- If you are applying stone veneer to concrete, then make sure the surface is not slick. Slick surfaces should be roughed up using a sander or a right-angle grinder and a masonry blade. Using the sander, sand the slick surface with 60-grit sandpaper---you only want to remove the slick layer. Use the right-angle grinder to cut shallow lines in the entire surface. You can criss-cross the lines or make them all vertical or horizontal. The idea is to create a surface on which the stone will stick.
- Install a backer material for waterproofing. If you are using a backer board, two brands to try are Hardiboard, a waterproof masonite, and Duraroc, a waterproof cement board, to cover wood surfaces. Install the board with galvanized screws to prevent rusting. If you want to do your own waterproofing, attach a sheet of felt paper, followed by diamond mesh, and then a thin coat of type S mortar---the thin coat should completely cover the diamond mesh.
- Mix type S mortar for setting the stone veneer onto your surfaces. The mix should be similar to pancake batter. Using a mason's trowel, wipe a 1- to 2-inch thick coat of mortar onto the back of the stone, and then rake lines in the mud with the tip of the trowel. This will help the mud adhere to the wall. Begin at the base of the wall and stick on the first piece. Leave a 1/2-inch gap between each stone. Stick the stones on the wall in random spots. Try not to push the stone all the way against the wall; leave about 1/2-inch of mud behind the stone. You may need to search for a stone that will fit into a certain gaps, but this is normal and it adds to the character of the project. Remove any excess mud that pushes out and onto the stone. Once the stone has dried in place for a few hours, fill the empty spaces in between the stone using a grout bag and the mortar you used to lay the stone. Smooth the joints using the point of your trowel.
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