How do I Rock Veneer a Patio Post?
- 1). Clean the surface of the patio post with a stiff brush to remove debris and dirt.
- 2). Place metal lath, which is a large mesh-like metal screening, around the patio post, pull taut and nail in place with galvanized nails. Place the metal lath on the top of the post, pull taut and nail in with galvanized nails. Metal lath offers a gripping surface for the mortar to hang on.
- 3). Mix mortar in a bucket, trough or wheelbarrow, following the package directions.
- 4). Apply a thin layer, called a skim coat, of mortar to the metal lath with a trowel, pressing the mortar through the lath and onto the post surface.
- 5). Apply a 1/2-inch layer of mortar over the top of the skim coat with a trowel.
- 6). Apply a 1/2-inch layer of mortar with a trowel to the back of a piece of stone veneer and place it at the bottom of the patio post at the corner. Continue to work around the bottom, building up to the top of the post by adding 1/2 inch of mortar to the back of the stone veneer and setting it in place next to the previous piece. Begin the second course and set in place in the same manner as the first course, butting the stone veneer up to the first course. Repeat the process until stone veneer covers the side of the patio post.
- 7). Cut pieces of stone with a wet saw as necessary to fit on the patio post.
- 8). Apply a skim coat of mortar to the top of the patio post, followed by a 1/2-inch layer of mortar. Apply a 1/2-inch layer of mortar to the back of a piece of stone veneer and set it on top of the post. Continue to set pieces of stone until stone veneer covers the top of the patio post.
- 9). Allow the mortar to dry for 4 to 6 hours.
- 10
Mix mortar in a bucket and fill a grout bag with wet mortar. - 11
Place the end of the grout bag into the space between the stone pieces and squeeze in wet mortar to fill the spaces. - 12
Use a tuck-pointing tool to smooth and level the wet mortar, making it flush with the stone veneer. A tuck-pointing tool is a small, metal tool used to finish mortar joints.