How to Use Veneer Stone Mortar Mix
Veneer stone mortar mix is commonly used around a fireplace instead of real stone and is used to adhere stone veneer to a structure. It is easy to work with and when done correctly looks just like real stone. The mortar mix is versatile and can be used on an array of materials including wood, concrete block, wallboard, or brick.
Materials Needed
- Mortar mix for stone veneer
- Water
- Wheelbarrow
- Hoe
- Grout bag
- Hand shovel
- 15-pound felt paper
- Staple gun and staples
- Stud finder
- Marker
- Metal lath
- Hammer
- 1/2-inch galvanized nails
- Trowel
- Spray bottle with water
- Stone veneer
- Mix the mortar in a wheelbarrow per the manufacturer's instructions. Once the mixture is initially mixed, use a hoe to blend it to a very smooth consistency. Check the consistency of the mortar by shoveling a small amount of the mixed mortar into a grout bag. Use a hand shovel to transport the mixture from the wheelbarrow to the grout bag. Squeeze the bag so that a small portion of mortar comes out. If the mortar flows fast then add more mix to the mortar; if it is hard to squeeze out of the grout bag then add more water to the mortar.
- Prepare the wall for the mortar and stone veneer. Use a staple gun to staple 15-pound felt paper to the wall. Use a stud finder to locate the studs behind the wall and mark them with a pencil or marker so that the stud location is easy to find. Hammer the metal lath over the 15-pound felt paper with the galvanized nails.
- Lather a coat of the mortar created in step one with a trowel. Start from the corners and work across and down the wall. Spread the mortar evenly. The thickness of the mortar needs to be 3/8”. If the mortar starts to get dry and difficult to work with, spray it with water from a spray bottle.
- Spray the back of the stone veneer with water and apply a thin layer of mortar to the back. Gently push the stone veneer on the mortared wall and repeat this process until the remaining portion of the project is completed.