How to Build a Sitting Wall With Pavers

Dig a 6-inch-deep trench the length of the wall. Make the trench 1 inch wider and 1 inch longer than the finished wall size.

Pour 3 inches of crushed stone paver base into the trench. Tamp it down solidly using a hand tamper tool. Check that the base is still level after tamping. Add additional paver base and tamp in place as necessary to keep the entire trench level.

Lay 1 inch of stone dust over the paver base and rake it level. Measure the remaining depth of the trench to ensure it is half as deep as the paver stone height.

Place the first paver stone in the trench and tamp it into place with a rubber mallet. Set a carpenter's level on top to ensure the stone is flat and level. Place the next stone flush to the first and repeat the tamping and leveling process. Continue laying stones until the first tier is in place.

Fill in the trench gap on either side of the first stone tier with stone dust. Pack the dust down by stepping on it.

Lay down two lines of masonry construction adhesive down the length of the first tier of the wall, using a caulking gun. Apply the adhesive over no more than two or three stone lengths so the adhesive doesn't dry before you set the stones in place.

Install the second tier of stones. Start with a half stone so the joints between the stones are staggered on each tier of the wall.

Build up the wall, using the adhesive to hold the stones in place and staggering the joints, until the wall is 6 inches shorter than the desired height. A standard sitting wall sits 18 to 24 inches tall once completed.

Place the capstones on top of the wall, securing them with adhesive. Use stones wider than the wall stones or turn rectangular wall stones perpendicular to the wall so they overhang the wall by a few inches. Stagger the joints when installing the capstones just as you did with the rest of the wall.