Installation Instructions

Recommended Installation Instructions For Diamond Petra Stone
Serving Springdale, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, Fort Smith, Tulsa, & Joplin

Materials list:
  • Stone
  • 30# Felt Paper or DuPont Tyvek – Housewrap, protective barrier
  • Rainscreen Drainage Mat – Permanent gap for drainage
  • Stucco Lath – Framework for cement application
  • Cap Nails or Cap Staples
  • Stainless Steel Fasteners – Roofing Nails (long enough to penetrate into a stud) or 1” Crown Staples (Galvanized is also acceptable)
  • Premixed Type S Masonry Cement or non-premixed Type S Masonry Cement (2-3 bags per 100 sq. feet mixed with sand)
  • (If not using Premixed) Mixing Sand (Approximately 500 lbs. per 100 sq ft)

Tools required:
  • Hock and Trowel (Stucco Tools)
  • Small stick for cleaning joints
  • Nylon Brush
  • Wheelbarrow or Mixer
  • Hoe
  • Angle Grinder or Chop Saw w/ Diamond Blade
  • Grout Bag
NOTE: Unpainted or unsealed masonry or concrete surfaces do not require paper or stucco lath. Diamond Petra Stone can be applied directly to these surfaces.

How to Install Rock Veneer

1. Install DuPont Tyvek with cap nails or cap staples (Per DuPont instructions – http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/construction-materials/building-envelope-systems/articles/how-to-install.html)
2. Tack rain screen to wall.
3. Fasten 2.5 galv. metal lath over rain screen with roofing nails or 1″ crown Staples, Stainless steel or galvanized, every 4 to 6 inches. Wrap around corners and overlap all joints -vertical and horizontal by 2".
4. Mix Premixed Type S masonry cement or non-premixed Type S masonry cement approximately 2:1 sand to cement. Add mortar color if desired. Add sufficient water so that when a handful of the mixture is thrown against the wall, it adheres. (Approx. peanut butter consistency.)
5. Recommended: (Scratch Coat) Apply an even 1/4" coating of cement to your wall surface and go over with a grooved trowel. Allow to dry overnight. This acts as a like kind surface for the mortar on the back of the rock the next day to adhere faster.
6. Recommended: (Scratch Coat)  Start at the top of the wall for cleanliness, butter the back of the rock with the wet mortar and push the rock into the scratch coat.
7. (Other option in place of scratch coat method) Starting at the top, spread approximately 1/2" to 3/4" thick of cement on the wall in a 3′x 3′ area at a time, so that the cement will harden before the stone is in place.
8. (Other option in place of scratch coat method) Press the stone into the cement until it hits the metal lath and grabs. Push the next stone as close as needed so that the cement fills the joint between the stones.
9. Allow cement to set up until it does not stick to finger (about 15-45 minutes, depending upon the temperature and humidity) before roughly smoothing joints between stones. Let set another 15-30 minutes, then work the joint again more smoothly. Let set another 10 minutes (depending on temperature and humidity) and take a straw whisk broom or a brush with a little firmness to it and sweep the joints smooth.
10. If mortar residue has gotten on the edges or faces of the stone, clean it off preferably that day with a nylon brush and either water, water with dish soap, or apple cider vinegar, because of its 5% acidity, beware of evaporation, the acid content in the vinegar could get stronger. Never use anything with more than 5% acidity on the face of stones, it could have adverse effects on the color. Do NOT use Hydrochloric Acid (a.k.a. Muriatic acid, Spirits of Salt)
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