Installing Manufactured Stone

• First, choose the type and quality of manufactured stone that you want to use. Most manufactured stone is simply cement mixed with sand and gravel like ordinary cement, but with slightly different materials. Pigments are added to help give it the color and texture of a particular type of stone, and the most high-quality versions have pigment introduced to the entire mixture so that it still looks authentic if the stone cracks or breaks.
  
  Do not assume you can treat the stone like real rock: You will need to install it more like you would concrete tiles. Real stonework is typically stacked using mortar to form walls and embankments, while tile is set against a base wall using a strong adhesive mixture. Use a cement stucco mixture to bond the manufactured stone to walls, and make sure the stucco mixture is fresh and has not begun to harden when you begin to use it. A strong bond is important for attaching the stone to walls. If you are laying a patio, then you can treat the manufactured stone just like flagstone or loose concrete tiles.
  
  

Using Manufactured Stone Techniques on Concrete

• If you do not want to buy manufactured stone, there are several options to apply manufactured stone looks to concrete. You should try to do this when first laying the concrete. Use mats or feather stamps to create designs in partially cured concrete, forming it into tile shapes that look more realistic than a pure concrete floor. After the concrete is fully dried, use an acid stain to give it the color and pattern of a real stone. Several different kinds of acid stain are available, depending on the effect you want. You can also use a mixture of paint and linseed oil to create marble-like effects. Finish by adding a layer of protective sealant. If you don't mind covering the floor with an epoxy resin, you can choose epoxies with color additives to layer the concrete with many different designs.
  
  If you have an older concrete floor, making it look like stone will be much more difficult. You will need to strip the concrete of any previous colors and sealants, then reseal the floor after adding the acid stain. Once concrete has dried, it is too late to add any tile or texture patterns.