Yeah, drainage is definitely key—learned that lesson myself after a few frustrating rebuilds. Another thing I've found helpful is using geotextile fabric between layers; it seems minor, but it really helps keep things stable long-term. And you're right about angular rock—way better than rounded gravel for locking things in place. Hang in there, sounds like you're already figuring out the tricky parts... we've all been there!
Honestly, drainage and fabric are great for stone walls, but if you're struggling with lumber walls going wonky, it's probably more about your bracing and leveling technique. Learned this the hard way myself—thought I could eyeball it at first (spoiler: nope). Invest in a decent level and don't skimp on temporary braces. A little extra prep saves a ton of headaches later... trust me, crooked walls haunt you every time you walk by.
Totally agree, eyeballing it is tempting but rarely works out. When we built our deck, I underestimated how much temporary bracing mattered... ended up redoing half the framing. Lesson learned—taking extra time upfront beats fixing wonky walls later.
I get what you're saying about temporary bracing, but honestly, sometimes I wonder if we overthink it a bit. When I built my shed last summer, I started out super careful—measuring everything twice, bracing every wall meticulously. But halfway through, I got impatient and just eyeballed a few sections. Surprisingly, those walls turned out just as straight as the ones I'd spent ages fussing over.
I'm not saying eyeballing is always the way to go (definitely had my share of wonky shelves and crooked door frames), but maybe there's a middle ground? Like, if you've got decent lumber that's not warped or twisted, and you're working on something smaller-scale or less critical structurally, maybe you don't need to go crazy with bracing every single piece?
Also makes me wonder—could the quality of lumber be a bigger factor than we realize? I've noticed huge differences between batches from different suppliers. Some boards practically straighten themselves out once they're nailed in place, while others seem determined to twist no matter how much bracing you use.
Anyway, I'm curious if anyone else has had similar experiences. Maybe it's less about always being super precise upfront and more about knowing when precision really matters versus when you can relax a bit...
"could the quality of lumber be a bigger factor than we realize?"
Definitely agree with this. I've seen firsthand how much lumber quality can affect the final result, especially when working on interior projects. Had a client recently who insisted on sourcing their own wood for some built-in shelving, and honestly, it was a nightmare. Boards looked fine at first glance, but once we started installing them, they twisted and bowed like crazy. Ended up spending way more time (and money) correcting issues than if we'd just gone with a trusted supplier from the start.
I also think you're onto something with the balance between precision and practicality. For things like sheds or smaller DIY projects, obsessing over every brace might be overkill. But when it comes to interior walls or cabinetry—stuff that's highly visible or needs to align perfectly with other elements—taking the extra time to brace and measure carefully usually pays off. Maybe it's about knowing your project's priorities and where imperfections will actually matter?
