DIY Archives - Native Custom Stone

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.

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

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 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 a 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 type 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.

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 veneers to choose from. They also have distributors all over Georgia, and you can buy online from Build Direct or Home Depot!

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.

Go-Brick and Go-Stone for DIY Projects

A Georgia-based company, Native Custom Stone has developed brick and stone veneer products for the DIY market. Both Go-Brick and Go-Stone products are easy to install and both are available online from BuildDirect.com, and from select Home Depot stores in a number of US states.

As their names suggest, Go-Brick looks like brick, and Go-Stone looks like stone. Both simulated ranges have a number of different finishes and colors, and both are installed using with minimal tools and tile adhesive rather than mortar. Both the brick and manufactured stone veneer products are lightweight, and both will transform walls from drab to fab in just a few hours!

Go-Brick

A thin, tumbled brick veneer that can be installed on most vertical surfaces, both interior and exterior, Go-Brick is available in a wide range of standard colors, and can be custom-colored to order. Several grout colors are also available to match the color of mortar that is normally used to lay full sized clay bricks or concrete blocks.

On average, the molded bricks are half an inch thick, and 7⅝ x 2¼ inches in size. Each box contains 58 Go-Bricks that will cover 8½ square feet with ⅜ inch joints. One box weighs about 24 lbs; and each square foot weights between 4-6 lbs. Accessories include corner pieces, 18 x 2 x 3⅜ inch window sills, and boxes that are designed to accommodate light switches and electric plug points.

When laying Go-Brick veneer it is best to mix units from different boxes to maximize variation.

Essential tools required to install Go-Brick include a measuring tape and a notched trowel to apply the tile adhesive. If tile grout is used, you will need a grout applicator; if regular mortar is used for grouting, you will need a small pointed trowel or pointing tool.

No form of foundation is required for Go-Brick veneer, but it is vital that the first (and all subsequent courses) are level. It is recommended that a chalk line is used to ensure that each course of Go-Brick is laid straight and level. But to do this you will need to start with two points that are level, so you will also need a spirit level to mark these points. Don’t ever rely on an existing floor level when tiling, laying bricks, or installing any form of veneer. Floors are not always completely level!

Sealing of the brick veneer isn’t necessary unless the surface is going to be exposed to a lot of water. Native Custom Stone has a Natural Shield Sealer that repels water and oil. It is effective for three to five years, and won’t change the natural appearance of the brick veneer.

Go-Stone

An innovative stone veneer made using recycled materials in the form of crumb rubber from discarded tires, Go-Stone is intended primarily for use on interior vertical surfaces. There are three ranges that give the appearance of different stone types, all of which are supplied in panel form.

Go-Stone is supplied in boxes of 15 panels that will cover five square feet. There are 40 vertical inches of flat edges in each box, and five each of three different panel sizes: 16 x 4 inches; 12 x 4 inches; and 8 x 4 inches. Corner pieces are packaged separately. Like Go-Brick, accessories designed to accommodate light switches and electric plug points are also available.

The essential tools needed to install Go-Stone include a measuring tape, spirit or torpedo level, and a notched trowel, as well as a wet-cut or drywall saw to cut ends to size as necessary.

Like Go-Brick, Go-Stone panels don’t require and form of foundation, and panel courses must be kept level for authenticity. The different sized panels should be alternated to prevent identical panels being installed next to or above one another. Since the panels are different sizes, this will also prevent the appearance of seams.

If Go-Stone manufactured stone veneer is going to be used on an exterior wall (perhaps on a covered patio wall), it’s advisable to use an exterior tile adhesive and the panels should be sealed.

For more information about Go-Stone and Go-Brick and suitable DIY projects, contact Native Custom Stone or an authorized distributor.

The Difference Between DIY Stone Panels (Go-Stone) and Natural Stone

Stone is one of the most imposing building materials there is. Used to construct the earliest fortresses walls and buildings, it is beautiful and durable. But it is also heavy and difficult to work with and generally one needs a skilled stonemason to cut and lay the stone. Because it has to be quarried and transported, natural stone is also expensive.

For decades companies have been making faux stone products, including synthetic veneer that can be used to clad timber frame homes inside and outside. Available in a wide range of styles that copy different types of natural stone, these products are made from cement that is combined with very fine crushed stone, or with lightweight fillers. They are fixed to prepared wall surfaces using mortar, either in imitation of a dry-stacked wall, or grouted with mortar so they look as if natural stone was laid the conventional way.

While a competent handyman (or woman) can work with faux veneer, particularly the kind that is made using lightweight, pumice-stone type fillers, it’s a relatively messy process that requires skills similar to those used when laying bricks. Truly DIY stone panels (Go-Stone), on the other hand, are very light and ultra-easy to install with minimal tools and no masonry skills.

