Manufactured Stone Veneer Maintenance & Installation

Why You Should Use Stack Stone Veneer for Your Outdoor Kitchen

Whether you’re considering building an outdoor kitchen in your backyard, or you already have one that you want to upgrade, stack stone veneer will help you create a fabulous feature you can use for entertaining and family living. Unlike traditional structures built using natural stone, stack stone veneer is surprisingly easy to install and it is also an economical option.

One of our client’s beautiful outdoor kitchens using Stack Stone!

Traditional stonemasons would stack stone to build walls and structures of various kinds. They would cut the stone neatly to size and either stack it dry – usually for country garden walls – or with mortar to strengthen the structure.

The effect stack stone produces is neat and clean, and reminiscent of centuries-old craftsmanship.

Nowadays, there are very few traditional stonemasons worldwide. Not only is this a highly skilled craft, natural stone quarries are few and far between. Stone is also very heavy (and therefore expensive) to transport and it is hard on the hands.

Stone Stack Veneer

In recent years, stone veneer has become a popular alternative to solid stone. Initially, manufacturers made solid faux stone units that could be laid like the real thing. But today, manufactured stone veneer is relatively light and considerably easier to install. It is readily available countrywide and costs a fraction of the cost of natural stone both in terms of transportation and labor. In fact, some stone veneer products have been customized for the DIY market.

A sample of our Stack Stone Colors – Check them all out here!

The Georgia-based faux stone specialists, Native Custom Stone, produce a range of stone veneer products suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

The company’s thin stack stone veneer is particularly versatile in terms of character, thickness, depth, and color. Stack patterns are clean and surprisingly contemporary in effect while appearing authentic at the same time.

Technologically advanced, stack stone units are manufactured for use in as many architectural applications you can think of. They offer numerous advantages, one of which is that no concrete foundation is required. This makes the stone stack veneer ideal for remodeling walls, indoor features like fireplaces, and backyard structures like outdoor kitchens and seating.

Another advantage is that the faux stack stone can be used as a cladding for almost every surface, including the walls of your outdoor kitchen, old or new.

For more information about Native Custom Stone stack stone veneer and other veneer products contact us today.

Skills Required for a DIY Stone Veneer Project

The skills required for any DIY stone veneer project will depend on the materials and methods used for the job. For instance, if you opt to use natural stone cut for use as a veneer, you will need good building skills even if you don’t cut the stone to size yourself. If, on the other hand, you decide to use man-made stone veneer, it will be a lot easier and quicker to install. And if you choose to use Native Custom Stone’s ingenious Go-Stone Panels, you don’t need any special skills at all.

Generally, natural stone veneer is a job for the professionals. Because of the weight, it will require a foundation, and the cut-stone veneer units will have to be laid in mortar. Depending on the size of the stone used, it might even need steel reinforcing.

Manufactured stone is a lot easier to work with, and it doesn’t usually need any concrete foundation or base. Go-Stone panels are even lighter

Skills Needed for a Faux Stone Veneer Project

Our #21 Aspen Ridge CustomFit Panels

Most faux stone veneer projects require basic building skills including knowledge of how to ensure everything is straight and square, as well as level and plumb. In essence, for any structure to be square it must have right-angled corners, horizontal surfaces must be flat and level and vertical surface must be plumb. All this means is that you need to know how to measure correctly and how to use a torpedo or spirit level since these tools allow you to check both horizontal and vertical surfaces. A builders’ square is useful for testing that corners are at right-angles.

While some faux stone veneer products can be laid dry and stacked without mortar, it is often better to use mortar. You can buy a pre-mixed product that comes in one bag for this.

It might take a bit of practice using a trowel to lay the mortar on the stone veneer, but it isn’t particularly different. If you work systematically, checking your vertical and horizontal levels as you go, there is no reason why you can’t achieve a professional finish.

Go-Stone is a unique product made partially from rubber tires. Because it comes in panels, it is a quicker process than laying a faux stone veneer. Nevertheless, you will need the same basic skills that relate to ensuring the veneer is straight, level, and plumb. Instead of working with mortar, Go-Stone panels are laid using a ceramic tile and stone adhesive.

