Stone Building: How to Make New England Style Walls and Other Structures the Old Way

by Kevin Gardner

A practical guide to simple stone building projects for your yard Nothing matches the look and feel of stone structures in and around your home. Yet most people are intimidated by the very thought of masonry, despite the obvious rewards. In Stone Building , Kevin Gardner distills his decades of experience building and maintaining iconic New England–style stone walls into this concise, informative guide. Gardner offers step-by-step instructions for building everything from flagstone walkways to classic patios and ornate fire pits. He also offers time-tested tips to help care for your stone, as well as repair and restoration advice for existing structures. 50 color photographs

160 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2017

Reviews

[Jock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book rocks! It's an excellent description of how to build a dry stone wall — what to do and what not to do. It also includes other structures so is a comprehensive view. The explanation flows well throughout and makes this book an enjoyable read. Great pictures!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been obsessed with dry stone walls ever since reading this. I keep marveling at beautifully built stone walls and have even built my own a 1,5 high by 5 meter length—dry stone wall in my yard recently (it only took me three days).
This book goes deep into the philosophy and aesthetic, perhaps even too deep for some, but it is written with so much passion for this almost seemingly lost ancient art form of using pure stone—the most incredible natural material to build almost anything.
There are many other shorter more instructive books than this one.

[Mila Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin enriches us with all he does!!! I am lucky to have more in-depth understanding of how the stone walls of New England are/were made in different types of fields, and for various purposes. And yes, its relevant to forestry! For example, a field edged in a very carefully and sturdily built double wall is more likely to have been cultivated than one which is hastily edged in a single-stone width of wall. After any trees are removed in New England, land which was cultivated will regenerate different forests than non-cultivated land.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read quite a few books on stone construction. This is the first book I've read that deals with the obtuse issue of the rocks found here in New England - all those bread loaf and watermelon like bowling balls that do not much care to be stacked upon one another. Garner illustrates construction techniques using small stones and miniature walls which to me anyway is quite effective. Definitely worth reading by anyone attempting to use the boulders found on site in New England as is.