Tech Data

Telluride Stone Company

Installation Recommendations

Flat and corner pieces are used for most installations. Flats are applied to the flat wall surface and ordered in square feet. Corners are applied to outside corners and are ordered in lineal feet. Using corners around window and door openings provides added dimension, depth, enhances the finished design and can be ordered on per-job basis.

Details

Tested Material: "Telluride Gold™"
Test Performed: ASTM D-6473
Bulk Specific Gravity: 2.45
Unit Weight: 152.5 lbs/cub.ft
Weight @ 1″ Thickness: 12.71 lbs/sq.ft.
Weight Per 120 sq.ft Sample Submitted (avg. thickness 3/4″ – 1 1/2″): 12.63 lbs/sq.ft
Tests Conducted By: Lincoln DeVore, Inc., Geotechnical Engineers – Geologists, Grand Junction, CO

Telluride Stone Company

Preparing the Mortar

Telluride Stone Company strongly recommends the use of a bonding agent in the setting mortar. Mortar should be mixed to a workable consistency.

Recommended Setting Mortar

Latex thin-set mix

3 parts Portland cement
2 parts latex thin-set mortar
7 parts masonry sand
Water

Bonding agent mix

3 parts type S masonry cement
7 parts masonry sand
Bonding agent and Water

Type N mortar — no bonding agent

2 parts type N masonry cement
3 to 5 parts masonry sand
Water

— OR —

1 part Portland cement
1 part Lime
3 to 5 parts masonry sand
Water

Type S mortar — no bonding agent

3 parts type S masonry cement
5 to 7 parts masonry sand
Water

— OR —

2 parts Portland cement
1 part Lime
5 to 7 parts masonry sand
Water

A latex thin-set mortar (such as Lata-Crete products) or an acrylic bonder (such as Acryl-Coat from US Spec) may also be used as bonding agents. Use type N or type S mortar mix without bonding agents as outlined above.

Telluride Stone Company

Preparing the Surface

Over sheetrock, wallboard, paneling, plywood, other rigid wood-related sheathing or rigid insulation board: cover the wall surface with a weather-resistive barrier. The barrier shall be equal to that provided for in the U.B.C. Standard No. 14-1 for kraft waterproof building paper of asphalt-saturated rag felt. The building paper or felt shall be applied horizontally with the upper layer lapped over the lower layer not less than 2 inches. Where vertical joints occur, the felt or paper shall be lapped not less than 6 inches.

Then install 2.5 lb. (or heavier) diamond mesh expanded metal lath. Use galvanized lath for exterior applications. Black metal lath (non-galvanized) may be used for interior applications. Overlap lath sides by not less than 1/2″ and lath ends by not less than 1 inch. Attach the lath using galvanized nails or staples 6″ on center vertically and 16″ on center horizontally, penetrating studs a minimum of 1.″ Be sure to attach the metal lath with the small cups pointing upwards. Wrap metal lath a minimum of 16″ around all inside and outside corners, minimum to the next stud and do not break lath at the corner. Then apply a 1/2″-thick scratch coat of mortar over the metal lath and allow it to set. Mortar can either be type N or S.

Over clean unpainted, unsealed, untreated brick, block, concrete or other masonry surfaces, no surface preparation is necessary.

Over painted, sealed or treated brick, block, concrete or other masonry surfaces must either a) be cleaned back to the original surface by sandblasting, water blasting, acid etching or wire brushing, or b) have metal lath attached using corrosion-resistant concrete nails with a scratch coat applied over the metal lath.

Telluride Stone Company

Applying the Stone

Setting the stone: Using a mason's trowel, apply approx. 1/2″ thick even layer of mortar to the entire back of the stone. Then press the stone firmly into place on the prepared wall surface, squeezing the mortar out around all edges. Using a gentle wiggling action or tapping of stone will ensure a good bond.

For jointless/dry-stacked installations, it's important when setting the stone that the edges of the stone are properly sealed with mortar to ensure a satisfactory bond.

If the stone is being installed onto a very dry surface or in a hot/dry climate, the wall surface should be wet to prevent excessive absorption of moisture from the mortar. This can be done by spraying or brushing water onto the wall surface. The wall surface should be allowed to dry for a few minutes after wetting to eliminate excess surface water.

Grouting the joints: After the stone has been applied to the wall surface, use a grout bag to fill the joints with mortar, forcing grout into any voids. Any mortar that accidentally gets on the stone should be allowed to set until dry and crumbly and then brushed off with a dry whisk broom. Average waste should be calculated at 5–7% with 1/2″ joint width.

"Dry stack look": We recommend grouting to fill noticeable voids and to conceal cut or broken stone edges. Approx. 1/2 amount of grout as for a "jointed look." The "dry stack" appearance will result from the deep striking of the joints. Note that this type of installation will increase the amount of waste: when using field/random stone, add about 20%, and for chopped stone, add approx. 15%.

Finishing the joints: When the mortar joints become firm (normally 30–60 minutes), use a wooden or metal striking tool to rake out the excess mortar to the desired depth while at the same time forcing the mortar into the joints so as to seal the stone edges thoroughly. Be careful not to work the joints too soon or the mortar will smear. After working the joints, use a whisk broom to smooth the joints and clean away any loose mortar from the joints and stone face. Loose mortar and mortar spots that have set for only a few hours should clean up easily and should never be allowed to set up overnight.

Note: It is important to divert water run-off away from stone surfaces by using cant trip, gutters, and flashing. Water run-off combined with severe freeze-thaw conditions can result in damage. The stone should not be used below the water level.

Do not install in temperatures below 40° Fahrenheit. Provide supplemental heat if necessary to ensure a minimum of 40° Fahrenheit temperature between installation and mortar drying for approx. 24 hours.

Telluride Stone Company

Download the Tech Data PDF

Need this information later? Download our tech data PDF to conveniently access this information in the future.

Download PDF