One of the best uses of dry stone walling is in retaining walls. Modern retaining walls are typically made from concrete or timber solid panels or sleepers. These walls block or trap water behind them, giving the front a solid and clean appearance. However, this requires significant engineering to move the water (and hence pressure) away from the wall to ensure its longevity. This engineering often involves agricultural pipeing and geotextile cloth, which adds to the cost of the wall.

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In the past, pressure was relieved by putting "weep holes" in the wall, but this technique is less common today as these holes often fill up and block the water from passing through.

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In a retaining wall made from stone using traditional dry stone principles, water or pressure is relieved throughout the wall. Hence, if built properly, it will "leak" if water builds up behind it, ensuring the wall's longevity. This is not just about stacking stones; the back of the wall must be built correctly to ensure proper proportions for natural filtering. This ensures that the wall will never form a barrier to the earth's natural movements. Properly built Dry Stone retaining walls built thousands of years ago still exist in many parts of the world.

 

Dry stone retaining walls are beautiful as they tend to blend seamlessly into the landscape. They often provide habitat for lizards, frogs, and other wildlife, as well as great places for plants to thrive.