Adhered Stone Veneer Archives - Native Custom Stone

Go Stone Makes DIY Stone Projects Easier

Have you heard of Go-Stone yet? If you are planning any DIY projects with stone elements in them then you owe it to yourself to read more at www.HomeDepot.com. It is an Eco friendly stone panel system that was created specifically for the “Do it Yourself” crowd.

Go-Stone requires very few tools to install and it is created almost entirely from recycled materials. It is not recommended for outdoor use but Go-Stone is perfect for projects like:

Kitchen back splashes
Fireplaces
Accent walls
Bathrooms

Go-Stone is:

Light weight – Compared to standard building materials of its type, Go-Stone is incredibly light. This makes it very safe to work with and a lot easier for a single person to install.
Easy to install – Some building materials like natural stone require a hefty investment just to get the tools you will need for installation. Go-Stone doesn’t require any mortar to keep it in place or grout to fill in the cracks. A quick trip to your local hardware store will get you the few simple tools you need to create a finished professional look.
Environment friendly – The material is made from a special blend of crumbled rubber that started life as a tire. For every five squares of Go-Stone that you purchase you will be removing one old tire from an overburdened landfill. Considering that 242 million tires are thrown away per year in the United States and fewer the 7% are recycled, it is a great way to make a difference in your environment. Plus, you get a really professionally looking new design element for your home.

This innovative stone panel system will be available in three colors and it will have compliments like electrical surrounds and water table. With a product like this, even people with no experience in home repair will have the ability to improve the look of their home with stone. Go-Stone is available online at HomeDepot.com nationwide, contact Native Custom Stone today to find out more about this revolutionary new product.

How to Remove Mortar from Manufactured Stone Veneer

Manufactured stone veneers have become a very popular project for do it yourself homeowners. The stone adds elegance and rustic charm to everything from your fireplace to the outside of your home. Since it basically amounts to sticking rocks in mortar, building a manufactured stone veneer seems like it would be very easy but it can go wrong quickly. A veneer can be ruined by things as simple as:

Accidentally wiping mortar that’s still wet
Getting excess mortar onto the stones surface
Overly humid conditions
Incorrect stone placement

Once the stones are in place, it can be a chore to remove mortar from them without damaging the stones. However, if you do make a mistake and need to remove your mortar, it can be done in seven easy steps:

Gather the equipment that you will need for the job: water, dish detergent, two stiff brushes that are not wire and rags.
If the mortar is still fresh then you must wait for it to dry completely. In most situations a full day and night will be needed to thoroughly dry fresh mortar.
Mix up a warm water and dish detergent solution. The only trick to this step is that you cannot have bubbles in the mixture so keep mixing until all the bubbles disappear. Set it aside for now.
Using one of your stiff brushes, start wiping it across the mortar that you need to remove from your manufactured stone. It may help to put the brush at an angle so you are wiping at the contact point between the mortar and the manufactured stone. Try to get as much of the mortar off as possible during this step.
Use one of the rags to remove all the dust that has been accumulated on the stones surface.
Take your second brush and dip this one into your water and dish detergent mixture. Use the same technique as before to remove the rest of the mortar and give the other parts of the exposed stone a good scrub while you are there.
Now give the stone another once over with regular water and look for any residual mortar. It has probably all been removed at this point but if you can still see some just repeat step five again.

5 Steps for Creating a Custom Stone Veneer Accent Wall

Manufactured Stone has always been a popular building material because it gives a home a natural look and is more cost effective than natural stone. If you have the budget it is always best to let a professional construct your veneer for you but if you are comfortable working with your hands, it is possible to just do it yourself as well.

Before you get started you will need to gather up a few tools and materials like a trowel, mortar mix, metal lathe, 2 inch galvanized nails, plastic moisture barrier, stone veneer, hand rake, wire brush, a hammer and sand.

Once you have everything gathered up you are ready to start with step one:

Secure a plastic moisture barrier over the surface of the wall that will be your veneer. It is best to use painters tape in case you need to make adjustments or move the barrier. Next you will need to use the galvanized nails to secure the metal lathe to the moisture barrier. Try to keep the nails 6 inches apart and try to hit the wall studs as much as possible.
Read the mortar package then mix the sand and mortar accordingly. This will create a cement mixture that you will begin applying to the lathe. Use the trowel to spread a thin layer of the mixture over all of the exposed lathe.
While the cement mixture is still wet you need to use the hand rake to either make scratches in the cement or just rake it. This will help your stone to adhere to the surface more securely. After you have finished you need to let it set undisturbed for forty eight hours.
Take one of your stone veneer pieces and apply a layer of mortar across the back about a half inch thick. Then press it into place on the wall near the top. Press firmly enough that some of the mortar squeezes out from beneath it. Keep placing pieces until you reach the bottom and try to keep the pieces as tightly spaced as possible. It will reduce the amount of mortaring you will have to do later. Let everything dry for about an hour or two.
Go back across the surface and press mortar into any cracks that you see between the pieces. Use a wire brush to clean the excess cement of off the stone pieces.

