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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)

Easy to Install Go-Stone DIY Project 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.

  1. Make sure the surface to be clad is clean and dry.
  2. Cover the floor in and around the work area with canvas tarpaulin or plastic sheeting.
  3. If you have corner pieces, it’s important to start working from a corner.
  4. Apply adhesive to the first panel using the trowel. Make sure it covers the whole surface.
  5. 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.
  6. Lay all the panels along the baseline.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Continue to check your levels as you work.
  10. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

  • gostone cherokee stairwellFifty 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.

Choosing the Best Custom Stone Veneer Style for Your Home

Stone is a beautifully natural finish for the inside and outside of any home, but it can be very expensive and it requires specialist skills to lay – even though it is one of the oldest building materials used by man. But the good news is that modern technology has made stone much more accessible in the form of new-age “stone” veneer. It looks real, feels real, is lighter than the real thing, and it’s both cheaper and easier to install.

If you like the idea of stone veneer rather than using heavy, expensive quarried stone, and you start shopping around, you will find that not all manufactured stone is created equal. Simulated stone has been made from relatively lightweight precast concrete for decades. It’s relatively inexpensive and can look stunning, however, it’s much easier to lay than standard blocks or bricks. In addition to these traditional precast manufactured stone products, there is now another lighter, simpler, easier option that is suitable for interior projects, both big and small.

A Georgia-based company, Native Custom Stone, manufactures architectural stone and stone lookalike veneer that can be used to clad just about any surface. Interior products don’t need a concrete foundation or base to support the manufactured stone products, and you don’t need any mortar or special tools to install it. It’s lightweight, incredibly easy to work with, indistinguishable visibly from natural stone, and effortless to maintain. Easy-to-lay using tile adhesive, Go-Stone interior panels from Native Custom Stone are manufactured from discarded rubber tires that have been shredded. Similarly, their Go-Brick range mimics tumbled and face brick surfaces. All panels are supplied in boxes and are assembled easily, almost like a 3D jigsaw puzzle.

Additionally, the company has more traditional products that are suitable for outdoor cladding and siding, enabling you to transform even the plainest little house. These may also be used for retaining walls and other garden features, including freestanding pillars, flower boxes, and even firepits.

Overall, custom stone products provide an ideal solution for homeowners who want to upgrade their homes, particularly those who want to do it themselves. The greatest challenge is deciding which stone veneer will suit your home best.

Types of Manufactured Stone for Your Home

Dawson County Ledge

There are as many types of manufactured stone as there are types of natural stone; the difference though is that you don’t only have access to stone that occurs locally. With manufactured stone, the choice is much, much greater, depending of course on the stone sourced for molds. You can choose to have a randomly laid stone effect, a split-stone effect, or traditionally laid brick. There are so many color options and “stone” sizes you’ll be spoilt for choice. Really, it just depends on the type of interior accent you are looking for.

Native Custom Stone Offers the Following Styles to Create a Custom Look

  • Country Villa creates a rustic random effect that mimics the work of ageless stone masonry. It’s slightly uneven on the finished face, and shows no sign of mortar being used to bond the units.
  • Castle Rock is also random in terms of size and color, but it has a smoother and more regular finish. This one is perfect for the DIYer who wants to make his home his castle.
  • Rubble Stone (Ashlar) will achieve a lovely traditional effect. It can be used with or without the addition of mortar joints.
  • Stack Stone is a clean, contemporary option that typifies a well executive split stone finish. Even though it combines a number of different sizes, it has absolute authenticity.
  • Ledge Stone is very similar to Stack Stone, but with defined texture. Shapes and sizes are also more irregular, and the effect more rugged overall.
  • Field Stone is the look you might choose for garden walls and other outdoor features. It may be used to achieve a relatively rugged effect, either dry-stacking it or laying it with a mortar joint. It also works well combined with other types, including ledge stone.
  • River Rock typifies the effect you would achieve by using a mix of water-worn stones pressed into mortar.

Whatever appeals to you, one thing is for certain: there is a synthetic stone veneer that you can use to improve the look of your home from Native Custom Stone. And if you want to, you can do-it-yourself with their options like Go-Stone and Go-Brick!

 

 

 

 

Building a Bar from Scratch and Finishing With DIY Go-Stone Panels

A home bar is a great place for entertaining. You can plan it so that it becomes the hub of your home, or so that it can be used as a hideaway where the guys (or girls) can escape out of sight and sound.

