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Installing stone in your home or on the outside of your home can be a great way to decorate your space both inside and out. But natural stone can be very expensive to ship and install, which prevents many of us from having this beautiful look in our homes. By using artificial stone or cultured stone in your interior design, you can still have the look of stone, without the costs. Use this guide to installing cultured stone and you’ll be sure to get the most out of your stone design.
prep work
It is necessary to prepare the space to accept the stone before beginning. An initial coat is required to accept the stone on most surfaces. This is a single layer of mortar that is roughened to allow the stone and mortar to adhere to the surface. The wire or fiberglass winch must be connected to the space. Nail the lathe directly to the studs behind the wall. Nail it every four inches along the studs to make sure it never comes off your kitchen wall or den design.
Then mix some mortar together until you get the consistency of pancake batter. This part is tricky and tricky, but it can be done. Use a trowel to spread the mortar over the lathe so that the lathe is covered with about ½ inch of mortar. Let it harden enough that you can drag a sharp stick through the mortar and leave a permanent scratch. Do this in one direction until the entire surface is scratched.
Design
Once the initial layer has hardened overnight, you can cut and lay the cultured stone in front of the area you plan to install. Stack the stone on the ground, just as it will be placed on the wall. Cut stone chips with a wet tile saw as needed. Stack one row at a time in front of the space. Once you finish a few rows, you can attach them one row at a time to the wall in your kitchen or bedroom design.
Back buttering and installation
Each separate piece of cultured stone must be re-oiled before it is applied to the wall. A large bead of mortar spread on the back of the stone is all that is needed to make it stick. Starting with the bottom row, butter and stack the cultured stone pieces into place according to the layout you created on the floor. Stack a row on the wall, then create another row on the floor. Make sure no joints line up with the other rows and your stone will look real. Once you’re done, let the stone dry for a few hours, then use a stiff-bristled brush and clean any excess mortar from your kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom stone design. Clean with a damp sponge and let dry overnight.