3 Pros and Cons of Manufactured Stone Veneer Products

Manufactured stone veneer products is a great alternative to natural stone because it is lighter and cheaper, but still designed to look exactly like natural stone. However, as with anything there are pros and cons to discuss when considering manufactured stone veneer products.

Pros:

1) Variety and Design: stone veneer products are, at their most basic, cement. It is the design, color and molding that the cement goes through that makes it look like natural stone — so much so that only a true expert would be able to tell the difference. There are a number of processes that produce a variety of designs and colors to suit any style or preference people are looking for, giving you more to work with when using this type of material.

2) Being lightweight, manufactured stone veneer products are easier to work with and given you more options as to where and how you want to install manufactured stone veneer products. This means that this material can be used with masonry, wood frame or metal structures. They don’t need foundation support either.

3) Durability: As long as your manufactured stone veneer products are used, installed and maintained correctly, you can rely on them to last a very long time.

Cons:

1) Improper installation of this type of veneer can result in severe damage, often immediately after installation, therefore it is very important that you hire a professional to do the work for you. Otherwise the result will be severe water damage.

2) Exposure to certain elements will reduce the aesthetic appearance of stone veneer. Such things as harsh chemicals, paint thinners, de-icing salts, and cleaning solvents can scar and stain the surface or result in discoloration. In general though, manufactured stone veneer products are hardy.

3) Manufactured stone veneer products may not be the best to use in swimming pools, as chlorine can cause discoloration.

Again, to avoid water damage, which will result in tearing up manufactured stone veneer as well as any other affected materials that are used in the structure of your house, all the way down to the foundation, it is important to have a professional install stone veneer products to ensure that you get the most out of this wonderful product. If you’re interested in learning more about manufactured stone veneer products, give Native Custom Stone a call today!

Stone Veneer Panels Can Be A Weekend Project

You have started projects that promised to be weekend projects and found yourself with weeks of work to finish. One of the products that really can go up in a weekend of work is DIY stone veneer paneling. In short, it provides a solution to getting your walls covered with truly beautiful faux stone panels without the cost or the labor involved in the process that you normally would have when creating stone walls.

Here’s why stone veneer panels work as a great DIY project:

It does not require a great deal of time or physical labor to install – quite unlike installing traditional stone onto walls.
It is far more affordable than using traditional stone, often costing a fraction of the cost you would pay otherwise.
It is easy to install. You do not need to piece together stones and hope they fit. This product comes to you in a beautiful, easy to put up panel.
You can use it anywhere. The stone veneer paneling you want can often be used both indoors and outdoors, in any room of the house, even.
It has a long lifespan. It does not fade. It will not crack on you. It does not split and the sun will not damage it. It is even impact proof. This means it gives you years of beautiful looks without hassles.
It is lightweight. It does not require a great deal of support to be put on the wall safely.

For all of these reasons, individuals should consider the benefit of using stone veneer paneling throughout their home. It can hide any unsightly wall and add significant value to your home with just a weekend’s worth of work – really just a weekend to get it up and looking great is all it takes. For many homeowners, that is the perfect combination.

For more information on faux stone CustomFit panels available from Native Custom Stone please contact us directly!

Weather Proofing Stone Veneer | Atlanta Stone Veneer

Stone veneeris a good product that can provide years of beautiful service to you. However, to ensure this happens, you must know how to water and weather proof stone veneer. Atlanta stone veneer professionals are the best to turn to for this particular need. You should know what to look for, though.

Stone veneer on a new home.

Installation Is Key

In order to weather proof effectively, ensure you have the installation properly completed. This means adhering to all safety regulations. Otherwise, the OSB will rot and the stone will buckle no matter how much you keep the rain off it. A weather resistive barrier, known as a WRB, is a good way to keep water from getting to the OSB.

Doubling Up

Another tip to ensure the weather proofing is the best it can be requires applying two layers of WRB is often best. In fact, if you were to apply stucco to your home, you may know that many areas have codes that require two layers of weather resistive barrier behind it. The same should apply to stone veneer. This will help reduce the risk of drainage problems, too.