The location you choose depends on the space you have available in your home, as well as the function you want this special entertainment area to fulfill. If you don’t have much space you can tuck it in a corner; but if you want to incorporate a games area, perhaps with a pool table or home theater, you will need a dedicated room or a basement.

Go Stone

Designing a Bar From Scratch

While the dimensions of a bar are variable in terms of length, height and width are standard for practical reasons. Generally a bar top shouldn’t be wider than 16 to 20 inches (400 to 500 mm), which is about the width of a standard desk. Anything more than this is simply a waste, both in terms of materials and space, though the top should overhang the bar structure by at least eight inches (200 mm.) A bar molding will finish the top off nicely, and will help to keep drips and spills from dribbling onto the laps of those sitting at the bar.

While not all home bars incorporate a drinks rail on one side, for you or the barman to mix drinks, it’s a very useful feature. It should be separated from the rest of the bar top by a drip lip in the form of a thin strip of wood that will keep any spills from splashing on the bar top itself. Additionally, a lower counter on the barman’s side is great for preparation and also a good place to keep unwanted bits and pieces out of sight. If you want to incorporate a bar sink, this is where it should go.

The height needs to accommodate the bar stools you plan to use. Most are 30 inches (about 760 mm) tall, which is perfect for the standard bar height of 42 inches (just over a meter.)

While space might be the deciding factor in terms of the length of your home bar, you should allow 24 to 30 inches (600 to 760 mm) for each bar stool.

Foot rails should be seven to nine inches (177 to 228 mm) off the floor; these can be in the form of a metal railing (either brass or stainless steel) or timber.

Then there is the question of finishes, which of course depends partly on what you use to build the bar structure. If it’s solid wood and you’re going to leave the top wood, then you’ll need to give it a few coats of tough, hardwearing varnish. Tiles are another option; or, if it fits your budget, a good solid surface like marble, quartz or granite would be even better. Tiles and solid stone are ideal options if the bar is constructed with a material like chipboard.

You can use Go-Stone panels to finish vertical surfaces – and if there is a suitable wall behind the bar, to finish this too and create a good-looking feature wall that matches your bar.

Installing Go-Stone Panels

Go-Stone panels are ideal for any DIY build-your-own bar project. Manufactured for interior use, it is lightweight and super-easy to install. You don’t need specialized tools, masonry skills or experience, and the system is quick and clean.

Native Custom Stone

The product, which is manufactured by Native Custom Stone from 87 percent eco-friendly materials, is sold in DIY kit form. There are three finishes, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, and Coastal Blend, each of which looks just like real stone. There is enough to cover an area of five square feet (0.465 square meters) in each box. Corner pieces are packed separately, with four linear feet (1,2 meters) in a box.

The only equipment you need to install these simulated stone panels is a:

  • Steel measuring tape
  • 12 inch (about 300 mm) spirit level
  • ¼ inch notched floor trowel
  • Drywall or wet-cut saw. You can use a circular saw if you have one.

You will also need a good quality ceramic tile and stone adhesive to stick the panels onto the wall and/or bar structure.

Installation instructions start with ensuring the surface is clean and dry. It’s a good idea to cover the floor adjacent to the bar and wall you are cladding for protection. You can use cloth or rosin paper to do this.

Then start installing the panels at the bottom corner of the wall or structure. Apply the adhesive to the back of the first stone panel and set it in place, moving it firmly from side to side to ensure there are no air bubbles. The kit contains three different sized panels: alternate these for a realistic effect. The horizontal edge of the panels must be level, so use the level after setting every third stone to check that they are in fact level. You may need to cut one of the panels to ensure that the panels fit perfectly; you will need to measure the exact length. Be sure to wear safety glasses when cutting.

When you start on the second “course” of stone, make sure you stagger the panels so that you don’t end up with obvious seams running vertically up the wall or bar structure. So, if for instance you started with a 16-inch (406 mm) panel, use either an eight-inch (203 mm) or a 12-inch (305 mm) panel above it.

It really is that easy!

 

Inspecting Your Home and Manufactured Stone Veneer for Moisture Damage

If the manufactured stone veneer in your home was installed correctly, it’s unlikely that you will find moisture damage, even in the wettest winter. However if precast simulated stone is not installed properly, and flashing is inadequate, water can quickly cause extensive structural damage.

