I’m going to install some culture stone around a window on my home and was wondering if I could use cement board, screwed over the plywood as the substrate. I figured it would save me some time messing with wire mesh and mortar bed techniques most stone manufacturers recommend. I would leave the rough side out and cement the stone right to it. Also can I use regular thin set type mortar like I would use on ceramic tiles to cement the stone in place?
CRaig
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Inside or out? Inside, I would certainly do it - haven't used cultured stone, but have done thick (saltillo) tile that way.
Forrest
outside............
Technically, all you have to do is what the c/s manufacturer says to in the destructions for the cultured stone.
Realisitically, using backer board makes for a very nice substrate for c/s. But, since you really want a brown/scratch coat (generally) first, that's best bedded in some sort of lath. But, that lath will go on lickedie-split over the backer board, too.
Thinset works, worth a read of the label to see if the thinset mfgr recommends exterior use.
I used it around my fireplace inside my house. The manufacturer recomended using a latex additive in the mortar. They also recomended a scratch coat of the mix over the wonderboard. That seemed redundant to me , I just went with the latex additive in the mix and the stones held fine, lost a few when the mix started getting dry. They've been on the fireplace for about six months without being pointed in and still holding.