Stone Veneer Installation

Prior to application it is best to clean, brush, and degrease any surface of dust or oils. Depending on the adhesive used, it may be necessary to prep the back of the Stone Veneer by sanding or scuffing the back to expose the fiberglass. Some adhesives may require the use of solvents or recommended primer by the adhesive manufacturer.

Time spent preparing the work area will pay off in a job well done. Preparation of the area to be covered and the layout of the veneer sheets is the same as for natural stones or tiles. A preliminary dry fit of veneers allows for arrangements and orientation of individual sheets, patterns, textures, and colors before final placement. It is recommended that each sheet be dry fit exactly where it will be placed on all surfaces. Numbering the sheets to track relocation before cutting and trimming will save you time.

Veneer can be also be used to create a tiled effect by leaving a grout joint between cut pieces. Sheets may also be butt joined for a minimal seam look. Due to the thin nature of the sheets a narrower grout joint will produce better results.

Test show the use of water based epoxy grouts work well to fill between the cut veneers. These epoxy grouts are also available in several colors to match the desired décor. On final clean up with a sponge, the epoxy will also seal and fill the Veneer surface. If desired a deeper grout joint can be achieved by removing material just under the grout joint area.

Precautions must be taken when working with Veneer due to the fiberglass composition of the backing materials. ALWAYS use the proper type gloves, goggles, and dust mask when cutting. When using a saw ALWAYS be sure to take proper precautions to cover skin, eyes and lungs from fiberglass dust. When cutting, properly filter equipment exhausts when cutting with saws, grinders, or sanders.

AVOID BREATHING SILICA DUST. This product when cut, drilled, or abraded produces dust containing Free Silica which may cause cancer or delayed lung injury (Silicosis) if inhaled. Work outdoors, in a well ventilated area, or use mechanical ventilation.

Know your adhesives; by understanding the specifics of any adhesives, much time and cost can be saved. All adhesives should be tested prior to any installation including consideration of moisture and temperature in the planned environment. If the application is outdoors, consideration to thermal expansion should be taken into account. Since the sheets is only a veneer it must expand and contract the same as the substrate or delamination may occur. Where adhesive primers are recommended the bond should be test by the installer before final installation.

• Premixed grout and tile adhesive
• Acrylic copolymer based tile adhesive
• Polyurethane wood glues and PU construction grade adhesives
• Wood, parquet, and outdoor carpet adhesives
• Thick latex or acrylic latex type tile adhesive (use only where air drying can take place)
• Epoxy
• Silicone (with primer only)
• Construction grade multi-purpose adhesive, Liquid Nails type.
• Polyester based gap filler putty (Bondo type products)

The back of veneers may require a filler type adhesive for some applications. The polyurethane wood glues work quite well for most applications to board materials by foaming slightly to fill gaps. These materials are not recommended for high moisture or wet application. For wet environments epoxies would be the best candidate. Contact adhesives are not recommended due to the uneven backing or Veneers.