Even if you can’t see any form of damage on wall surfaces, it’s essential to inspect your home and manufactured stone veneer for moisture damage. The reality is that most homeowners (and inspectors for that matter) don’t recognize moisture problems until it has set in and caused costly damage. Often they only realize that there is damage when telltale signs of leaking water become visible.

Building codes do set standards for the installation of manufactured stone veneer, including water-restricting barriers, flashing, and metal weep screeds. These are, though, minimal standards, and inexperienced or unscrupulous contractors don’t always follow them. Unfortunately construction is difficult to police because the building process is quick and the window for inspection is short. For example, barriers inside the structure that restrict water and vapor cannot be inspected once the house is complete unless the wall is opened up.

Ideally contractors should be forced to allow a certified InterNACH (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) inspector to inspect the structure prior to completion.

About Manufactured Stone Veneer

Chattahoochee Blend Country Villa

Unlike cast stone that is normally used to build load-bearing walls on concrete foundations, manufactured stone veneer is a relatively lightweight product that does not require a foundation. It can be applied to most structures including wood and metal frames, enabling builders to achieve the aesthetic effect of real stone quickly and cost effectively.

While easy to install, if installation is not done correctly, serious water damage can occur over quite short periods of time – as little as two years. Because there is no air space between framed walls and cladding, the need for well-designed flashing is critical. If water cannot drain, even a seasonal rainstorm could cause damage.

Of course the ideal is to ensure that installation is done the right way. This checklist may be used for a thorough inspection:

  • Generally, if only mortar is visible between the veneer units, the veneer has been correctly installed. However design must include the specifications outlined in the building codes.
  • There should be weep screeds at the base of all wood-frame walls and at the tops of windows and doors.
  • Seams and joints around windows and doors, and where the manufactured veneer meets other cladding must be sealed. Manufactured stone windowsills that slope away from the building will aid drainage.
  • Flashing that is corrosion-resistant should be installed with a bedding seal under the flashing and with a drip edge. Water-resistant barriers should also lap over the flashing’s back edge for water to drain.
  • Veneer should not be in contact with ground surfaces or any part of the roof. This is a common fault that leads to water damage.
  • Kick-out flashing should divert water away from the building (and the veneer) to prevent water from penetrating the cladding and causing the structure to rot, or in the case of a metal frame, rust.

For additional protection, a good quality stone-sealing product like Natural Shield should be used. This will prime the surface and help to prevent water from penetrating. It will also reduce and minimize the possibility of freeze and thaw damage, cracking and stains.

How to Inspect Your Home and Manufactured Stone Veneer for Water Damage

Once you have inspected the installation of flashing and so on, look for evidence of water damage. Moisture inside walls will often cause efflorescence that shows up on the surface in the form of chalky powder. Check inside wall surface carefully for signs of mold or discoloration. Also run your hand over wall surfaces; if they feel cold and damp you can be sure you have water damage inside the wall structure.

If there is any evidence of moisture inside walls, they will have to be opened up, cleaned, and any damaged material replaced. The longer you leave it, the worse the problem will become, and the more repairs are likely to cost you.

If you do have to open up and repair walls, ensure that flashing and other water-repellent installations are done correctly second time around. Also be sure to coat all manufactured stone veneer surfaces with Natural Shield for maximum protection.

 

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.

River Rock

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

Custom Fit 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!

remodel-roi-infographic-ncs

 

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A Complete Guide to Caring for Your Interior and Exterior Manufactured Stone Veneers

Manufactured stone and products like Go-Stone are rapidly growing in popularity, especially with DIY’ers. Manufactured stone is extremely easy to work with, and it looks indistinguishable from natural stone. It is sometimes called cast stone because  it’s fabricated using casts made from natural stone and concrete. It is often used for architectural features like:

  • Building facings
  • Ornamentation
  • Trim
  • Garden ornaments

Why do more and more people use manufactured stone every day?

go-stone-gallery-16Manufactured stone veneers have the look of expensive natural stone without all of the downsides. Manufactured stone is durable and can last just as long as natural stone but it:

  1. Costs much less than natural stone. The price of natural stone has become artificially inflated over time because it is now associated with wealth and elegance. Manufactured stone can give you the same look and feel of natural stone, but it only costs a fraction of the price.
  2. Is much easier to work with. Manufactured stone is much easier to move around and install because it doesn’t weigh nearly as much as a natural stone. That means you don’t need extra materials to support it or expensive tools to cut it. Plus, it drastically lowers the chance you will be injured by it so you can save on doctor bills as well.
  3. Manufactured stone comes in a wide selection of colors and types . One of the biggest drawbacks to using the natural stone is its weight. It costs so much to ship it that most people will only be able to afford the stone quarried locally. Manufactured stone can look exactly like rocks mined from the heart of Siberia and it won’t cost you more than any other style.

