Add a Decorative Accent with the Natural Beauty of Stone Veneer

Add a decorative accent to almost any wall in your home with the natural beauty of stone veneer. New engineered stone veneers are lighter and more budget-friendly than traditional stone and they’re easy to install, only requiring a few tools and special adhesive. Learn how to give an ordinary wall an extraordinary makeover in this Lowe’s video:

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for your type of stone.

Prep:

• Calculate how much stone you’ll need by measuring your work area and subtracting areas that won’t be covered, then add 10% for extra.
• Let the stones and adhesive acclimate in the room for 24 hours. This is a good time to remove any bumps or nubs on the stones and plan your layout. Mix stones from different boxes and alternate sizes to break up vertical seams.
• Your work area must be flat, clean and smooth. Lightly sand surfaces painted with oil-based paints. Make sure that the floor, countertop or molding is level; if not, find the lowest spot, hold the stone in place, mark the top, and extend this line along the work area. This will be your guide for cutting the first row to fit, keeping things level.
• For wood floors, use shims under the first row for future floor repairs or renovations. Now, mark the vertical layout on a long straight board. This is called the jury stick. Hold it against the wall and adjust the starting line as needed.

Install:

• Start the install at the bottom corner. With a putty knife, apply a thick layer of the adhesive to the back of the stone (similar to icing a cupcake), and press it onto the wall. Do the same for the next piece, keeping the joints tight, and finish Row 1. Make sure everything is level. Then start the second row. Remember to stagger the joints and keep them tight.
• At the row ends, use a natural stone edge for a finished look. To cut a stone, mark it and cut face side up with a masonry blade or hacksaw. Hide the cut edge toward the middle. For corners, reverse the special corner pieces with each row.
• Continue installing, periodically checking for level and wiping off any adhesive that gets on the face of the stone before it dries.

And that’s all there is to it! Clean up is as easy as using warm water for interior adhesive.