Cultured Stone Retaining Walls
Cultured stone, also referred to as veneer, is lightweight, man-made faux stone. When stuck to the face of a block retaining wall, cultured stone adds a look of elegance and distinction to almost any property. Retaining walls stabilize slopes and provide useful places for gardening and other landscaping projects. Retaining walls additionally turn steep slopes into adequate building space for houses and businesses.
Retaining Wall
Stone veneer alone is not powerful enough to maintain back plenty of water and soil so that you have to build a block retaining wall initial following regulations in the local building code. The simple structure of a retaining wall starts with a footing that includes a drain system to take water away from the walls along with a weep hole every 6 to 8 ft to allow water to drain through the bottom of the wall. The wall should lean backward to the ground, 1 inch for each foot of wall height and be manufactured from blocks or poured concrete with reinforced rebar. You should include space for drainage stone and filter cloth to prevent dirt from clogging the stone’s ability to drain efficiently.
Cultured Stone Panels
Cultured stone panels are available in many designs, such as granite, marble, limestone, travertine, slate and onyx. Stone veneer panels come with many different finishes offering polished, honed, flamed, hammered and sandblasted. Panels weigh 80 percent less than normal stone and are less prone to damage from weather and seismic racking. Typical panels are z-shaped and set up at a zig-zag pattern together with filler corners, panels and trim pieces. Installing cultured stone panels significantly reduces cost, time and labor.
Cast Stone
Individual cast stones masonry products are man-made limestone, brownstone, sandstone, bluestone, granite, slate, keystone or marble stones which are lightweight and durable. Cast stones are created by pouring a resin mixture into molds made from real, natural stones. Resin mixture ingredients vary depending on the type and colour of stone wanted, but typically include Portland cement, mineral oxide color pigments and water.
Setup
Ready the wall by installing a moisture barrier and wire net to hold mortar and individual stones. Veneer panels come with installation instructions which may vary based on manufacturer. Arrange stones for every section of wall ahead of time. After that, use a thick coating of mortar into the first section of wall. Press stones to the mortar. If the mortar begins to dry before you’ve finished the segment, lightly mist with water and immediately complete the section. Fill low spots from the mortar between stones using a pastry, quilted tote. Wash every section of wall using a sponge and water before continuing on to the next section.