When creating a stone wall,
you need to consider the type of texture you want to produce. Wall
texture can vary in degree of smoothness, pattern uniformity, extensions
of the wall surface from the flat plane, uniformity of the individual
masonry units, size of the masonry units, type of binding - dry stacked
or mortar bound.
Silky
smooth uniform stone walls may be made of marble or polished stone. Some
stone wall surfaces may be uniform but not smooth. Concrete walls are
uniform, but the extent of smoothness depends upon how the concrete was
applied and treated. There are techniques for transforming a rough
concrete wall into a smooth one, including applying a thin layer of
plaster or concrete to the surface (parging), sandblasting, or use of a a
grinding or sanding disk. Stucco walls are also uniform and their
texture ranges from smooth to coarse.
Most stone walls consist of joined masonry units (such as stones or brick).
The shape of the individual pieces forming a wall may be uniform or
dissimilar. Masonry units that are ordinarily similar include brick,
manufactured stones, and sets of identical appearing stones that were
harvested from nature. Dissimilar stones may be sets of manufactured
stone that are deliberately made to look different one from another or
else non-matched, natural harvested stone.
Masonry
units such as concrete blocks, manufactured pavers, or flat natural
stones, such as slate, can make a flat surface. Three dimensional wall
surfaces, on the other hand, bulge outward to some extent with
differing patterns of projection. Varieties of wall surface projections
range from rounded, smooth contours created by naturally smooth or
polished natural stones to sharp angular contours created by square
non-uniform stacked stone. Stones harvested from nature make a rugged but not necessarily jagged looking texture (see photo). Some stone walls consist of regular patterns
of semicircular stones that extend out from the surface in a jolly bumpy
pattern.
Stones in a wall
may be stacked (dry stone wall) or connected with mortar. The mechanism
used to join stones will affect the wall’s texture. Mortar , while
primarily used to bind stones, also adds to the wall’s texture.
Sometimes the mortar is placed so as to blend the individual stones into
one uniform surface. Other times the mortar is recessed from the the
stone surface, creating an appreciable texture variation.
What
is the sense in creating a rough wall? It might be for protection, as a
rough wall will be more difficult to climb or it might be for
beautification, as surface textures can be applied in myriad
aesthetically pleasing patterns.
For expert stone wall installation and building in Westchester County call the
Turf Barbers; 914 302 2469 ; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Turf Barbers; 914 302 2469 ; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
http://www.theturfbarbers.com
