How to Lay Natural Stone Samples

Natural stone samples can be obtained from almost any stone supplier, which lets you take a few different pieces to see what you'd like to choose for your project. Like a full supply of natural stone, the samples can be laid in the area to be covered. You will follow the same steps as the full stone laying project. In fact, laying the samples may be the best way to get an idea of what each piece will look like. However, if you choose to lay a stone sample, it could be permanent or require heavy work for removal. Laying just the samples will not take nearly as long as the entire project and can be accomplished by almost any do-it-yourself homeowner.

Spade shovel
Tape measure
Tamper
Level
Gravel
Sand
Ready-mix mortar
Water
Trowel
Cement slurry
Rubber mallet
Jointer

Instructions

- 1
  Mark off the area you wish to cover in stone. Place a stake in the ground every 3 feet around the perimeter of the area. Wrap the perimeter of the area with string. Tie the string to each stake.
- 2
  Remove dirt from the area with a spade shovel. Dig down a level 6 inches across the entire surface of the area.
- 3
  Level the area with a tamper. Tamp down the soil two or three times. After tamping, confirm that the area is even with a level. Place the level on the surface in several areas. If you find any uneven areas, add or remove soil as needed and tamp the area again.
- 4
  Spread a layer of gravel over the area to be covered with the samples. The layer should be 3 inches deep. Compress or compact the gravel with a tamper in the same way that you compacted the soil.
- 5
  Add a layer of sand over the gravel. This layer should be approximately 2 inches thick. Compact the sand with the tamper tool as your did with the soil and the gravel.
- 6
  Apply a layer of mortar over the sand. The consistency of the mortar should be that of wet cement. Mix it in a wheelbarrow with water until it reaches the appropriate consistency. Spread the mortar over the stone samples with a trowel.
- 7
  Place the stone samples in your desired locations. Tap them into place with a rubber mallet until they are settled and level. Check to see if the stones are even with a level.
- 8
  Insert mortar between the gaps in the stone samples. The mortar will act similar to the grout between tiles.
- 9
  Allow the mortar to dry for at least 24 hours. Do not walk on the stone samples until the mortar is dry. Dry mortar will feel like dry cement.

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