[davemac]

I'm building a retaining wall 100' long and 3' high out of armourstone- limestone quarry stone about 2' high and wide weighing about 800lbs each. I'm not sure what base I need under this wall. I was thinking of a crusher run base of about 10". The wall will be backfilled with 3/4 clear gravel and a perforated weeper for drainage. Any thoughts on the base?

[Stonehenge]

10" should be fine. You could go less if you wanted. 6" is pretty standard. Sounds like a fun wall project.

Never heard it called armourstone though. Must be a geography difference.

[dan deutekom]

Jeff it must be a regional thing. I have never heard it called anything else but armourstone.

[lasting impress]

Must be a Canadian thing, cause we also call it armourstone

[Stonehenge]

Interesting.

So I did a quick bit of Googling, and have some anecdotal information:

The Miller Group would appear to be one of the larger suppliers of stone to the construction industry in Canada.

The Miller Group owns the Brechin Quarry, from which it says it quarries their "armour stone."

A Natural Resources Canada (the Canadian version of the DNR?) lists the Brechin Quarry as one that mines limestone.

So armourstone is limestone. In looking for some info on how armourstone got it's name, my theory from the things I read is that large limestone rip-rap (or similar) was/is used to protect land structures on shorelines from erosion damage, providing the land masses "armour" against the forces of the water. Over time, it became synonymous with limestone. Like Kleenex is to tissues.

So one of the stone's uses usurped the stones name.

Here's an interesting link, though it looks like it was written with a 3rd grade audience in mind. (And they call it "dolostone," which is most likely dolomitic limestone.) http://saltthesandbox.org/rocks/limestone.htm

Sorry to get all stone geeky.

If others have more input on the base question, please chime in.

[scl]

It must be November in northern Wisconsin

[Stonehenge]

Funny thing is, I'm crazy busy.

Maybe I'm just looking for diversions.

[ianc]

I live 5 minutes from the Brechin quarry - bad rock..........
even over at jimmyD - stay away from Brechin limestone - if the OP is in Caldonia look at Clappison corners (guelph) limestone

To answer the original question: 10" is more than adequate for the base = on a 3' wall - 2 lifts 0f 20" you will be good

is this a homeowner or contractor

[davemac]

We get our armourstone from either Lafarge or Dufferin in Flamborough. They have a very good selection. This job is for a developer in his new housing project. I'm looking to use 20"-24" stone with half the first course buried and one more on top.

[neversatisfiedj]

They just built one of these walls on the show Holmes on homes.

[fakie99]

davemac,

you shouldn't need any more extensive a base than you'd do for a patio, unless the subsoil is very poor/spongy. also, i'm not sure why you'd need perf pipe behind for drainage. i suppose it could be considered good 'insurance', but outcropping stone, unlike SRW, has very little chance of stopping water behind it and creating hydrostatic pressure. i rarely use them with natural stone retaining walls.

jim

[Squizzy Taylor]

In so far as DownUnder and parts of the British Isles I have worked; "ArmourStone" is the term apllied to the usage and size of stone. That is, Armourstone is used to make breakwaters, seawalls and high wear areas where a large boulder is required to protect something. The actual type of stone is really geographical but usually Granite or Limestone. Sometimes, as in Dubai, smaller armourstone (1' or less) is wrapped in sacrificial steel or kevlar mesh for intial stablisation and to provide a backing onto which to place the larger armourstone. Armourstone is typically 3' or more and placed with a large, usually long reach, excavator.

Thats what I understand anyways...

[Raj Venugopal]

I am a geologist's son and landscaper, and I can't find a decent supplier of armourstone in New Brunswick. You guys are lucky to have access to it.

[Rigbes Quarry]

Hi... we are a supplier of armourstone in Ontario. I can ship to you. Our prices are fair and we have a large invetory of product. Our sizes range from 8" to 40" high, our limit is only what you can unload.

We have shipped all over Ontario, Quebec and MI.

Please contact my Sales Rep @ Rigbe's Quarry - Rigbe's Quarry

[H-hour]

I just don't know why people can't call something by what it is. First time I heard that term also, we always just called it limestone. Course, I'm from WI also, maybe we just like to keep things simple around here