Tips to Finish Like a Pro (2024)

Typically GenStone is to be installed over minimum 7/16” wood sheathing (for screw holding power). Cover sheathing with housewrap. You may also install GenStone panels over poured concrete, cinderblock, or ICFs. Note: Do not install GenStone onto substrates lacking good screw holding capacity, or into ICFs with ties wider than 8” on center.

Please make sure to follow screw and glue requirements to attain a satisfactory result. Use 6 each 1 ½” screws (GRK Brand R-4 or equivalent) every 8” along the shiplaps on the top and right hand side of each panel. Use 4 each 2 ½”(GRK Brand R-4 or equivalent) screws (4/panel) along the bottom 1-4” of the panel in the field face. Hide these screw heads under the profiles of the rocks.

Installing stone veneer panels over poured concrete or cinderblock requires at least 8 mechanical fasteners – 3 into top shiplap, 3 into the face (field) at bottom 1-4” of panel, and 2 on right edge shiplap. (Please use Tapcon, Calburn, or equivalent hardened masonry screws) and generous glue pattern (PL 300, Franklin General Purpose or equivalent) on back of panels to help hold the panels. Housewrap is not required over cement applications or ICFs).

Angle all field face screws upward to hide them under the face of the manufactured stone veneer installation.

The shiplap design requires you to choose a direction, whether working left to right or right to left. We suggest starting at a corner which will create the necessary offset pattern to hide the seams.

Never stack panels during a stone veneer panel installation. The far left end panel on the second, fourth, and sixth course etc should be shortened to approximately half length (recreate the negative ship lap on the back of the shortened panel). This step is to guard against stacking same length GenStone panels vertically (same rule as any siding product).

When cutting or routing panels always cut only the left or bottom of the panel which are the negative shiplap edges. Why? Doing so will allow you to avoid having to recreate the shiplap edge.

GenStone cuts easily with any circular, reciprocating, or hand saw. Recreating the negative ship lap on back side is fast and easiest with a router. First cut the panel to the correct length. Then use a ½” straight router bit set ½”deep. If you do not have a router then use hand saw, circular saw, utility knife, or other cutting tools to recreate a new negative shiplap.

Measure the face of the panels then transfer the measurements to the flat side of the panel to do any cutting or routing (measure twice, cut once).

Save unused cut pieces in piles of left hand, right hand, top or bottom pieces for usage later in the stone veneer panel installation (5% scrap factor is average).

In all stone veneer installations and all temperature conditions, join GenStone shiplap panels tightly together as you fasten them down.

Put bead of polyurethane glue (PL300, PL Premium, Franklin General Purpose or equivalent) on shiplaps as you install to seal panels between shiplaps.

Use GenStone manufactured stone veneer inside corners (preferred method) or miter and caulk inside corners.

Use proper flashing on all openings per window or door manufacturer recommendations.

Flash at least 1”over top GenStone sloped ledgers. Attach ledgers and trims by hiding long screws under flashings and on edges of GenStone profiles into sheathing.

Use safety precaution (eye and breathing protection) when cutting or routing GenStone structural polyurethane panels.