How Do You Install Manufactured Stone Over Cement Board?
Manufactured stone can offer a natural look to exterior or interior walls, and because the product is man-made, it is much easier to install than its natural counterparts. Cement board is a cementitious backer board that is often used for tile application but also serves to offer a strong bonding surface for other masonry products, like manufactured stone veneer. Cement board makes manufactured stone installation a fairly straightforward task. Mix the mortar in the 5-gallon bucket using the electric drill and mixing paddle, referring to the mortar packaging for mixing directions. Apply a scratch coat to the cement board using a concrete float; this is a thin coat of mortar (usually about 1/8-inch thick or less). Allow the scratch coat to cure before moving on; refer to mortar packaging for curing timetables. Apply a generous coat (about one inch thick) of mortar to the back of a stone and press it firmly to the bottom of the wall so that mortar squeezes out from the back of the stone.