Whether you opt for a faux stone veneer or Go-Stone panels, Native Custom Stone has products that offer lots of choices of finish and color. You’ll wonder why you ever considered using natural stone!

Can I Build a Stone Wall Without a Concrete Base for Support?

Stone is a heavy, labor-intensive material that was commonly used for building centuries ago because it was so cheap. That was in the days before anyone ever dreamed of the day when simulated stone would be an alternative option.

Today, building with stone is a very expensive option that generally requires the services of a skilled stonemason.

While dry stone walls built outdoors don’t require a concrete foundation of any kind for support, the wall itself needs to have a wide base. As building progresses, the width of the wall decreases so that the finished structure has sloping walls. Whilst this type of structure is not suitable for the walls of a building, it could be used for a perimeter or garden wall.

A structural wall built with natural stone should be built on a solid concrete foundation designed to take the weight of the wall. The mass of the planned structure will be spread over the width of its foundation, in this way distributing the mass over a greater area. The actual size and design of the concrete foundation will, therefore, depend on the size and design of the house. Additionally, the load-bearing capacity of the soil will also be a factor.

While people do still build with stone, veneer, that is laid against a wood- or metal-framed wall is a cheaper, more viable option. But if natural stone is used, a concrete base will be needed, as will the services of a stonemason.

If a synthetic stone veneer is used, there is normally no need for special concrete foundations, irrespective of whether the simulated material is used on interior or exterior walls.

Stone Walls That Don’t Require a Concrete Base for Support

Native Custom Stone (NCS) produces a variety of stone veneer products, none of which require a concrete base or foundation for support. This is because the products weigh much less than natural stone or even manmade bricks and blocks.

Even the innovative, panelized Go-Stone veneer and interlocking Custom-Fit stone panels are simply applied to any surface that is structurally sound and clean. Absolutely no special foundations or structural alterations are necessary.

While standard manufactured stone veneer and Custom-Fit panels are installed using mortar, Go-Stone, which is made from mostly recycled products including old rubber tires, is installed using regular ceramic tile and stone adhesive.

Native Custom Stone specializes in simulated stone veneer products including faux stone panels. These products are available from NCS, Build Direct, or from Home Depot online.

Go DIY with Go-Stone Manufactured Stone for Interior Walls

Looking for a really exciting DIY project that will transform your living room walls? Well, here’s a challenge you won’t be able to resist: Go-Stone manufactured stone for walls. An ingenious faux stone veneer, the product is light, durable, realistic, and, best of all, it’s super-easy to install and relatively inexpensive.

Created with DIY enthusiasts in mind, Go-Stone is an environmentally friendly product manufactured by Native Custom Stone LLC. Supplied in the form of panels, it requires very few tools to install, and minimal preparation. Even though the finished surface will look like a hefty rock face, there is no need for any form of foundation to support the system. Unlike solid rock, it’s quick and easy to cut, and no special stonemasonry skills are needed to install it.

About Go-Stone Manufactured Stone for Walls

Launched in 2013, Native Custom Stone’s Go-Stone system is made primarily from recycled rubber tires using new age, crumb rubber technology, taking the concept of manufactured stone for walls to a completely new level. Not only is the product light in weight, it also helps to relieve the huge problem of discarded tires sent to landfills.

Go-Stone panels are supplied in boxes, each of which contains varied panels that will cover a total of five square feet, providing a total of 40 inches of vertical edging. Corner pieces are packaged with four linear feet in each box. Additionally, there are accessories in the form of surrounds that accommodate plug points and light switches.

Available in nine color combinations, it can be used to clad any interior wall, enabling you to create a feature and add a unique character to your room.

Installing Go-Stone is Easy

Go-Stone manufactured stone for walls is incredibly easy to install, and DIYers are sure to have all the tools required for the project:

Measuring tape (preferably a retractable steel type) to check the size of the area and to measure any cutting lines on panels
Torpedo or spirit level to make sure the panels are straight and level
Notched tiling trowel to apply the adhesive to the wall
Drywall or wet-cut saw to cut panels if necessary (to make them fit the area you are covering)
Painter’s drop cloth or rosin paper to protect your floor

In addition to the panels, you will need ceramic tile and stone adhesive. That’s it! No grout is needed!

