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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Jun 3, 2008, at 8:37 AM, Robert Walton wrote:

> What is a good thickness/ratio of concrete to stones/these are small
> stones mostly/ do I need to reinforce with iron

Reinforcement design depends on height and load resistance.

Rather than full slipform design--see Flagg/Nearing/Kern--I prefer  
using a plywood form at the back and none at the front, so you can see  
how the face stones appear. You will be looking at them for a very  
long time, hopefully.

What I have evolved to is a stone foundation topped at ground level  
with a reinforced footing that includes a mower lip. Near the back of  
the footing have rebar sticking up, into what will become an area of  
more concrete and smaller stones fitted around the rebar, backing the  
biggest, prettiest stones for the front facing.