One way is in a cement mortar on a concrete base the other, a more simple way, is in Stone Dust. There are two basic ways of laying or setting “flagstone”.
As the mortar stiffens, tool to the desired depth and be sure to brush off all excess. Use a grout bag or trowel to fill all joints. Narrow joints will provide a nicer appearance. Stone veneer is a great option for homeowners who want to add a sleek, natural look to their homes. Any mortar forced out beyond the finished joint or on the stone surface itself must be removed with a trowel, joint tool, or brush before the mortar is allowed to set up. You can put a stone veneer over concrete or cinder block surfaces. Press stone into mortar, rotating slightly, forcing some of the mortar to squeeze out freely. This fills in pits and rises in stone and created a stronger bond with the wall. Typically GenStone is to be installed over minimum 7/16 wood sheathing (for screw holding power). The frees any dust and again prevents moisture loss form mortar.Īpply thin coat of rich mortar onto backside of stone. Tip 1 Choose the right installation surface. Take clean stone and slightly dampen the backside. Trowel rich mortar on wall approximately 1/2″ thick. For cleaner installation, begin applying stone at the top of the wall and work toward the bottom. You’ll fill the area between the corners with flat panels. This prevents the wall from pulling the moisture from the mortar, allowing it to set up both naturally and with a better bond. To calculate the number of universal corners to order, measure the height in inches of each outside wall corner, as shown, divide by 16, and round up to the nearest whole number. If surface is dry, dampen first with a masonry brush but do not saturate. Make certain surface is free of dirt, sand, or loose particles. Mix rich mortar (2 parts sand to 1 part cement) to a creamy consistency similar to whipped potatoes.ĭetermine if stones will be laid out on ground to the desired fit prior to installation, of if trimming is required to complete finished application. This is now a masonry surface to which the thin veneer may be applied using the following steps: Use a metal scraper or small scrap of lath to lightly rake horizontal grooves in the scratch coat. Proper fastener spacing and penetration is critical. In the summer months, paperbacked lath must be protected from the sun and extreme heat to prevent the glue that attaches the paper to the lath from melting. Make certain lath is covered completely with a thin coat (1/2″-3/4″ thick). This can cause cracking in the manufactured stone veneer at the lath joint. Apply a scratch coat (2 parts sand to 1 part cement) to lath.
If it is difficult to remove paint or if surface is of frame construction, nail metal lath to wall securely, 6″ on center, (for exterior, vapor barrier first, then metal lath). Painted surfaces must be sandblasted, or otherwise stripped of paint. Stone veneer may be applied over any masonry surface, concrete block, brick, cement, etc.