Fake stone veneer, often referred to as Adhered Concrete Masonry Veneer, the material for fake stones barely existed 10 years ago. Now, it’s on millions of homes. The material is in the class of claddings called “Rain Screens”. Rain screens allow water to pass through the surface; that water is collected in a drainage plane and drained back out of the wall through weep screeds.
However, if it’s not installed with an excellent Drainage Plane and Water Resistive Barriers integrated with flashing details, it leaks and causes mold, rot, and structural damage. Large class action suits are being developed alleging faulty designs and manufacturers insist problems stem from improper installation. Both sides have valid arguments and I’m not going to decide them now. But there are two things I know for sure:
- The manufacturers are right when they say it leaks if not installed perfectly.
- I, nor any of my peers, have seen an installation installed perfectly.
The topic is so involved that respected publications are running educational articles to alert people to the problem.
If this material is on your house, or a house you intend purchasing, you must determine how it was installed in detail. You can read more in this link with excellent explanations describing fundamental details.
Understand, almost no one is installing this material satisfactorily. It is a hot button topic in the construction industry. You need to know how the material is installed. If it’s not perfect, history is showing us it’s a major problem.
'Fake Stone Veneer and Avoiding Failures with Manufactured Stone' have 3 comments
September 21, 2017 @ 2:59 pm Tom Raymond
I have recently installed Boral Versetta Stone. Looks as good as any of these products do. Nice wide open drainage plane. Pretty difficult to goof up the drainage plane. Wrap your building in your favorite WRB, install the weeping starter strip, lap 30# felt over the starter, set the first course on the starter and secure with EG roofing nails or corrosion resistant screws. Lather, rinse, repeat.
September 21, 2017 @ 4:54 pm Kurt
I’m gonna look it up. Thanx for commenting!
July 28, 2020 @ 8:49 pm Rosa Gross
Hi Kurt,
I am currently on your website. I have a 15 year old house in Utah which has Eldorado Stone installed outside and in, and the stone is very faded and has efflorescence
Boral is saying I have voided the warranty due to poor installation, which i plan to contest. The stone has been installed to the ground which the manufacturer warns about, but it is not cracking or falling off. My chief conplaint is the excessive fading.
What avenue(s) do I have to get Boral to honor their warranty and have them pay to take down and reinstall another natural stone? Can you give me some advice?