Is manufactured stone vulnerable to damage or decay?

No, it is extremely durable and resistant to damage from the elements just like natural stone but your home isn’t. If a professional doesn’t install the manufactured stone, then you could have trouble with water pooling or draining towards your foundation instead of away. This problem can snowball fairly quick because you won’t be able to see the state of the  wood behind your beautiful, pristine manufactured stone.

To ensure your new manufactured stone wall doesn’t cause you costly problems in the future, you will need to seal it against water. The experts at Native Custom Stone have found that Natural Shield is a perfect choice for the job. It works on:

  • Manufactured Stone
  • Brick
  • Pavers
  • Stucco
  • Natural Stone

Natural Shield will protect your manufactured stone from freeze damage, stains, biological growth, water damage, cracking and dirt accumulation.

What to do if your manufactured stone has a few stains

Manufactured Stone Veneer | Custom Stone | MortarManufactured stone is nearly maintenance free, but the operative word is “Nearly”. Every two or three months you should give your veneer a quick cleaning to keep it looking its best.

If the manufactured stone needs more than a quick rinse, don’t worry. The process is very simple, and you will be done before you know it. Just follow these five steps:

  1. Mix a cup or less of mild detergent with a few gallons of water. Never use harsh cleaners because they could cause the stone to fade. Some industrial strength cleaners are even strong enough to eat away at the stone.
  2. Give the stone a pre-rinse to loosen up any dirt or debris that may be clinging to the surface.
  3. Scrub the stone gently with a stiff bristle brush. Start with the dirtiest places, like where mud or dust has become caked on the stone. Remember to use a circular motion and clean your brush often or you will just spread the dirt around.
  4. Rinse your area thoroughly! Doing so is  very important because you have to make sure all of the detergent has been rinsed from the manufactured stone.
  5. Now just let it air dry and you are done for another few months.

What to do if you got mortar on your manufactured stone veneer

Getting mortar on your manufactured stone veneer happens quite a bit. Since manufactured stone is so much easier to work with than normal stone, DIY enthusiasts have been tackling the installation more and more. It may seem to be an easy afternoon project, but you can damage a veneer by doing simple things like:

  • Incorrectly placing the stones
  • Attempting the install in overly humid conditions
  • Wiping or digging into mortar that is still wet
  • Accidentally getting mortar onto the face of your veneer

If you do make a mistake and get mortar on your manufactured stone, all is not lost. You can correct the problem if you act quickly and follow these seven steps:

  1. Gather the equipment you will need for the job: water, dish detergent and two stiff brushes that are not wire and rags.
  2.  If the mortar is still fresh, then you  will have to wait for it to dry completely. In most environments, this will take a full day and night.
  3. Mix up a bucket full of warm water and dish detergent. There is one trick to this step that is you cannot have bubbles in the mixture. Keep mixing until all the bubbles disappear then set it aside for now.
  4. Using one of your stiff brushes, start wiping it across the mortar that you want 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. You should continue this step until you get as much mortar off as possible.
  5. Now use one of the rags to remove all the dust that has accumulated on the surface of the veneer.
  6. Take your second brush and dip it into your water/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 at it.
  7. Give the stone another once over with regular water and look for any residual mortar. It has probably all been removed by now but if you do still see some, just repeat step five again.

How to repair the cracks in your manufactured stone

Manufactured stone is a surprisingly strong and durable material, but nothing lasts forever. Even natural stone can be chipped and cracked over time. Damage over time can’t be entirely avoided, but with a little elbow grease, it can be easily fixed.

