I have built a number of stone walls, and I can tell you that the best way is to build one section at a time. You can start with one corner and work toward the other corner, or you can start with one side and work toward the other side, but do not try to make all four sides at once. The reason for this is that each successive row will have to be laid over the previous row, so if you are laying multiple rows at once, it becomes very difficult to get everything aligned correctly.

Build your foundation first. Make sure it is level and straight, then set up your form boards (or “stringers”) to guide where your wall will go. Make sure they are level as well!

Now take some time to determine where each piece fits into the whole puzzle. Some people like to mark every rock with chalk before starting on their wall; others just eyeball it and adjust as needed later on. If you plan on using mortar between each course of rocks (highly recommended!), then now would be a good time to apply some mortar onto your form boards in preparation for adding those rocks later on.

The first step in building a stone wall is to lay the foundation for the wall. The foundation should be level and square and made of concrete or some other solid material. Add a layer of gravel to the base to make it easier to pour the concrete.

The next step is to place your stones in an organized pattern on top of this foundation. Once you’ve done this, you can begin placing mortar between each stone so that they’re firmly attached together. You’ll want to use wire mesh or chicken wire as a frame around your project before you begin laying mortar between the stones to help keep them in place while they dry