This is where the cascading steps will go.
Navajo flagstone and sandstone boulders ready to be put into place.
The biggest sandstone boulders were used at the corners to give the wall stability.
It was a cold, cold day.
In moving the boulders, it was necessary to rent a track loader. We used a track loader rather than a traditional four wheel front end loader to spread the weight of the machine. A track won't tear up the yard as easily.
It is important to build one layer at a time with retention walls. Build the first layer the entire length of the wall, then come back and build the next layer. By doing so, you ensure a solid foundation, a level face, and coerency throughout the wall's structure.
Screenings are poured inbetween the black fabric and stone wall as a support and to prevent dirt from washing away.
Another view of screenings poured behind a boulder.
A layer of the stone wall laid with screend compacted on the backside.
Setting the first stones that the steps will rest on. We used Navajo flagstone approximately 3" thick.
The foundation of screenings used for the steps. We also used black fabric under the steps to keep the screenings from washing away over time.
When shapping a rock, use a point of the chisel instead of the entire blade. This will focus the impact on one point and will prevent the rock from splitting in an uncontroled manner.
The rock wall taking shape.
