Dry stone walling : materials and techniques Cover Image

Book

Dry stone walling : materials and techniques / Nick Aitken.

Summary:

"Dry stone walls--the thousands of miles of stone ribbon stretching across the landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales and Cotswolds--use construction methods which have existed for thousands of years. Indeed, dry stone structures in the Orkney Islands and Ireland are even older than the Egyptian pyramids. A dry stone wall is more than a pile of rocks. It is a carefully built combination of specialized stones, each co-operating with the other to create something useful, strong and attractive. No mortar is used. The wall relies on friction and gravity, and the skill of the builder, to keep it together. The basic building principles are easily learned and this book provides step-by-step instructions to develop the skills to build many different types of wall and structure. With nearly 200 photographs and diagrams"-- Publisher description.

Item details

ISBN: 9780719841675
ISBN: 0719841674
Physical Description: 191 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 25 cm
Publisher: Ramsbury : The Crowood Press, 2023.
Copyright: ©2023

Contents / Notes

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-188) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

The Development of Dry Stone Walling -- Types of Rock, Sources and Quantities -- The Basics of Working with Stone -- Laying, Trimming and Securing Stone -- Constructing a Dry Stone Wall -- A Gallery of Wall Types and Bonding Patterns -- Special Circumstances and Obstacles -- Repairing a Gap -- Retaining Walls -- Openings, Arches and Roofs -- Modern Walling: Pushing the Boundaries -- Practical Advice for the Novice -- A Final Challenge.