Installation Tips

Detailed Installation Tips

Quick Installation Tips

 
Using the Right Tools for Stone Walling

Brian Post of The Stone Trust demonstrates the use of tools to shape stone for dry-fit stone walls.
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What is the proper thickness of the Laticrete Air & Water Barrier?

Use this a tool like the Bon Tools Wet Film Gauge. Watch this instruction video.

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Can I add thin veneer to a painted foundation?

A customer writes:

“I’m hearing various answers from masons as to whether this product (Laticrete Hi-Bond) can be applied to a foundation that is painted.”

The answer directly from Laticrete:

The short answer is no it cannot. The paint would be acting as bond breaker. We only recommend installing stone with any of our adhesives to clean, free of paint, sealers and form release agents, sound concrete. In order for the adhesive to reach its intended strength it needs the open pores in the concrete to mechanically “lock” in.

If the wall is painted, the pores are clogged and the adhesive will not be able to bond to wall as it is designed to, and the installation may result in a failure.

Laticrete MVIS Hi-Bond Veneer Mortar Data Sheet

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Does ashlar thin veneer install tighter than ledge thin veneer?

The “tighter” ashlar stone displayed in our showroom was in fact more carefully crafted for a dry-fit installation by our stonemason resulting in tighter joints. What we try to show in our showroom – beside the differences in stone types and colors – are the differences between installation techniques.

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Can Natural Thin Veneer Be Used Outside?

Stoneyard Thin Veneer is a natural product, not man-made from concrete. The stone is at least one million years old, has been through countless freezes and thaws so there will be no problem with expansion and contraction, and will not fade. Unlike man-made faux stone, it is the same color throughout.

The stone is cut and crafted from either natural New England Fieldstone or stone cut from a quarry in the New England area of the U.S.

When installing thin veneer outdoors, it is essential to use proper installation methods such as cement board and a water barrier to prevent water from getting behind the stone.

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How warm does it need to be to install Thin Veneer outside?

The temperature needs to remain at 40 degrees or higher for 72 hours to cure. We can recommend Laticrete Hi Bond Rapid which will speed up the cure time, but 72 hours is still advised.

There is a simple rule to follow when the temperature is low during installation: The 18º (8 ºC) Rule – for every 18ºF below 70ºF (8ºC below 21ºC), portland cement and epoxy based materials take twice as long to cure.

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Does the Thin Veneer need to be installed with a masonry shelf?

No masonry shelf is needed. Stoneyard™ Thin Veneer can be installed directly on cement board or brick.

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Can you install dry-laid thin stone veneer on exterior applications?

Yes with LATICRETE MVIS Premium Veneer Mortar.

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Do I need to point in between stones in a dry-laid application?

With the LATICRETE system you do not need to point.

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What installation system do you recommend?

We recommend Laticrete MVIS Hi Bond Watch this video for instructions and tips.

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What kind of blade/tool do I need to cut your stone?

A diamond blade on a right angle grinder or wet saw. We recommend installation by a Certified Thin Veneer Installer.

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How do I cut Thin Veneer when trimming is necessary?
The fastest way to trim thin veneer is with a steel base and a carbide tip hammer. David Croteau demonstrates how to use both.

 

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How much waste/trimming is involved when installing thin veneer?

See: How to Calculate the Amount of Material Needed for Thin Stone Installations and How to Calculate the Expected Waste Factor for Thin Stone Installations

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How many square feet do thin veneer corners cover?

For each linear foot of corners installed you will get approximately 0.75 SF of coverage. Use our thin veneer material calculator for estimating.

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Do I need corner pieces when installing thin veneer?

If you are covering a corner with stone then…yes. Our natural stone thin veneer corners give your project the appearance of full thickness stone.

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How do I bond thin veneer stone to metal, such as a metal fireplace surround?
Use stone epoxy such Latapoxy 310 from Laticrete. David Croteau goes over the process of attaching thin veneer stone to a metal fireplace surround.

 

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How do I install a dry laid fieldstone retaining wall?

In this video David Croteau, a stone mason and founder of Stoneyard.com shows the step-by-step process and considerations as you gather, choose and place stones for a fieldstone retaining wall.

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What stone installation tools should I use for natural thin veneer?

Watch as David Croteau of STONEYARD® demonstrates the use of some amazing new Thin Stone Veneer installation tools: Thin Stone Veneer Hammer and Steel Base Splitter.

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How do I install Thin Veneer?

Please read Installing Thin Stone Veneer for more information. In this video,  David Croteau explains how to install New England Fieldstone Thin Veneer.

See this FAQ on its own page (useful for sharing).