And installation couldn’t be easier:

Prepare the work area by covering the floor with cloth or paper, and wiping the wall surface down to ensure it is clean. Allow it to dry thoroughly before proceeding.
Starting at a corner and from the floor, use the notched trowel to apply adhesive to the wall. Don’t try and cover the entire wall, rather work in small sections.
Position the first panel and push it firmly into place, moving it gently from side to side. Use the level along the upper horizontal surface, and on the vertical edges, to check that it is level. Never rely on existing floor and wall surfaces for this.
The packaging shows how you should alternate the different sized panels to achieve a natural look. Lay a full row along the base of your wall first.
When you install the second and subsequent rows, make sure you stagger the different sized panels for a natural appearance and to avoid the impression of seams. Keep checking your levels.

Go-Stone manufactured stone for walls is available throughout the state of Georgia as well as from select Home Depot stores, and online from BuildDirect.com

Build Your Own Outdoor Kitchen with Manufactured Stone

Outdoor Kitchen from #6 Walnut Stack stone from Native Custom Stone

In the summer months, there is nothing better for outdoor entertaining than an outdoor kitchen. The best type will include a place to cook, a place to clean, and storage space as well as seating for you and your family and friends. But the options are endless and the design choices as versatile as those you would consider for you indoor everyday kitchen.

An outdoor kitchen is more than just a deck or patio where you cook on a moveable barbecue unit like a Weber kettle or a gas cooker on wheels. To fulfill the definition, an outdoor kitchen should be built in and should incorporate all the necessary elements of your indoor kitchen. Ideally then, there will be cupboards and a sink with running water. Additionally, you might want to include a pizza oven, a fire pit, and maybe even a bar with a refrigerator.

The actual materials used to build your own outdoor kitchen are no different to the materials used for any other outdoor structures. Bricks and blocks are common and manufactured stone as a veneer has become increasingly popular in recent years. Stone veneer can be used as a cladding for ordinary cement or concrete bricks and blocks, or even for a framework made from lumber or steel and pressure-treated plywood or galvanized steel plate. Of course, solid natural stone is another option, but it’s heavy, expensive, and you’ll need a stonemason to cut and lay it. If you opt for concrete blocks and a stone veneer you could do it yourself!

Planning Your Outdoor Kitchen

The most important things to consider are:

What will be included in your outdoor kitchen. A gas unit will need a gas connection, and a sink will require plumbing. For the rest, the construction method you decide on will determine the skills needed for the project.
Exactly where it will be located. Both boundary lines and utility lines will have to be considered.
What permissions including permits you will need. Utility lines generally need safety permits. Your local authority will be able to advise whether you need plans and planning approval.
What sort of foundation, if any, will be required. However, this depends on what you are going to build. Many outdoor kitchen structures are defined as non-permanent because they literally sit on their own weight.
What basic construction method you are going to follow. If you opt for a brick or block structure (blocks are probably the cheapest of all) you will need to know how to lay bricks or blocks or hire someone who does. Steel frames are relatively easy to install but might require some welding work.
Finish. A manufactured stone veneer will produce a magical effect with any of the construction methods chosen.

Native Custom Stone offers stone veneer that mimics just about any type of natural stone from ashlar and stacked stone to river stone and great big blocks of stone. Because it is manufactured, it weighs a lot less than natural stone and can be installed easily and much more quickly. Call us to see which type of stone veneer will work best as a finish for your new outdoor kitchen project.

It’s Time to Clean and Seal Your Faux Stone Walls

Spring has arrived, and with it that energetic urge so many of us get to clean up our homes and gardens in readiness for summer!

Even if you’re not feeling particularly energetic, it’s a good time to summon the enthusiasm a rewarding project for spring – particularly if you have fabulous faux stone walls that need attention.

It’s impossible to keep everything clean and tidy, particularly outside walls and structures that most of us hardly notice in the winter months. Stone surfaces, including those that are made by man using lookalike stone products, generally stand up to the elements fairly well. But dirt and dust, and even mold and mildew can make a mess when we aren’t paying attention.

Fortunately, nearly everything can be scrubbed clean, and this includes faux stone walls, whatever material they are made from.

