Installing Fake Stone

Fake stone is becoming all the rage for outdoor stone products. Because of its difference in price and its ultra-realistic look, faux stone is on of the best bang for your buck home improvements. Best of all with a little sweat equity and elbow grease, you can install your own fake stone.

Fake stone is basically concrete set into a form. The back of fake stone looks just about like any concrete you have ever seen except it is rougher and unfinished to get a grip on the wall.

However the front of fake stone looks very different. It appears to have the look of natural stone. By using a special chemical process with a mix of cooling techniques, then can make the face of the concrete crack and fracture with the same cleavages and crevices that natural rock has. Once special colors have been applied or mixed into the concrete, the stone can mimic nearly and color of natural stone on the market.

Fake stone is applied just like regular stone. You need a basic matte of wire or fiberglass mesh with a scratch coat of stucco mix. The faux stone is then stacked on top of each other with alternating layers of stucco or mortar mix. Leftover mix that comes from between the faux stones is cleaned away and the entire set is allowed to dry. The entire process is very simple, just messy.

Begin by attaching the wire or fiberglass mesh to the area where the fake stone will be applied. In many cases, wire mess needs to be inspected. Check your local building department before you attempt any home improvement projects. There are certain codes that need to be followed for specific regions of the country. Last resort; nail the wire lathe/mesh cup up every six inches.

Next apply a coat of stucco mix or mortar mix to the wire lathe using a hawking trowel. This can be easier said than done. Start from the bottom and work your way up to the top. You're going to make a mess at first so you'd better have plenty of drop cloths around if you're worried about making a mess. Level the entire coat with a long and flat straight edge. Then just prior to it being dry, scratch the surface with a scratch board or use a pencil and create lines about every three inches apart.

After it's dry, stack the bricks out on the floor in a suitable pattern. Then stack one row at a time, alternating ½" thick layers of mortar and fake rock as you work your way from bottom to top. Clean out the excess as you go along with a margin trowel or piece of wood.