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asadamr · Apr 23, 2009, 12:39 PM

WE are building a house where the first 5 feet above ground would be stone (dry stack). The builder tells me it is better to have it Semi dry stack. What is the difference? The sone thickness is 4 to 6 inches and the width vary. We are usinf Kansas Prairie blend stone

ballengerb1 · Apr 23, 2009, 12:42 PM

We need way more details about this home. I have worked on homes for over 45 years and have never heard of a dry stacked stone house.

asadamr · Apr 23, 2009, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

We need way more details about this home. I have worked on homes for over 45 years and have never heard of a dry stacked stone house.

The walls of the house are stone (dry stack-- where the mortar does not show up and stucco . The height of the stone wall is 5 feet except in the front where the stone goes to the top of the first floor. Else where above the stone we specified stucco.

21boat · Apr 23, 2009, 01:46 PM

Not only have I heard of it " Dry Stacked stone" I been laying it for 30 years.

In my area the actual real " Dry stacked stone" with no mortar was an laid in an earth embankments for food crop storage for the farmers to use. The natural refrigeration system. The alcove walls had no mortar in the walls. The stones where gathered through out the years from there fields as they plowed them. Those stones where used to make walls between properties and earth embankment food storage.

Now the newer version of dry stacked is actually called "shadow rock" in my area. It's a split face natural rock we have here. You can lay in on its 4" side for stone veneer or turn it on its side for the Dry stack / Shadow Rock look as we call it in the trade

When you lay the dry stacked look you tilt the rock as you stack it so water runs out of the wall.

Place some mud/mortar in the back 2" 2 1/2" inches of the wall and lay the stone . The mortar helps make the slope for water run off and stops wind driven rain getting behind the façade.

ballengerb1 · Apr 23, 2009, 02:38 PM

Dry stack fence yes, house no. Shadow rock I have seen. Around here most contractors use a dark mortar to help make it disappear in the shadow. I think I was taking the posters words too literally.