Flat Rock Wall

[zinkjo]

I've been asked to provide an estimate for a flat rock wall. The customer showed me the style of rock she would like. It is basically about 3" high and comes in various shapes and is almost white in color. Not sure what the technical name for the rock is. Anyway, the wall is 45' long and averages about 18" high. I spoke with a local block company and they gave me a price of $200 per pallet. A pallet covers about 20' with a 1' high wall.
Does that price seem in the ballpark or should I do some more shopping?
I've done quite a bit of paver installs, but never a flat rock wall. Any good sites for install techniques? I am assuming I need a 3" base of compacted QP to make a nice sturdy, flat base. As far as estimating time I see 2 people 10 hours each. Does that seem about right?

Thanks for any advice. I will post the pictures when it is complete.

[sheshovel]

Nice sturdy flat and WIDE base a bit wider than the top.Have no idea of prices of rock in Jersey are and can't tell ya about hours unless you provide the following info,how close will the pallets be to the wall site?Is the site level already?on a slope?are you including building the base layer and compaction in that 2-people 20 hour guestimate?Don't forget your mark-up on the rock....
Just remember,when you do a project for the 1st time it will almost always take you longer than you think.

[zinkjo]

Pallets will be within 25 feet of the wall. Site is on a slight slope. Corner of the wall will be 18" high down to only about 6" high on the far end. Yes the base layer and compaction are in that guestimate. thanks for your time and help.

[sheshovel]

I think you need to bid it at a one price not hourly bid.45'wall on a slight slope,material fairly close,18" high on one end going down to 6" high at the other end I'd say 1500.00 for 2 stone wide.plus materials

[o-so-n-so]

Are you doing a "natural rock" wall or a retaining wall made with concrete blocks?

[zinkjo]

It's a dry stack wall. The rock is mostly flat. Each piece about 2 to 3" high.

I only have about a day and a half to get the job done with a crew of 2. We are pretty busy right now and the customer needs it done ASAP. I basically want some assurance that I can get it done in a 14-16 hour window. Let me see if I can get a picture to give you a better idea.

[nocutting]

Hi, is this a "decorative" wall?, will it be free standing? Mortor-less? or backed up with dirt [ as in a raised bed], either way the foundation is important, and the selection of "cap stones" is as well important to keep water from gettin in between & freezein in the winter............Will you be use-in stone shims to balance the layers?............We pay $185 for Pa wall stone here, sounds similar.

[nocutting]

Hi, about priceing......Installing natural stone walls is an artform & should be charged for!...I did a 1-pallet job, the bed was irregular it measured 6ft x 2.5ft x 7.5ft x 3ft, its height was 2ft on 1 end & 1.5ft on the other.I used a yd of fill[ give or take] & it took me a 12hrs to install. [ remember all the stone isnt perfect ]the waste rock was also used for fill.....I doubled my pallet price to $ 375, charged for delivery $50.00, & labor to install $1200......as a "Nice jester" I added "Hens & chicks" between some of the layers of stone.......Again this is a speciality, personally I would charge about $3500 for the job you discribed?....Good Luck :)

[o-so-n-so]

I think the price mentioned by "nocutting" is pretty close. Start to finish.
If your lacking the experience on this type wall...you will be pushing the time limitations to the max. Just don't hurry and try to finish because the customer is jumping up and down. Educate them on what it take to construct such wall and take your time...

[zinkjo]

Here is a digital image of what the "after" should look like. It's a little fuzzy but it should give you a good idea of the rock wall.
Current quote I am working on is the following:
Cobblestone --- 75.00
Hosta --- 65
Wall --- 1,451
Spirea Anthony Waterer -- 80
Mulch -- 90
Fill --- 60
QPS Base -- 140

[sheshovel]

Thought you said it was 45' long ?Why use the two different materials with the existing brick?This will give it an unbalanced "Busy" look.Well nocutting if you charged $100.00 an hour for your 12 hour job and I suggested $1500 for his larger job and two guys.Labor only wall only the stacked one at 45'and two stone wide,I guess were almost on the same page aren't we???

[zinkjo]

The wall is 45' long. The picture is a bit deceiving because it wraps around and connects back to the house.
The customer liked the look. Are you saying I should use the same wall material on the corner bed. Not sure how that would look because it butts up to the walk way. I'll play with the picture a bit and see how it comes out.

[sheshovel]

Well yes and so butt the other one up too it too then,why leave a gap?You will have to fill some soil in and replant it anyway why leave a place for your soil to fall out of? I would round the bed out too and curve it around the house so it's more in keeping with the other side..I'm low on the bid I gave you better make it $1700.00 that's labor for the wall only.

[zinkjo]

Here is a picture (not the greatest, still trying to learn ProLandscape) of having a rock wall around the corner bed instead of the cobblestone border.

When installing the big wall (left side of the walkway) it will slope from 18" to 4" by the house. How do I dig the footing? I figure I will start where it will be 18" and dig down an additional 3" for the QP base. But when the ground starts to slope do I step the base? I would think only about 2-3" of the wall should be below grade.

[Popper357]

you should use existing materials for the walls, either brick or concrete blocks. This will give the completed site unity and look good after the initial "wow" wears off. Unless the customer has been informed and still wants this natural stone. Can't argue with the sponsor

Thought I'd chime in,

[zinkjo]

Any thoughts on how to do the footing for the wall that is on the 18" to 4" slope?

[Popper357]

Dig an 18inch wide, ten inch deep footing, fill with gravel and compact, then use buckshot gravel to top it off, set your stones six inches behind the front of the footing, ofset the stones toward the house. Use drainage at bottom geo fab between gravel and backfill and grid halfway up the four foot height.

Might check with others for more ideas

[zinkjo]

Does the footing have to be level? If yes then I will be burying quite a few of the stones at the high end. I'm thinking I have to do the footing in level steps.

[zinkjo]

Never Mind :-(
Met with the customer today. Sold her on the job. She said she just needed to run it past her hubby. Well just got a call a few minutes ago and she said sorry, but hubby felt it was too expensive. Estimate was $2,600 for rock wall 54' long and an avg about 12" high.

[sheshovel]

HMMMMMMM!oh really