Stone and boulder retaining walls
Natural stone walls and terraced garden beds that look like they belong on a mountain lot.
Stone walls suit Asheville's setting, from old fieldstone walls on older properties to boulder walls holding back a new driveway cut. They can be dry-stacked, with no mortar, or set with mortar over a concrete footing.
Dry-stacked or mortared?
- Dry-stacked stone lets water drain through the face and flexes a little as the ground moves. It suits garden walls and terraces of moderate height.
- Mortared stone looks more formal and is often a veneer over a concrete or block wall. It needs weep holes and drainage behind it.
- Boulder walls use large stones set by machine. They can hold back cut slopes and look natural, but they need access for heavy equipment.
Terracing a slope
Several shorter walls stepped up a hill are often more stable, and easier to permit, than one tall wall. Terraces also give you level planting beds and paths.
Matching an old stone wall
If you're repairing an older fieldstone wall, ask the contractor whether they can source stone that matches in color and shape.
The contractor prices the wall after walking the site, checking the slope and soil, and talking through what you need. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Are boulder walls strong enough for a driveway?
They can be when designed and built for the load, often with an engineer's input for taller walls. Ask the contractor how the wall will be sized.
Is a stone wall more expensive than block?
It depends on the stone, height and access. Natural stone and boulders often cost more in labor and equipment, but prices vary.
Related services
More background: Asheville retaining wall guide.
Wall leaning, cracking or a slope that's moving?
Call now and a local retaining wall contractor will look at it and quote the work.