Faux Stone Walls

The most common faux stone is molded from real stone and then cast, either as solid units or a thinner veneer, using an architectural grade concrete mix that contains cement, sand, very fine stone chips, and water. It’s considerably easier to prepare and lay than natural stone and costs a lot less.

The Georgia-based manufactured stone and brick company, Native Custom Stone (NCS), produces an incredibly realistic stone veneer that can be installed without a concrete foundation for support. The company also manufactures a stone panel product, Go-Stone, that is made partly from recycled rubber tires.

How to Clean Faux Stone Walls

Whatever your faux stone wall is made from, the cleaning process will essentially be the same.

First, you need to hose the surface down to get rid of loose dirt, dust, and debris. Do not use a pressure washer to try and clean faux stone, it can damage it.
Then you need to scrub any remaining dirt from the surface. NCS recommends using a mild laundry detergent mixed with warm to hot water, and a medium-bristle brush.
Then hose the surface again to remove the detergent and soap suds.
Let the surface dry thoroughly.

How to Seal Faux Stone Walls

Natural Shield

The last step will be to seal your clean faux stone wall.

Native Custom Stone has developed a Natural Shield stone sealer that is not only suitable for NCS veneer surfaces, but also any other type of manufactured stone, natural stone, and even stucco, paving stones, and brick. It is particularly effective for repelling water, and it minimizes the effects of freeze/thaw damage, cracking, stains, efflorescence, and general dirt and grime. It is also resistant to oil.

Once your clean faux stone surface is completely dry, apply the sealer with a brush, roller, or spray according to the instructions on the packaging.

If your faux stone walls were created using NCS’s Go-Stone veneer, because it is a DIY product, chances are you installed it yourself. Presuming you followed the manufacturer’s instructions, you will also have sealed the surface with native Custom Stone’s Natural Shield stone sealer. That will have made it even easier to clean. But don’t omit the final sealing step – it will pay in the long run … probably next spring! In the meantime, all you will need to do is wipe dirty surfaces with a damp cloth, or hose with clean water.

Another advantage is that Natural Shield can be recoated to surfaces without any special preparation – other than ensuring the surface is clean and dry. And you simply clean brushers and rollers using soap and water before they dry.

Contact Native Custom Stone for more information about products or prices, or buy online from Build Direct or Home Depot.

Trying to Add Unique Appeal to Your Home? Consider Manufactured Stone Veneer

Go Stone Kitchen Backsplash

One of the hottest trends in home decor today is the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces — bringing nature into your home’s interior as well as creating outdoor “rooms” that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Whether it’s for you or for the discerning home buyer, manufactured stone veneer can be a great way to revamp a home.

If you love the look of natural stone, you might have low stone walls, stepping stones and pavers leading to your home’s entry or as accents in a backyard garden. Stone is often used to highlight a home’s architectural features as a stunning complement to a traditional brick exterior or for property walls and fence columns. Now you can add the look of natural stone to bring new style to your interiors as well, but without the expense of natural stone, and without the need for special preparation or professional installation. In most cases, you’ll have no worries about the weight, because manufactured stone does not require a concrete foundation.

What to Know About Synthetic Stone

Manufactured stone veneer mimics the appearance and character of “real stone.” Many of the available patterns and colors are derived from natural stone formations, and also have the distinctive color variations and texture of their natural counterparts. It can be used for projects large and small. Essentially, “synthetic” or manufactured stone can be used anywhere natural stone is appropriate, indoors or on a home’s exterior, including the chimney. It can be applied to wood or metal studs, adjacent to rigid insulation, or to exterior sheathing and interior drywall. In some cases, preliminary preparation is required, and flashing and trim materials are also necessary to finish the installation. Professional installation may sometimes be necessary, but the final appearance will be almost indistinguishable from its natural counterpart.

Also for DIY Installation

A new addition to the lineup of products from Native Custom Stone, LLC is even designed for DIY installation. It is lightweight and interlocking, making it ideal for home projects, yet it has a professional look.

