How to Add Stone to a Home's Entryway

Protect the base layer of subfloor in the entryway with a layer of felt paper that acts as a moisture barrier. Cut the pieces to fit with a utility knife and overlap them slightly. Staple them down with the hammer tacker. Cut chicken wire to fit the same space and install it over the top of the felt paper. Tack it into place in a similar fashion.

Mix up some concrete mixture in the wheelbarrow with the shovel. However, instead of creating a mortar mix, only add enough water so that the mixture has the texture of damp sand, clumping up in your hand when squeezed but not wet enough to actually be mortar. Shovel this into place in the entryway, forming a roughly 2-inch thick layer. Tamp it into place with the wooden flat trowel.

Make a paint-like mixture in your bucket with the concrete mix and some water. Paint this mixture, known as a slurry coat, onto the back of each individual piece of stone before it is installed. Place a stone into the bed of cement mix on the floor. Tamp the piece into place with the rubber mallet. Repeat the process for subsequent pieces. Use the level to help guide your installation so the pieces are flat and level across the entryway. Let the installation sit for 24 hours while it dries.

Mix up some more concrete mixture in your wheelbarrow, this time to a mortar consistency according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Fill the grout bag with the mortar. Insert the tip of the bag into the joints between the stones and squeeze the bag to fill the joints. Fill all of the joints and wait 20 to 30 minutes.

Smooth the joints down with a damp sponge. Rinse the sponge out frequently in a bucket of water, but never use it when it is more than merely damp. Wipe the joints diagonally to avoid pulling the grout out of the joints. Wait another 30 minutes after your initial wash and give the floor a final wash. Allow 72 hours before allowing foot traffic.