Top 3 Common Mistakes
1) Failure to properly wrap the corners: It is crucial to properly wrap the outside corners of your project to avoid cracks in your corner stones.
2)Staining the rock around your foundation: Often dirt around a new structure will splash up onto the stone causing a possible stain.
3) Leaving Voids: When installing the stone it is important that you get a nice even amount of mortar on the back of the stone to avoid leaving voids.
How to Avoid the Common Mistakes
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1) It is important to wrap the outside corners 16 inches!
2) The two best solutions to avoid stains are to cover any dirt with straw, or use water to lightly wash the dirt off of the stone before it is allowed to dry and be absorbed into the face of the stone.
3)Evenly cover the back of your stone when installing, it is often referred to as "buttering" the back of the stone.
Welcome to the day and age of DIY projects with any and all information at your finger tips. We want to take that a step forward and put the information directly into your hands. We will examine a few of the common errors that are often made when taking on a stone project, and by examining these few simple fixes you will be ahead of the curve. Mistakes are often only made because of a lack of knowledge and the following information will help you avoid these top five common mistakes.
The first and one of the most common mistakes that is made is in the process of installing your metal lathe, which requires properly wrapping the outside corners of your project area. When working with your M-Rock stones you have two types: your flat stones and your corner stone’s. Wrapping your corners is crucial for your corner stone’s. When starting your stone project first apply the proper moisture barrier, followed by your metal lathe. The problem occurs when applying the metal lathe because it is necessary to wrap the lathe around the corners. The problem of cracking and breaking of your corner stone can occur when the metal lathe has been either butted up to the corner or there is a break in the metal lathe near the corners. It is critical to your corner stone’s that you have properly wrapped all outside corners with your metal lathe 16 inches. Once you have properly wrapped your corners you can be confident that as you continue in the installation that your M-Rock project will be a success. So, let’s review the key point: When installing the metal lathe you must wrap the corners 16 inches!
Another common mistake can occur when installing stone around a foundation. Often dirt being splashed causes your stone to be stained. When installation is taking place, especially on a new structure the guttering not being completed, or if there is any unfinished landscaping are a few of the causes. If either of these issues are present it can cause water runoff to splash dirt and mud up on the stone, the sun will then bake the dirt into the face of the stone permanently staining the stone if allowed to dry and is not washed off immediately. The two best solutions are to cover any dirt with straw, or use water to lightly wash the dirt off of the stone before it is allowed to dry and be absorbed into the face of the stone.
The next common problem is leaving voids behind the stones. A void is a gap between the stone where the mortar and the surface are not in full, even contact. When installing your stone it is important that you get a nice even amount of mortar on the back of the stone using an adequate amount of mud is important as well. It is commonly called, “buttering” the back of the stone, which simply means that you evenly cover the back of your stone when you install the stone. It is important to firmly press the stone and gently tap around it to make sure that a good contact has been made between the stone and the surface where it is being installed. Leaving voids can cause problems with the life of your stones.
