How to Install Cultured Stone on a House

Cover the entire installation surface with a layer of felt paper to create a moisture barrier for the cultured stone. Cut it to fit with a utility knife. Use a hammer tacker to staple the felt paper in place. Use tin snips to cut sheets of wire mesh down to size, overlapping them by a couple of inches across the installation surface. Tack them in place.

Start at the bottom of the wall, and work your way to the top. Mix mortar in a bucket according to the manufacturer’s instructions with a drill and beater. Use a margin trowel to apply at least 1/2 inch of mortar on top of the mesh. You can use more as required to build out thinner stones. Spread a layer of mortar onto the back of the cultured stone pieces, like butter on bread, and press them into the mortar on the wall. Allow the installation 24 hours to set up before you grout.

Mix more mortar in a bucket. Use a margin trowel to fill a grout bag with the mortar. Insert the tip into the joints, and squeeze the bag to dispense the mortar into the joints. Fill them as full as you like, and work your way up from the bottom to the top. Allow the grout to dry for at least 30 minutes.

Create more uniform joints by using a jointer tool. Grasp the jointer in your hand, and press the rounded tip into a grout joint so the edges of the tool rest on the tops of the pieces on either side of the joint. Pull the tool along the joints to smooth the grout to a uniform layer and remove the excess.