How DIY Stone Panels (Go-Stone) Are Different

The DIY stone panels (Go-Stone), manufactured by Native Custom Stone are made using recycled tires that would otherwise be destined for landfills. With less than 7 percent of the 242 million tires discarded in the US every year being recycled, this sets them apart as the most environmentally friendly faux stone veneer product on the market. The panels are sold in multiples of five square feet, and each box contains the equivalent rubber content from one 12 lb. tire.

The company utilizes contemporary crumb rubber technology that enables them to mold the material into panels that look exactly like stone. They are also incredibly light – about 50 percent lighter than other types of simulated stone veneer.

Unlike cement-based simulated stone veneers, these DIY stone panels (Go-Stone) don’t require any mortar to fix them in place. Instead, they are fixed in position using a regular tile adhesive. The only tools required are a notched floor trowel, a measuring tape and either a spirit or torpedo level to ensure the panels are laid level. If panels need to be cut to fit a specific space, a drywall or wet-cut saw will also be required.

Go-Stone panels are available in several different colors to create different effects. Corner pieces are also available for use on pillars and stand-alone features. Accessory pieces include different sizes “stones” that are made to accommodate light switches and plug holes.

Synthetic Stone Veneer Products From Native Custom Stone

Native Custom Stone’s DIY stone Panels (Go-Stone) are intended for indoor use only, however Native Custom Stone also has a range of simulated stone veneer products that can be used externally. The latter products come in a range of styles to mimic rugged field stone, ledge stone and stack stone, rounded river rock, Ashlar that looks like a rubble stone, and larger rocks styles that look like old stone walls built with large rocks and natural stone.

All products are available from select Home Depot stores, www.homedepot.com, or from BuildDirect.com

How to Install DIY Stone Panels (Go-Stone) the Easy Way

DIY home improvement projects can be challenging, rewarding, and if you can do relatively simple makeovers easily and quickly, they can be a lot of fun too.

The use of faux stone as cladding inside the house is one of the most effective makeover ideas. You can use it on feature walls in living areas; between counters and cupboards to transform kitchens; as a backdrop for fireplaces, bars and other special areas; and to add character to stairwells, lobbies and entrance halls, however big or small they may be.

But until relatively recently, working with faux stone has required basic masonry skills because it was molded from concrete and laid using mortar. Doing it this way is incredibly effective, but does take time, and can be messy.

DIY stone panels (Go-Stone) are just as effective, but quite different. A truly DIY product launched by Native Custom Stone in 2013, Go-Stone panels are made with recycled tires, making them lightweight and environmentally friendly. They are also incredibly easy to install with no formal skills, and it’ll take you about a fraction of the time it would to install traditional faux stone panels.

DIY stone panels (Go-Stone) can be used in a multitude of different ways, to create lots of different effects, but the installation process remains the same – and the bonus is that anyone can do it!

The Installation Process for DIY Stone Panels (Go-Stone)

The first step is to measure the surfaces you are planning to transform using DIY stone panels (Go-Stone). The next is to order what you need from Native Custom Stone, select Home Depot stores, or from BuildDirect.com

There will be three different sized panels in each pack; these measure 16, 12 and 8 inches. They should be alternated according to the illustration on the packaging, for example, with a 12- or 8-inch panel above a 16-inch panel. Note that corner pieces are packaged separately. You will need these if you are working on pillars or any areas that don’t end at the corner of a wall.

The second step is to ensure that you have everything you need to do the installation work.

There are so few tools and equipment needed, if you’re already into DIY there’s an excellent chance you will have it all already. You’ll need:

Measuring tape to measure the surfaces as well as to check where the panels will go.
Drywall or wet-cut saw to cut some of the panels to ensure end pieces fit perfectly.
Torpedo or spirit level to make sure the panels are level and plumb.
Notched floor trowel.
Ceramic tile and stone adhesive, preferably ready mixed.

Now you’re ready to get started.

Make sure the surface to be clad is clean and dry.
Cover the floor in and around the work area with canvas tarpaulin or plastic sheeting.
If you have corner pieces, it’s important to start working from a corner.
Apply adhesive to the first panel using the trowel. Make sure it covers the whole surface.
Push the first panel firmly into place and use the level to make sure it really is level. Never rely on existing surfaces for this – not even the existing floor.
Lay all the panels along the baseline.
You may have to cut the last panel to fit. If you have corners at both ends, you will have a cut panel in the middle, in which case it’s best to cut two of the panels and butt them together for a neat fit.
When you lay the second row of panels, make sure you don’t lay identical ones on top of one another. If you do this you are likely to create a visual seam.
Continue to check your levels as you work.
And that’s all there is to it. Simply keep laying your new simulated stone cladding until you’re done.

Contact Native Custom Stone for more information about the different stone types and colors for your next project using DIY stone panels (Go-Stone).