Go-Stone is available in compact boxes that contain three different lengths of 4-inch panels, designed for mix-and-match stacking that mimics individually-chipped stone. It is applied with the simplest of tools, using only vertical adhesive. No grout is required and seams are not noticeable. The panels are eco-friendly, manufactured from 87% recycled materials, and 50% lighter than similar products. Go-Stone is available in three unique colorways, to complement many different interiors.

Go-Brick is another product that is designed with the do-it-yourselfer in mind. Using the unique texture and pattern of real bricks as a pattern, each individual color choice captures the warmth and appeal of its historic counterpart.

Add Character and Appeal

Each product will add a unique accent to interior spaces. Use brick or stone as a fireplace surround or as a focal point in an entry or dining room. Surround a structural column with stone or create a garden room with a “brick” wainscot, topped by windows. Give your imagination free rein — with a coat of proper sealer, stone veneer can even form a shower wall, allowing you to feel as if you’re standing under a mountain waterfall. And brick can rejuvenate a basement renovation, changing the mood of a space from dull to dramatic.

No matter what style your home may be, from traditional to contemporary, whether you live in a renovated urban loft or a suburban ranch, if you’re interested in changing the face of your surroundings in a “natural” way, why not explore the ways to do it with manufactured stone? You’ll only wonder why you waiting so long.

This guest post was written by Preston Guyton of CRG Companies, Inc

Properly Cleaning Manufactured Stone Veneer

Updated on May 31, 2017: When you’re using Native Custom Stone’s products, we want to ensure that you get the most from your stone. Summer is upon us, and now is the best time to make sure your home looks great inside and out! Below are our recommended instructions for cleaning your Native Custom Stone manufactured stone veneer.

We want to make sure that you keep your custom stone looking great for years. Part of this is making sure that it’s well maintained and clean. As you know, manufactured stone veneer is different than a natural stone, and needs to be cared for differently. A good cleaning every two-three months should keep your manufactured stone looking new.

Keep in mind when installing your stone to not to leave mortar on any surface. Mortar should be brushed away as the stone or brick is installed. If the surface is properly protected during the application, cleanup will be much easier. After the mortar sets for 24 hours, wash the job with a water hose to eliminate excess dust. Once the Stone or brick veneer has dried, apply Natural Seal sealer for maximum protection.

5 Steps to Properly Cleaning Manufactured Stone Veneer:

Thoroughly mix approximately one cup of Laundry detergent into 3 gallons of hot water. Never use detergents with bleach, any types of acid, or a pressure washer.
Rinse the stone/brick with water to remove loose debris.
Using a circular motion scrub the dirtiest areas first using a medium bristle brush.
Rinse the cleaned area thoroughly, removing all detergent and suds.
Let dry, if you still see dirt and debris, repeat the cleaning process. Once completely dry and clean, seal with Native Custom Stone’s Natural Seal

Remember you don’t need to clean your manufactured stone often, if there is a little mud or muck just rinse with a hose or water. Or, if you have accent stone veneer inside your home, just wipe it down with a damp cloth.

They do make special detergents for manufactured stone if you wanted to keep it on the safe side, but a mild dish detergent or even laundry detergent will do. If you don’t have manufactured stone in your home yet, but have been thinking about it, Native Custom Stone has a wonderful selection of manufactured stone veneer to choose from. They also have distributors all over Georgia, and you can buy online from Build Direct or Home Depot!

Use Natural Shield Manufactured Stone Sealer Before Winter Weather Hits

Post and information updated 10/15/2016:

Properly built structures need less maintenance than structures that have not been built correctly. They will also last considerably longer, particularly when you live in an area that experiences severe, wet winters.

Additionally, there are times when corrective action can be taken to ensure that structures will survive adverse weather conditions, including cold, wet, windy winters.

One of the major issues when building is the need to seal materials, as well as the full range of building elements, from moisture. Water can cause the most terrible damage and can result in rapid deterioration of a building. But do it right in the first place, and you’ll avoid any potential trauma.

Natural Shield to Protect Manufactured Stone from Moisture

Native Custom Stone

Manufactured stone is a good example of a building material that can be impacted by an incorrect application. Install it correctly and it will last a very long time. But if you don’t seal the stone to protect it, you are inviting problems.

