Before You Build a Stone Wall: What Every Homeowner Should Know

A stone wall can stand for a hundred years or lean over in five, and the difference is almost always in what you cannot see.

Drainage is everything: water trapped behind a wall and then frozen is what pushes stone out of place. Proper footings below the frost line, gravel backfill, and weep paths keep a retaining wall sound. For garden and feature walls, the stone choice and how each piece is fitted decide both strength and looks.

The short version: hire someone who treats the hidden parts as seriously as the visible face. That is the difference between decoration and masonry.