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5 Steps for Creating a Custom Stone Veneer Accent Wall

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

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

Custom Stone Veneer Accent WallOnce you have everything gathered up you are ready to start with step one:

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

4 Steps for Applying Manufactured Stone Siding

Adding manufactured stone veneer to your home is a great way to add value, and make your home more beautiful.  Stone has been a staple building material since the beginning of time. Manufactured, or custom stone veneer, has changed up the game a little bit though.  It is less expensive, and much easier to install.  In fact, this particular project can be completed over the weekend with little or no professional help.  There are many different styles of manufactured stone veneer to choose from, so make sure you choose one that perfectly accents your home.

When you have chosen your perfect manufactured stone veneer, you’re ready to get started:

  1. Prepare the surface that you will be applying the siding to. First you will need to create a moisture barrier by affixing house wrap or roofing felt to the area. If you are preparing a masonry wall you can skip the moisture guard. Next you will need to attach a metal lath to the wall with screws or nails to give the mortar a way to gain purchase on the wall.
  2. Start to apply the mortar mixture to the lath in a layer that is between 1/8 and 1/16 thick.
  3. Start applying the stones to the mortar by holding them in place for 5 to 10 seconds. Try to keep them as tightly spaced as possible because it will make filling in the gaps much easier later on.
  4. If you fit all of the stones tightly together then you may be able to just fill in the spaces between with an S type mortar. If not then you may have to cut small pieces of stone to put between the larger stones. The best way is to mark a stone using a pencil and then use a cut off grinder to give it the correct shape.
Native Custom Stone, a lead manufacturer of custom stone veneer has high quality stone in many varieties.  They are sure to have the perfect stone to accent your home, or commercial building.

 

Using Manufactured Stone for Commercial Projects

Manufactured stone veneer offers many features that real stone can’t, and if taken advantage of it can make a big difference in the success of your next construction job.  If you are familiar with using natural stone in a lot of your projects, maybe reading a little bit about the great benefits of custom stone will changer your mind. You will have many projects done in half the time, at a fraction of the cost.

A few of the ways the manufactured stone surpasses natural stone are:

  1. Manufactured stone costs a small fraction of the current price for regular stone. This can come as a surprise to construction companies because they view natural stone as being cheap and plentiful.
  2. Since a manufactured stone veneer is all part of the same piece, it can be installed much faster than normal stone. This is a benefit to commercial locations that do not want part of their building to be off limits for an extended period of time because if foot traffic is impeded it can result in lost revenue.
  3. Manufactured stone veneers are much safer than a standard stone facing. If a natural stone were to come loose and hit someone it could cause serious injuries. Since the manufactured stone veneer is a single piece, you never have to worry about parts coming loose.
  4. You will stand out from the crowd. Most commercial companies want to look businesslike and stylish so they tend to use a lot of stone in their construction. It looks good but after awhile it all tends to blend together.  If you use a manufactured stone veneer, you can get any look that you want. You can have a veneer that perfectly emulates natural stone or you can have a veneer that perfectly reflects your own sense of style. You have complete control over how it will look in the end.

A great manufactured stone veneer is key when working on a commercial project. Customers are sure to be pleased with the quality, efficiency, and price of this great product.

3 Pros and Cons of Manufactured Stone Veneer Products

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

Pros:

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

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

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

Cons:

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

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

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

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

6 Great Reasons to Install Faux Stone Veneer on Your Fireplace

Fireplaces not only provide heat and bring comfort to any home, they also provide a naturally gathering place and dominate any room that they are in, therefore designing your fireplace with faux stone veneer is a wonderful option for a variety of great reasons. Some of these reasons are very basic, but no less important when considering stone products for enhancing your fireplace.

 

1) Aesthetic Appeal: put simple, faux stone veneer products look good and this is a major factor in remodeling or designing your fireplace. Veneer can be added on to pre-existing fireplaces to enhance it with added features and design, making your fireplace not only a source of warmth but a work of art.

2) Variety: Everyone has their own sense of style and preferences, and another great thing about faux stone veneer products is that they come in a wide variety of colors and designs to suit you as an individual and blend in with your style and home, as well as the workmanship that has already been done on your fireplace.

3) Inflammable and Heat Resistant: faux stone veneer is a safe material option to install in and around your fireplace, so you won’t have to worry about any wall damage happening unknown to you.

4) Durability: It’s made to last and when you pair this material with good quality cement, you won’t have to worry about deterioration because faux stone veneer is a hard material that can withstand shock. You don’t have to worry about being careful around these products.

5) Cleaning is Easy: Everyday a house needs tidying and cleaning up, and the last thing you want to do is worry about the appearance of your fireplace. Some materials are incredibly hard to clean and look dirty faster than others. Faux stone veneer is not one of these materials. Cleaning is easy, and is often as simple as wiping down the surface of the veneer. It is also resistant to stains, maintaining a new and beautiful look throughout the years.

6) Cost: Faux stone veneer is cheaper than natural stone, while still giving you the effects of natural stone, making it a great way to go for those on a budget.

And there you have it: 6 great reasons why you should consider using faux stone veneer to remodel, design, or enhance your fireplace. If you are interested in learning more about this project and taking a look at the many designs available to you, give Native Custom Stone a call today!

Weather Proofing Stone Veneer | Atlanta Stone Veneer

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

Stone veneer on a new home.

Installation Is Key

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

Doubling Up

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

Rain Screen Method

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