Fast becoming one of the most popular building materials for homes, made well, faux stone has many advantages over natural stone. (Learn more about this here.)

Because it can be molded and colored in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and colors, it looks exactly like the many natural stone types that are quarried all over the world.
Unlike natural stone that is heavy, manufactured stone is lightweight but is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
Manufactured stone is considerably cheaper than quarried stone.
Manufactured stone can be used as cladding for all structures made with wood frames, metal, or masonry, without the need for foundations or footings.
Properly maintained, a manufactured stone veneer will last for decades without any sign of deterioration or change of color.

Just remember that to be sure it really will offer these advantages, manufactured stone must be correctly installed.

The problem is that if manufactured stone veneer is not correctly installed, it tends to trap water directly against the underlying frame. If the frame is made of wood, it can result in wood rot in a remarkably short period of time.

Even if the veneer is correctly installed, it’s a good idea to take steps to prevent any degree of water penetration by coating the manufactured stone with an effective sealant. It is also prudent to re-coat the veneer annually, before winter.

Use Natural Shield to Seal Stone Before Winter

Native Custom Stone manufacturers top quality stone veneer products and we know how important it is for our products to:

Be correctly installed
Be properly sealed

This is why we recommend Natural Shield for the protection of most substrates and surfaces of materials like brick, stucco, pavers, and of course manufactured stone.

Natural Shield is a primer that acts as a repellent to water and oil and helps to prevent stains. It bonds chemically and mechanically to the substrate, effectively stopping water intrusion. In turn this reduces unwanted biological growth, accumulation of dirt, cracking, and freeze damage.

When you use Natural Shield, you won’t have to worry about water damage and intrusion during winter, even though this is the time when it is more likely to work its way into cracks during the freeze-thaw cycle.

Native Custom Stone has no hesitation in recommending Natural Shield for homes built using our manufactured stone veneer products. It is available in various different quantities:

One quart to cover about 50 square feet
One gallon to cover about 200 square feet
Five gallons to cover about 1,000 square feet

If you’d like more advice about Natural Shield and how to protect your manufactured stone from damp, contact us today. We will also advise on correct installation techniques.

How DIY Go-Stone Panels Help Save the Environment

Millions of tires are trashed in the US every year, piling up and eventually landing up in landfill. A few creative individuals use old tires as planters and some turn them inside-out and make tire swings for children. But that’s not the answer because far too many end up negatively affecting the environment.

On a positive note, there are companies, like Native Custom Stone, that have found innovative uses for old tires, or more specifically the rubber that can be recycled from used tires.

Using Old Tires Instead of Discarding Them

Crumb rubber technology, which is what Native Custom Stone takes advantage of, is a scientific process that enables us to use the rubber from old, worn tires for different purposes.

So instead of landing up in landfill, where it will take five to eight decades, or perhaps even longer, to decompose, the tire cord and steel in the tires is removed, and the rubber is recycled. Crumb rubber technology involves processing the rubber to produce particles of different sizes that may be used for different purposes.

Native Custom Stone uses crumb rubber manufactured from old tires to make ingenious molded Go-Stone panels. Created primarily for the do-it-yourself (DIY) market, Go-Stone panels provide a durable, lightweight simulated stone veneer that is quick and easy to install. This environmentally friendly product is ideal for inside feature walls, fireplace surrounds, bar nooks, and even stairwells. It can be used imaginatively to completely transform kitchens, and even bathrooms.

Even though they are made from tires which are all made of black rubber, the process used to make Go-Stone panels results in a number of different color finishes, all of which are stone colored – of course!

Installing Go-Stone Panels

Not only do Go-Stone panels help save the environment, they look amazing and are incredibly easy to install. No special construction skills are required, and no specialized tools are needed. There are three basic panel types, plus corners, each a different size and with a different look. By mixing and matching them randomly, it is a simple matter to achieve a totally realistic finish.

Go-Stone simulated stone panels are laid using a standard ceramic tile and stone adhesive which dries quite quickly. The only things an installer must be careful of is to keep the top of each panel level, and to ensure the Go-Stone panels are abutted right next to one another.

Native Custom Stone’s Go-Stone panels and other simulated stone products are available from Home Depot online or from Build Direct.