4 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Installing Stone Veneer

Stone veneers for the exterior of your home are great additions that do a lot for the overall presentation of your home. If you’re looking into installing some for yourself, you should go into the process with knowing some relevant tips and tricks. The last thing you want is to do more work for yourself than is necessary. These are four common mistakes to avoid when installing stone veneers in your home.

Failing To Secure Panels Well

When you finish planning and are ready to begin setting each stone by hand, you should use a high-quality mortar. A common lesson many self-installers learn early is that it takes more than the usual mortar for bricks to keep your stone veneer secure. High-bond mortars specifically for stone veneers are the best options for those installing by themselves.

Leaving Gaps

The overall look of a completed stone veneer on the exterior of your home is beautiful and lets you admire it without a thought. On the other hand, an improperly installed veneer is prone to gaps and leaves room for critiques from others. When working with something like field stone veneer, you must ensure the edges are even enough so that each piece can align properly.

Forgetting the Sealant

Over time, exposure to the elements will leave your veneer looking worse for wear. Discoloration, degradation, and damage are inevitable, but you can mitigate their extent with sealant. This is one of the biggest mistakes that happens all too frequently. Often, people only realize it after an extended period of damage has occurred. Those instances are easy to avoid if you seal the stone veneer at the start and maintain it over time.

Having Uneven Corners

One aspect of a well-done veneer installation that sets it apart from an amateur’s job lies in the corners’ look. It’s best to cut the cornerstones of the veneer at a 45-degree angle to ensure a clean connection to the other panel. While it’s nice to go for a more natural look, it looks sloppy overall when the corners aren’t even.

Creating a home that has your neighbors admiring it from a distance isn’t a difficult task with stone veneers. However, to save more work for yourself in the future, it’s a good idea to consider some of the past issues others have run into. By being aware of these four common mistakes to avoid when installing stone veneers, you’re more likely to install your panels flawlessly.