All the folks that make faux stone products . . . Eldorado, Owens Corning, etc. . . . show a detail where their exterior stone products must stop and be held above finished grade. They say you can’t run it down to the dirt.
The specified gap is supposed to be something like 6 or 8 inches.
If you follow their instructions, you end up with a job that looks, down at ground line, like something is kind of wrong. Phony. Real stone or brick veneer sits atop a ledge below grade.
But I hear and see of jobs where this spec is ignored, and the cladding is brought down to grade to yield a more authentic look.
What is going on here?
I thought cultured stone was a lightweight concrete product. Is there something in the mix that can take up water and expand when freezing, thus causing failure?
How would it differ from brick, which can be brought to grade?
Replies
You hit it on the head this is a light weight concret which also tends to make it less strong/ dense it then wicks moisture and will crack when moisture freezes. brick can do this two if it is not a sever weather brick or is used as a paver in a northern climate whith many freeze thaw cycles.
many people think concrete is like brick but in fact true clay masonry is very different and can vary from manufacture to manufacture but it all is fired in a kiln at temps of approx 2000 F this is far diffrent than cured concrete and yeilds a more often stringer and more durable product. If you would like more info on brick you could check out the BIA website or look at http://www.Interstatebrick.com they have a vey informative web site.