- 1). Sort through the stones you'll be using for the wall, laying aside any that are fairly flat and as wide as the top of the wall or up to 6 inches wider. Lay these stones beside the wall and estimate if you have enough to equal the length of the wall when they're fitted side by side.
- 2). Split more stones the thickness of the other capstones, if you need more. Splitting is easiest if you're using layered stone with horizontal seams, such as sandstone, slate or shale. Insert a cold chisel or wedge into a natural crack in the rock and pound it farther with a hammer, then place another wedge at another location as the crack widens. Pound the wedges alternately until the stone separates. If you need more capstones and the stone doesn't split easily, select additional ones that aren't as wide as the wall and plan to alternate them among the full-width ones.
- 3). Build up the rest of the wall so the thickness of the capstones will complete the finished height. Arrange the last layer of stones so they're fairly level, but the highest points are toward the outsides of the wall.
- 4). If you're using mortar, spread it with a trowel on top of the last layer of stones for 3 or 4 feet along the wall. Choose a capstone that spans the full width of the wall or hangs over slightly and is either shorter or longer than the first stones, so it doesn't end above a seam. Lay it in place. If you've made the outer parts of the stones the highest points, it should sit firmly without rocking.
- 5). Lay the next capstones beside it, choosing ones that are short or long enough to span the joints of the stones below. Trim off any rough edges with a chisel and hammer, so the capstones fit together. If you use some stones that aren't the full width of the wall, place them so their joint doesn't line up with a joint immediately below.
- 6). Spread more mortar and add more capstones until you reach the end of the wall. Finish the mortar in the joints to match the rest of the wall. If you're building a dry-laid wall, check each capstone to see if it wobbles. If it does, shift the underlying stones to bring their highest points to the outside, or use a hammer and chisel to knock off any unusual bumps, until the capstones lie firmly in place
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