Rain Screen Method

Another way to create this water and weatherproofing is something to talk to Atlanta stone veneer installers about. It is called the rain screen method. Here, the method will reduce the water instruction by using a small amount of airspace between the WRB and the stone veneer. This creates the ideal drainage space and keeps water and rain off the actual OSB, increasing its lifespan.
Whenever water damage occurs, replacing the system may become necessary. In the meantime, install one of these methods to improve water protection, especially in Atlanta where the heat and humidity can lead to potential problems quite quickly if you do not have a proper system in place to prevent it.

Learn More about Adhered Stone Veneer

Adhered stone veneer by far the superior choice when one is deciding between adhered stone veneer and cast stone. Yet, there is often some misunderstanding between the two. Here are a few differences between them to show that adhered stone veneer is by far the best material for home improvement. It really comes down to the taste and budget of the homeowner. Both can come in any number of shapes, sizes and/or colors, but adhered stone veneer has the bonus of being much easier to remove when one wants to alter the overall look of a room. Both can be used in any interior decorating project imaginable with a great warranty. In respect to the cast products, it is normally considered to be “up for good” once it’s in place.

Adhered stone veneer:

1) Lightweight

2) Held in place using something like type S mortar.

3) Doesn’t add to the load-bearing ability of the existing wall.

4) Not as permanent as the alternative in the event the homeowner wants to change the room’s theme.

5) Extremely versatile.

6) Works great on practically any exterior wall.

7) It can be cut or pieced together as the job goes for the best result, allowing more option as the job goes on where cast stone cannot.

Cast stone:

1) Heavier in materials.

2) Does add the load-bearing ability of the existing wall.

3) It is a permanent addition to the wall typically enhanced by something like brickwork.

4) It is not easy to remove.

5) Requires more to affix it to the wall.

6) Weighs about the same as limestone.

7) Usually cut the specified design discussed between the dealer and homeowner.

Both of these products are great depending on what a homeowner wants. Adhered stone veneer is great because it’s much easier to install and can usually be done by the homeowner. If after a few years a new stonework idea seems right, the adhered stone veneer can be removed and a completely new color scheme put in its place. To learn more contact a leader in installation today.

Fireplace Stone Veneer fits any Budget

Fireplace stone veneer is an affordable, lightweight material that is gaining more popularity over the real thing. Offered in any color, style or surface texture fireplace stone veneer covers it all. When this product comes with an oustanding warranty there’s even more reason to pick this over the much more expensive alternative. It’s so versatile that it can be installed over existing:

1) Brick

2) Wood

3) Block

On many projects, fireplace stone veneer is so easy to install that a homeowner can do it themselves in a few days. This saves even more money in respect to the cost of hiring a company to install real stone. The lightweight alternative comes in any imaginable size which makes it easy to manipulate without much effort. There is a great installation company ready to help, but for those interested in putting in the fireplace stone veneer on their own, here are a few steps to follow.

Proper concrete preparation:

1) Make sure the concrete surface isn’t smooth/slick. Without a coarse surface the fireplace stone veneer is less likely to properly adhere and stay in place.

2) Use sandpaper or a sander to create a coarse surface if one does not exist.

3) Sand the entire surface to make sure the whole area is consistent.

4) There’s no need to put a great deal of pressure on the existing surface as only the top layer must be rough in order that the fireplace stone veneer will remain in place.

Proper wood exterior preparation:

1) Waterproof the wooden surface. A cement board is a great idea to achieve this step. There are a few companies that manufacture this cement board. Any home improvement center or hardware store can help find the best fit.

2) Use rustproof screws to hold it in place over the wood surface.

3) Over the first layer affix felt paper.

4) The third layer should be a diamond mesh for the best results.

5) Finally, S mortar should finally be applied sparingly with just enough to cover the layer beneath.

Putting the fireplace stone veneer in place:

1) Use only S type mortar.

2) Mix the mortar to the consistency of a thick paste.

3) Put a layer of S type mortar on the back the fireplace stone veneer at least two inches thick.

4) Make lines in the mortar as that will help it stick in place instead of smoothing it out completely.

5) Make sure there’s about half an inch between each stone.

6) Don’t worry about too much space between the materials as it will be relatively easy to find a stone to fill gaps.

7) Wipe away excess mortar.

8) Let the project dry for several hours.

9) Use grout to fill the spaces in between to create a flush appearance.

Fireplace stone veneer is relatively easy to put in place. Yet, if one would rather a leader in the fireplace stone veneer business do all the work, there’s a great one close by with years of experience. There’s no need to go through all the extra expensive of real stone with this product has the same great look at a fraction of the price.