Proper mortar for dry stack stone?

[Brucek1$]

Looking for advice on proper mortar ro be used for thinner dry stack stone.behind a wood stove. My plan was to put durarock behind the stove and mud the stone right to that. The stone i bought called for a polymer modified mortar but all i could find at lowes was latex modified mortar which is what the guy from lowes told me i needed? Any thoughts? The wall is about 4.5 ft wide by 8 ft tall.

 

[Hogwildz]

If it is cultured stone veneer, masons mix will work good. If it is a heavier real stone, I used Natural Stone Heavy Tile mortar. I have done both, and used both. I had to use metal lath, as I went over painted concrete & painted brick. Both worked well for the application, and no issues.

 

[Brucek1$]

Its

If it is cultured stone veneer, masons mix will work good. If it is a heavier real stone, I used Natural Stone Heavy Tile mortar. I have done both, and used both. I had to use metal lath, as I went over painted concrete & painted brick. Both worked well for the application, and no issues.

natural stone but its not to heavy it come in 6 inch tall by 12 inch long pieces mabie an inch thick at the most, i was thinking of breaking up the wall and doing it in 3ft sections

 

[Hogwildz]

Its

natural stone but its not to heavy it come in 6 inch tall by 12 inch long pieces mabie an inch thick at the most, i was thinking of breaking up the wall and doing it in 3ft sections

I would use the heavy stone & tile mix, but that is my personal preference. I like to go a little overkill for assurance.

 

[xman23]

My cultured river rock stone was done on stucco wire mesh. The wire was on the sheet rock wall.

 

[billfred]

I used this. Approved for around fireplaces also....

(broken link removed)

 

[Hogwildz]

I used this stuff. Holds very well. I had to use lath to go over painted brick.
Don't forget to plan any wiring & lighting you might want before doing the stone work.
I added a strip pf LED white/color lighting above with different lighting patterns etc.
The last shot is before the Summit install, and stone install.
I am pleased with the finished product, works for me.
I used real stone panels 6" x 24" interlocking. The averaged about between 1" & 1-3/4" thick.

(broken link removed)

 

[ben94122]

@xman23, that is the look my wife wants. Any advice for us? There was a thread a few months ago recommending tearing out the sheetrock and putting up a vapor barrier, but I think that was for brick or masonry; may not apply to cultured stone?

 

[bholler]

@xman23, that is the look my wife wants. Any advice for us? There was a thread a few months ago recommending tearing out the sheetrock and putting up a vapor barrier, but I think that was for brick or masonry; may not apply to cultured stone?

I would personally never apply culture stone over drywall.

 

[ben94122]

I would personally never apply culture stone over drywall.

I don't want to hijack this thread, and mods obviously feel free to move, but why not? Per one manufacturer, it's OK to install cultured stone products over "wallboard," which Google tells me is drywall or sheetrock, if you use 2 sheets of housewrap (or other vapor barrier, eg ASTM E2556) under it, then use a scratch coat with embedded lath. Serious question; I have no experience with any of this.

(broken link removed to https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3974799/installation-guides/Stone-Installation-Guide-2018.pdf)

 

[bholler]

I don't want to hijack this thread, and mods obviously feel free to move, but why not? Per one manufacturer, it's OK to install cultured stone products over "wallboard," which Google tells me is drywall or sheetrock, if you use 2 sheets of housewrap (or other vapor barrier, eg ASTM E2556) under it, then use a scratch coat with embedded lath. Serious question; I have no experience with any of this.

(broken link removed to https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3974799/installation-guides/Stone-Installation-Guide-2018.pdf)

I just feel much more comfortable with the durability of it when its over cement board

 

[ben94122]

I just feel much more comfortable with the durability of it when its over cement board

That, from an experienced professional, is an excellent reason! Cement board over drywall or rip out the drywall and cement board directly attached to framing?

 

[bholler]

That, from an experienced professional, is an excellent reason! Cement board over drywall or rip out the drywall and cement board directly attached to framing?

It depends on the situation. Many times the cement board is attached to add spacers to create a nfpa wall sheild.

 

[Dobish]

It depends on the situation. Many times the cement board is attached to add spacers to create a nfpa wall sheild.

that is what we did for ours. we added some metal studs, then a layer of cement board, then the stone using the same stuff that Hogwildz used.

 

[jetsam]

I would personally never apply culture stone over drywall.

The mortar is sticking to the paper face of the drywall. When the paper delaminates from the gypsum, the stone/tile goes with it.

 

[Hogwildz]

If you want to go over drywall, you should use 2 layers of 30lb roofing felt, then metal lath nailed very well to the studs, then you will be fine. If the studs are spaced further than 16' oc, tear off the drywall, add studs in between the existing, and install whatever you wish. If you're going to go through all that, might as well install cement board instead of reinstalling drywall.