Masonry Contractor Tips & Local Guides

Dry Laid vs. Mortared Stone Walls in Wellesley

Choosing between dry laid stone walls and mortared stone walls for your Wellesley, Massachusetts property is an important decision. New England weather can be very tough on outdoor structures. Valley Masonry Co builds both dry laid stone walls and mortared stone walls for homes throughout Wellesley, MA. Dry laid stone walls do not use any mortar between the stones. Valley Masonry Co builds dry laid stone walls using gravity and careful stone placement to hold everything together. This design allows water to drain right through the wall without building up pressure. Wellesley experiences very cold winters with many freeze and thaw cycles. When water gets trapped behind a wall and freezes, it can cause the structure to crack or shift. A dry laid stone wall handles these temperature swings very well because the loose joints move naturally with the ground. Mortared stone walls use a cement mixture to lock the stones in place. Valley Masonry Co constructs mortared stone walls for Wellesley homeowners who want a very rigid and formal look. These walls offer a clean appearance and can be built higher than dry laid walls. However, mortared stone walls require weep holes and proper drainage systems to prevent water from getting trapped behind the mortar. If water freezes inside a mortared stone wall, the mortar can crack and crumble over time. For properties in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Valley Masonry Co is here for all your Stone Wall construction needs.