Any decorating style, from ultra-modern to tough rustic, can be wonderfully complemented by natural stone.
The room will gain texture, color, and dimension if a wall is covered in stone, but bear in mind that drywall has a limited load-carrying capacity, so read on to discover how you can apply stone without making costly mistakes.
It is possible to put a stone over drywall, especially if you are using veneer panels rather than real, dry stack stone. Veneer panels look almost identical to real stone but are much lighter and easier to attach to your wall. There is little chance it will fall off and damage the wall.
Stone veneer panels are available in many different types and come in standard lengths, so it is easy to calculate how much you need.
Stacked stone is much heavier than a veneer and requires suitable support that a drywall cannot supply.
If you prefer the stacked stone look, then you’ll need to attach the cement board to the drywall first before applying the stacked stone.
It is a little more trouble to cut the stones as you’ll need a wet saw or an angle grinder if you feel comfortable making the long cuts by hand.
Applying the stone to the wall will require a strong mortar to bond the tile to the cement board. Before you start, it is a good idea to attach a long straight edge a few feet up the wall to use a level. This ensures that the tiles are straight and level with the floor.
Once you finish attaching the tiles, allow the mortar to dry for at least 24 hours, and then paint on a sealer to prevent moisture from being absorbed into the porous stone tiles.
Should You Put Stone Over Drywall?
There is a tendency to try to cut corners when installing DIY tiling, but you can get yourself into trouble if you do.
It is best to follow tried and tested methods to attach stone tiles and stone veneers to drywall as you will get a better quality, longer lasting result.
Putting stone over drywall is not recommended without attaching cement board or metal lath to the wall. The stone tiles are too heavy for the drywall to support on its own. The mortar used to attach the stone to a wall will moisten the surface of the drywall, causing it to come apart.
If you are putting stone tiles on a backsplash or in a moist environment like a bathroom, it is recommended that you not attach them directly to the drywall.
Drywall is constructed of gypsum and paper, which is suitable for walls and ceilings and can be painted or wallpapered.
However, the weight of stone tiles is too heavy to support the weight of stone and will damage the drywall and potentially be a safety risk.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 19, 2022.
By attaching cement boards to the drywall, you will provide a waterproof barrier that is strong enough to support the stone tiles.
Light-weight stone veneer can be attached to drywall and some products look like stone but are very lightweight and can be glued or nailed into drywall successfully. If you don’t wish to go to the expense of attaching cement board or metal lath then these lightweight options are your best bet.
What Tools Do You Need To Put Stone Over Drywall?
If you are looking for a luxurious yet inexpensive home renovation, then adding stone to drywall can be a good option.
However, you’ll need a lightweight product like a stone veneer, otherwise, the drywall will not be able to support the weight of the stone.
To put a stone veneer over drywall, you will need various power and hand tools to get the job done neatly and professionally. Tools required include a concrete hand grinder, an electric drill, a screwdriver, preferably a table saw, a level, measuring tape, and a sheet metal cutter.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 19, 2022.
You’ll also need a ladder as well as a large mixing bucket for mortar, a notched trowel, a rubber mallet, and some drop clothes.
For applying grout, you may require a caulking gun and the porous stone usually needs a sealant. So. a couple of paintbrushes and a container to hold the sealant is necessary if you’re using real stone tiles.
If you are applying lightweight faux tiles that are nailed to drywall, then you can use a nail gun or just a normal builder’s claw hammer.
What Preparations Do You Need To Put Stone Over Drywall?
The great majority of stone veneer installations use concrete-based veneer because of its uniform size and shape, lightweight, and affordability.
Preparing a wall to receive stone veneers is relatively simple and can be achieved by the average DIY enthusiast with ease.
To put a stone veneer over drywall, you need to attach a waterproof barrier and then either glue or nail the veneer to the surface or attach metal lath or cement board onto which you will bond the stone tiles with mortar. You need to plan your layout carefully to ensure that the wall looks natural.
The best waterproof barrier is either No.15 felt or Grade D building paper, which you will attach to the wall with staples.
You will need at least two layers of waterproofing, which must be as smooth as possible so that the wire lath lies uniformly across the wall. The metal lath is best attached using galvanized fasteners.
The lath must be attached to the studs and a penetration of at least one inch is required to ensure that the lath can support the weight of stone tiles safely.
The lath should overlap at least one inch on all horizontal and vertical seams.
How To Put Stone Over Drywall
Stone should not be installed directly over painted or drywall surfaces.
It is advisable to use a thin-set mortar with a polymer ingredient and prime the drywall first or cover it with cement board or lath.
After attaching a lath or cement board to a drywall, measure your stone tiles and make sure that the pattern lines up. Then use a level to draw a horizontal line across the wall and lay the first line of tiles on the line. Work up to the ceiling from the line. Lay the bottom tiles from the floor up.
Once your wall is primed and ready, mix a bucket of thin-set mortar and allow it to sit for 5 minutes, and then mix it again.
Proceed to cover each stone tile in mortar and place it on the wall and press it firmly in place. You can use a diamond blade saw to cut the stone tiles when required.
Once the stones are all placed on the wall, leave it for at least 24 hours to set before applying a sealant.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 19, 2022.