A drystone wall is built using only stone, without the use of mortar, concrete or any other binding material. This type of structures, if built using proper techniques can be as strong as any other wall built using mortar and bricks.
Stones are layered carefully one over other, just like stone pavers are arranged for the making of pathways in the garden or elsewhere. These types of walls are considered as one of the oldest forms of building techniques, proof being various remains around the globe. In the present world, drywalls are generally used for agricultural walling to mark boundaries or keep livestock from wandering into unknown areas.
Drystone has been a successful building technique throughout the ages because of its unique range of benefits. Few of them include:
- Durable: Drywalls are generally made from stones. The walls do not get damaged if they are exposed to severe climatic conditions, like snow, rain or heat. The stones are not damaged and thus the walls last for hundreds of years. Since there is no binding material used for erecting the walls, rains or snow cannot wash away the materials, so the walls stand erectly while mortared walls fall apart.
- Flexible: Various types of stones are used in making of these walls. The walls are completely dependent on the mason skill along with gravitational force and frictional resistance. The walls slide slightly inwards, ground movement locks the structure more tightly together.
- Cost-effective: The arrangement of stones gives them unique strength and can hold the walls for a long period. Cost of building these walls is less, because stones are cheaper than bricks, and there is no cost involved for binding them. If the walls fall apart, they can be easily fixed by an experienced or talent mason.
This natural-looking can be used for building any structure. It's very important to choose the correct type of stone.