The Advantages of Using Go-Stone Panels for Your Home

Update 3/11/2016 – Native Custom Stone’s Go-Stone Panels are now also available online at BuildDirect.com

Faux stone paneling has been gaining popularity for years as a great alternative to natural stone. When considering updating your home with the look of stone, consider these downfalls of natural stone:

Simply put, it’s heavy. For this reason, natural stone is not one of the most DIY-friendly materials to work with. It’s difficult and expensive to transport, and even more difficult to install without help.
You will need specialized tools and masonry skills to cut natural stone into pieces that fit together properly. You could rent the tools, but you would probably waste time and money by making mistakes and wasting material.
Since natural stone is so heavy, it must be installed correctly. If not installed properly, it could pull away from its anchors causing serious damage to your home.
Natural stone is very expensive, mostly because of the high cost of shipping. Bringing in natural stone from other locations is cost prohibitive, therefore, you may be limited to the stone that is quarried locally and isn’t exactly the style you’re looking for.

Faux stone veneers, like Go-Stone Panels, are a growing trend because they don’t have any of these disadvantages.

We developed Go-Stone as an innovative product specifically for Do-It-Yourself projects. It is:

Fifty percent lighter than natural stone making it easier and more cost-effective to purchase, ship and install.
Very easy to install without expensive tools or years of masonry experience. Click here to learn more about the tools and installation needed for Go-Stone Panels.
Environmentally friendly. Unlike many other faux stone veneers, Go-Stone is made from 87% recycled materials. Learn more in our brochure.

Go-Stone panels are perfect for updating the interior of your home. They can be used on fireplaces, in kitchens or as wall accents. Go-Stone Panels are sold exclusively at select Home Depot locations or online at HomeDepot.com.

Using Custom Stone Veneer vs. Natural Stone for Your Project

Natural stone creates an amazing effect in homes and gardens, for walls and for feature structures including fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, water features and planters. But there’s a certain irony about this statement because you can create exactly the same effect using a custom stone veneer, and you’ll find it’s generally easier, cheaper, and much more manageable to maintain.

While there is a certain mystique about natural stone, largely based on tradition and the age-old skills of practiced stonemasons, modern technology has enabled us to manufacture faux stone in various forms, including veneer. Custom stone veneer and other faux stone products are perfect for both construction and finishing projects. Stone veneer is also a great tool for revamping and renovating walls and other indoor and outdoor features.

Effects You Can Create Using Custom Stone Veneer

Here’s another irony: unless you have an unlimited budget for natural stone, you have many more choices in terms of the effects created by using faux stone and veneers than you do when using natural stone. The reason is simple. When you use the natural stone from the area where you live, you are limited to what stone occurs naturally. If you opt for faux stone blocks or custom stone veneer you are limited only by the range produced by an accessible manufacturer like Native Custom Stone.

The reality is that manufacturers offering manufactured stone veneer products have dozens of styles and colors. There are also numerous different finishes and sizes that will give you the opportunity to copy any effect from an elegant castle stone finish to a typical rubble effect like the traditional ashlar, commonly used in southern USA.

Alternatively, you might want something that looks as if it was built using genuine fieldstone or perhaps river rocks. No need to go into the field or seek out a river, a good quality custom stone veneer or manufactured stone will provide you with the materials you need.

Working With Stone Veneer Rather Than Natural Stone

Traditional stonemasons didn’t need university degrees to do their work, but they did need incredible skills that were generally passed down through the generations.

While stone can be used in the form of boulders or random blocks, unless you are building a rockery or irregular dry-stone structure, the stone will need to be cut into blocks or slabs that will slot together or enable them to be laid neatly and effectively. Natural stone is heavy and can be challenging to cut.

Stone veneer, on the other hand, is available in the form of individual units or simple panels. Interlocking panels in particular, are very easy to install without any skills at all, other than the ability to use a spirit level to ensure they are laid level. They are also lightweight and easy to handle. Furthermore, no foundations or additional structural support is required and they can be used to clad a variety of frame types, both metal and wood, or even a masonry structure.

Typically natural stone walls vary in size from about 2 to 30 ins (or 51 to 762 mm). Manufactured stone veneer, on the other hand, is substantially thinner than natural stone blocks, varying in size from about 1 to 3 ins (or 25 to no more than 76 mm), partly dependent on the texture chosen.

So if you like the effect of natural stone, explore the options offered by the Native Custom Stone range of veneer products.

How to Get the Most ROI from Your Home Remodel (Infographic)

When making the decision to remodel your home, or certain rooms in your home, you’re often concerned with the most appeal for the best cost. This infographic covers some of the best ways to get the best return on investment for your renovation from kitchens, to home exteriors. The 2015 Cost VS. Value report lists manufactured stone veneer as one of the number one ways to renovate your home and increase the value. When you replace some, or all of your exterior siding with custom stone veneer you could be looking at a 92% ROI!

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Why You Should Use Stack Stone Veneer for Your Outdoor Kitchen

Stone Stack Veneer

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