How to Add a Masonary Veneer to a Cement Wall

When you want to create an interesting texture to the cement walls in your home, you may consider adding brick or stone. The cost of these materials, however, may prohibit you from seeing your vision come to life. Consider a masonry veneer to create style and texture over a concrete wall. Stone or brick veneers are common choices for exterior walls or basements. A trip to your local home improvement store will yield all you need to add a masonry veneer to a cement wall over the course of a weekend.

Power washer
High voltage cordless drill
Concrete fasteners
Metal lath or screen
Mortar
Trowel
Water
Soft bristle brush

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the cement or concrete wall with a power washer to remove debris or paint. The concrete surface needs to be clean for the mortar to bond.
- 2
  Attach the metal lath to the concrete surface with a high voltage cordless drill and concrete fasteners or screws. Install a fastener in each corner and along the outside edges in the center of the lath.
- 3
  Prepare the mortar according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Apply a 1/2-layer of mortar to the metal lath with the trowel. Press the mortar fully into the screen.
- 4
  Let the mortar set until it is almost dry. Press your thumb into the mortar; if you leave a print, you can score the mortar. Score the mortar by dragging the notched edge of the trowel across the mortar in horizontal lines.
- 5
  Spray the etched mortar with water to moisten the surface. Use only enough to moisten the mortar.
- 6
  Add a half-inch of mortar to the backside of the masonry veneer. Press the veneer to the etched surface on the cement beginning at the top right corner. Work your way across and down in this manner until you cover the entire surface with the masonry veneer.
- 7
  Dip the corner of the trowel into the mortar. Spread the mortar over the joints between the veneers. After you grout the entire veneer surface, let the grout set until scrape excess mortar from the bricks with the clean edge of the trowel.
- 8
  Brush away dried mortar from the surface with a soft bristle brush.

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