- 1). Nail an 18-gauge metal lath to the surface you want to cover with stone veneer. Pull the lath tight, and overlap all joints and corners.
- 2). Apply a thin scratch coat over the lath using a mixture of sand and cement. Create grooves in the scratch coat using a hand rake or scraper so that it is easier to adhere the veneer. Allow the scratch coat to dry completely, which is typically about 48 hours.
- 3). Measure the surface area you want to cover, and create a mock surface of the same size. Arrange the veneer on the mock surface to figure out the best fit and to determine whether or not any stones need to be trimmed. Cut stones that must be trimmed with a circular saw or wet saw.
- 4). Select and clean a stone, preferably a large piece, at the top of the proposed design. Apply a 1/2-inch thick layer of mortar to the area on the surface on which the stone will rest. Attach a small amount of mortar to the back of the selected stone with a trowel, and wiggle the stone into place on the mortared surface, allowing the mortar to seep along the stone's sides.
- 5). Apply stones using the same procedure until the design is complete. Remove excess mortar before it dries completely.
- 6). Fill cracks between stones with grout, using a half-filled grout bag. Remove excess grout with a stiff brush before it hardens on the stones' surface.
- 7). Seal the stones after they cure completely, which usually takes about four weeks after installation.
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