Stone is cost-effective and simple to install.
Stone veneer is the less expensive choice for giving your home that wonderful look and feel of natural stone. Stone veneer costs only half as much as natural stone, is easier and faster to install, and because it weighs about 75 percent less than stone, eliminates the need for foundations. Stone veneer can be applied over any masonry surface, brick, concrete block or wood and is available in a variety of colors.
Instructions
Prepare the Wall
1. Clean the wall surface to which the stone veneer is being applied and allow it to dry.
2. Clean the back side of the veneer pieces to ensure they're free of dust and dirt particles.
3. Apply two layers of external weather-resistant moisture barrier such as standard asphalt felt paper, fiber board and house wrap or a commercial waterproof barrier to the outside wall. If the structure is wood, most building codes require Grade D waterproof paper.
4. Cover the entire wall with 3.4 grade expanded metal lath and overlap the joints, securing it with 1 1/2- to 2-inch nails. When covering an existing wood structure, place the nails at 6-inch intervals in every direction, ensuring the nails go through all existing studs. Overlap the joints at corners. Don't leave lath seams at corners. Overlap at least 2 inches on horizontal seams and 6 inches on vertical seams. Cut the lath using tin snips, keeping it tight.
5. Apply a scratch coat of rich mortar (two parts washed sand to one part Portland cement) over the metal lath. Ensure the lath is completely covered with a coat approximately ½ inch to ¾ inch thick.
6. Scrape horizontal grooves in the scratch coat with a metal scraper. Allow the coat to cure.
Prepare and Apply the Stone Veneers
7. Mix rich mortar to a thick, creamy texture similar to whipped potatoes. Mix no longer than five minutes.
8. Place the stones on the ground in a pattern to fit the wall and determine if any stones will require cutting to complete the finished wall application.
9. Clean the backs of the veneer pieces to ensure they're free of dirt and debris.
10. Apply the stone veneer beginning at the top of the wall, working your way toward the bottom.
11. Apply rich mortar with a trowel onto the wall approximately ½ inch thick.
12. Dampen the back side of each stone. This frees any dust that has accumulated and prevents moisture loss from the mortar.
13. Apply a thin coat of rich mortar to the back side of the stone to fill in any pits and create a stronger bond between the stone and the wall.
14. Press the stone into the mortar while rotating the piece slightly. This will force some of the mortar to squeeze out. Mortar squeezed out beyond the finished joint or onto the surface of the stone must be removed with a trowel, brush or joint tool before it cures.
15. Fill the grout bag and fill all the joints. As the mortar sets, tool to the desired depth and brush away the excess.
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