First you will need to gather a few tools:

  •  Broom
  • Trowel
  • Cold Chisel
  • Wire Brush
  • Hammer
  • Grout Bag
  • Mortar Mix

Once you have everything, you will need for the job, follow this procedure:

  1. Manufactured Stone | Custom Stone Veneer RepairFind the first stone you want to replace. Use the cold chisel to chip carefully away the grout so that the stone comes loose. The best way is to hold the chisel at a 45-degree angle, pointing inward toward the stone you are removing. Once you have removed the grout, lightly tap the hammer around the edge of the stone to loosen it. If it still doesn’t budge, you may need to start chipping away at the stone itself.
  2. Once the stone has been removed you should see, the wire meshes it was attached to. Carefully use the wire brush to remove as much debris as you can without pulling the mesh away from the wall.
  3. When the hole is clear, measure it. If you have another stone of the correct size, then you are ready to move on. If you don’t, you may need to rent a wet saw to cut one to fit.
  4. Mix the mortar in a bucket until it becomes a paste.
  5. Put a thin coating of the mortar directly onto the wire mesh then apply a thicker coat, about a half inch, onto the back of the stone. Press the stone firmly into place and use the grout bag to fill in around the edges.
  6. Move on to the next piece and follow the same steps.

If you run into any questions or you feel like you need a professional to help you with the project, please call us at 888-823-0745.

Learn More about Native Custom Stone’s New Go-Brick® Brick Veneer

Brick has been a building material for years and years. It has been used for everything from castles in the middle ages to trendy nightclubs in the millennium. Today brick is considered a high end building material so it tends to give a project an air of sophistication and permanence.

Though working with real brick has quite a few drawbacks:

  • You really need to know what you’re doing if you plan on building with brick. There is a lot of weight involved and if you don’t have everything fitting together just right, it will all come tumbling down.
  • It is not a one man job. Consider all the things you have heard are”heavy as a load of bricks” and then consider having to literally cart bricks around all day while you build a wall. You’ll need a few people to help out if you want to avoid muscle strains, injuries and exhaustion.
  • It takes a lot of different tools to do it right. If you are going to measure and cut the bricks to fit together correctly, you need an impressive array of specialized tools.
  • Bricks are expensive. Just like anything else, perception is part of the value. Since brick is durable, long lasting and it is seen as being a high end material, it costs a lot of money.

Why choose Go-Brick® Brick Veneer?

GO-Brick Schoolhouse Red

Go-Brick Schoolhouse Red

For these reasons and many more, Native Custom Stone has developed a revolutionary new product called Go-Brick®.  Each brick is hand selected for its unique appearance and style. Then the brick is cut into the desired dimensions before a mold is made of it. This process results in a detailed, lightweight brick veneer that will look fantastic in any project.

Go-Brick® was not designed with a professional brick layer in mind. It was designed for the DIY minded people who want to improve their home with their own two hands. Find a Native Custom Stone distributor near you today to order Go-Brick®!

Cut Building Costs with Manufactured Stone Veneers

In most projects manufactured stone veneers can take the place of natural stone without anyone ever knowing the difference. If you need the weight and the strength of natural stone in your project then there can be no substitute but there are not a lot of medieval castles under construction anymore. If you are building a fireplace, wet bar, backsplash or any of the numerous other home improvement projects that benefit from a real stone look, then a manufactured stone veneer is the better choice.

You can save a lot of money on building costs when working with manufactured stone because:

  • It is easier to work with – Manufactured stone is significantly lighter than natural stone, which helps out in a lot of ways. You don’t need to pay a bunch of guys to help you haul it around and put it into place. You don’t need to pay for all the extra materials required to install natural stone securely into place. You don’t have to pay for a doctor visit for the back and neck strains often associated with natural stone construction.
  • stack-stone-gallery-03It costs less than natural stone – Stone has always been a popular building material but over time it has become associated with elegance and sophistication. Once the wealthy started using it in their homes, the price for natural stone kept rising and rising. Manufactured stone can give you the same look and feel of natural stone with out having to pay the artificially inflated price.
  • Comes in a wide selection of types and colors – One of the biggest limiting factors of natural stone is its weight. Since it is too expensive to transport stone from halfway around the world, you are often limited to using the stone that is naturally found in your area. With manufactured stone, you could have a fireplace made from German stone, a kitchen backsplash made from African stone and an accent wall done in Japanese stone without breaking the bank.

To get that natural stone effect you are looking for at a price that is affordable manufactured stone veneers is definitely the way to go. Check out our online catalog or stop in at your local Home Depot today to see our huge selection. For further assistance contact Native Custom Stone at 706.216.5545