[Miller]

Thanks to Jeff for helping me get started.

My inquiry regards the costs of constructing stone walls. These are intended to form the structure of an outdoor maze in a state park area. Stone is desirable as it visually relates to an existing barn foundation in the area, is available, and the area is located in the piedmont section of the state. FYI, most of Delaware is in the coastal plain with no bedrock. The available stone is the local blue granite; a great deal of the material is available from a nearby road improvement project.

These walls should be 5.5 to 6 feet high and thick enough to support their own mass. They will not serve as retaining walls. Some suggestions to date include building a masonry wall with a stone veneer. We realize the walls will require a foundation. There will also be a significant number of gated apertures that can be opened or closed to rearrange the maze's configuration.

The complete maze will likely require hundreds of feet of walls. The alternative, and more likely outcome, is to construct the maze from hedges as is often found in Europe. However, a stone structure will require little annual or even long term maintenance

Any suggestions welcome. Thanks for your help.

Michael Miller

[Paul]

I don't know if you understand how much you will need to do a project like this?......... At 5.5' to 6' high a dry laid wall, the base of the stone would be 4' wide, you would be looking 1.5-1.8 tons of stone per foot of wall...... could it be done sure. I don't know how you would get the stone I would like to see it palletized, mostly flat peices say 3' X 1'- 4' x 4"-12" (W X D X T). It could be installed dry laid but if th public is going to use it I would wet lay it. As far as foundation needed, I would need to see what your sub-soils (soil boreings) are but most likey you are right a poured foundation would be needed so at that point it might be faster and easier to "face" a poured concrete wall. A veneer wall like this could be much thinner and require much less stone but lots more concrete (say 5'-6' of 6" thick wall with 3'-4' of 18" buried)

[Stonehenge]

That will be quite a bit of stone - the ton per lineal foot sounds right. And with a base width of 4' or more, when you consider the width of the pathway you need to have between walls (a minimum of 5'), the scope of this project is becoming monumental. If we're talking about something like the Chartres maze, it's going to have to be at least 230' in diameter, and just the outermost ring of the maze would hold 600+ tons of stone. Total project tonnage might be around 4,300. Project cost for just the stonework (and this is coming from someone who doesn't tackle anything this size, so take it with a grain of salt) would probably break 7 figures.

Again, this is coming from someone who doesn't tackle anything near that size, so take that with a grain of salt.

I think a project like that would be gorgeous, but certainly expensive as well.


Let us know how things progress!

[Miller]

From your comments it appears a veneer wall would be more space and cost efficient. Our goal would be to have an attractive and unique site; the veneer method would meet that goal. From Means construction data, appears that a stone wall would have bare cost $90-$120/lineal foot given that we already have the material. Will have to check costs for concrete wall with stone facing. One method to reduce costs could be to vary the height of various courses, apparently a feature in some mazes. The hedge alternative is attractive only on cost component; site would much more attractive with stone.
Do any have you have experience on such projects on a smaller scale? That may also provide some guidance.
Thanks

[Stonehenge]

Unfortunately, on a smaller scale, that's something we'd have a client call a mason for.

And for clients that want a dry laid, freestanding wall, when they get the price, if I can keep their heart beating long enough, they usually tell me that it's outside their budget.

We're essentially building two walls that are next to and entertwined with each other, and the price reflects that. That reflection is usually too scary for my clients, who then opt for plantings or a wood fence. Shame, because it's beautiful work.

Are you looking for pricing for the mortared version or dry laid?


Jeff

[Miller]

From the comments it appears the mortared version is the only option. Cost is one consideration and space is another. Your comment regarding client's responses to price quotes well taken--same phenomenon occurs with some of our managers, not to mention legislators. As you say, wood fence or plantings seem the alternatives. Wood wouldn't work with this project; plantings will likely be the result.

[Paul]

One way to approach the cost is to look at the maintenance to up keep a hedge like this. Most mazes that are of shrubbery require trimming at least once a week during growing season, some times more, I don't know if they have or will have a full time gardener on hand and are willing to recognize the cost of this person over the life of the maze?