Stone Veneer Installation - How to Install Stone Veneer

The garden wall defines the landscape and the borders in the garden. But this wall is, most of the times, a plain, unattractive stone wall. A well decorated wall can definitely make a difference to the look of your garden.

Installation of stone veneer on the block wall is a good option for the adornment of your block wall. It's not very expensive and the job can be finished in a day or two, depending upon the area of your wall. Moreover, you can do it yourself with the help of materials that are easily available and a few handy tools. Here's the procedure to install stone veneer.

Stone Veneer Installation
Materials

• Stone
• Mortar
• Masonry nails or masonry screws
• Flashing
• Wall ties
• Metal lath
• Galvanized roofing nails
• Roofing felt

Tools

• Brick trowel
• Wheelbarrow or mud box
• Hoe
• Masonry chisel
• Hammer
• Masonry joiner (optional)
• Drill/driver with bits
• Dust mask
• Goggles
• Gloves

Preparing the Surface for Installation of Stone Veneer

The veneer should always rest on a solid footing, irrespective of whether you are installing it for a garden wall or a cinder block foundation. The three most common surfaces for walls or foundations are unsealed, sealed or wood. You first need to prepare the masonry surface for installing the stone veneer.

• For Unsealed Masonry: Stone veneer installation can directly take place on clean, unsealed masonry walls with the help of wall ties, that fasten the veneer to the existing structure. Wall ties can be fastened with the masonry nails or screws. Every square foot of wall surface should be installed with a single wall tie.
• For Sealed Masonry: The sealer has to be removed by sand blasting before installing veneer on it. The rest of the procedure is similar to that of an unsealed masonry. However, if the sealer cannot be removed, then you will have to fasten the metal lath to the structure with some masonry nails or screws.
• For Wood Masonry: Use a roofing felt to nail the wood in order to build a vapor barrier. Fasten the metal lath and apply a scratch coat of mortar. This makes the masonry surface ideal for laying the stone.

Laying the Stone

If you have a very long wall, it is better to work gradually, as it can smoothen the process. If the stones are to be laid on the original footing or on an extended footing, install a flashing over it. This prevents water from leaching under the new stone. Prepare a thick, consistent mixture of mortar. Moisten the surface of the masonry, so that water does not percolate and a stronger bond between the mortar and the wall is created. The small section at the bottom of the wall, should be applied with a thin coat of mortar. Then take the stone and press it on the bottom and move it slightly back and forth, to position it perfectly. Do not press too hard, as the mixture of mortar will come off the wall. Continue laying the stones at the bottom, till you reach the end of the wall. Once you do, start laying the stones on the first layer. Similarly, lay the next courses. You will need to fill the gaps between the large stones with smaller stones. Also, make sure that you interlock each course in order to stagger the joints. Dress the joints before the mortar is completely set. Clean the faces of the stone and don't allow any mortar to set there. You can use a damp rag or a brush for cleaning. Once, the mortar sets properly, you can seal the wall with a masonry sealer.

Occasionally, moisten your wall as the mortar tends to dry out, rendering the wall weak. Stone veneer installation is a sure shot way to beautify your otherwise plain block walls. Also, doing it yourself gives your friends and family a chance to admire your handiwork.