Decided I needed a short break from all the wood work and decided to work on some of our interior cultured stonework this past week. After some really, really long days its all but done now. :-)

Cement board set in place

First all the cement board had to be put in place.

Wire mesh or mason's lathe put up

After Cement board was put up, wire mesh or “Masons Lathe” was put over that…

Scratch Coat

Over the wire using a notched trowel and thin coat of motar a “scratch coat” was then layed for the stonework to attach to.

Laying stone

Putting up stone over the scratch coat

Stone going up

Stone was first layed out on the floor in the pattern that best worked varying colors and sizes and then place upon the wall.

Ready for pointing

Using eihter a mortar bag or doing like I did and just mixing a dryer batch of mortar crevices between the stones were filled and ready for “pointing”

Pointing up the stones

Pointing up the stonework

Pointing up

Pointing up the stones gives it that finished look. Worked from early AM till midnight on our kitchen bar.

Acid washing stone

After the mortar was allowed to cure a couple of days my lovely wife Corrina began acid washing the excess mortar off before we seal the stones.

Mantel after acid washing

Mantel area all acid washed and hearth ready for acid washing :-)

Another view of mantel area

Another view of Mantel and Hearth area :-)

Kitchen Bar all pointed up and ready for acid washing

View of Kithen Bar area all pointed up and ready for acid washing.

Kitchen Bar area

Another view of Kitchen Bar area. :-)

Next Up… sealed stonework, tile all in and more board and batt done. :-)