Stone Veneer Installation in Camarillo CA - A Wall That Stays Dry Behind the Stone
Tired of a plain block wall or worn stucco? We check what's behind it first, then set stone that bonds and sheds water.
Wall check first
We look at the wall behind before any stone goes on.
Prep and backing
Cleaning, lath and a scratch coat where the wall needs a base.
Water barrier behind
On framed walls, the barrier and flashing go in before stone.
Stone set and cleaned
Stone set in mortar, joints finished and the site cleaned up.
Is your wall ready for stone veneer?
Stone veneer installation in Camarillo means setting stone in mortar over a wall you already have, like concrete block, poured concrete, stucco or a framed wall, so it gets a stone face without being rebuilt.
I check the wall behind the stone before anything else, because stone holds only as well as what it's set on. Block, poured concrete, stucco and framed walls each need something different, and on a framed wall the water barrier behind the stone matters more than the stone itself, so that's where we take our time. I'd rather tell you a wall needs work first than set stone over a problem.
The price moves with the size of the wall, the stone you choose and how much prep the wall needs before stone goes on, like lath, a scratch coat or a new water barrier. The schedule turns on that same prep and on whether the city wants a permit first. My written estimate lays out what I see on your wall and what I'd do about it.
- A wall checked before stone goes on
- The right base for your wall type
- Water barrier done carefully on framed walls
- A straight answer on what can wait
When is it time to face a wall with stone veneer?
Look into stone veneer when a plain or worn wall needs a new face, or when stone you already have is loose, damp or buried.
Plain block wall
A bare block wall around the yard or house that you'd like to look like stone without tearing it down.
Tired stucco front
Stucco on the front of the house or on a column that looks dated, and you want stone over it instead.
Bare foundation band
Gray concrete showing along the bottom of the house that you'd like covered so the house looks finished.
Loose or hollow stone
Existing veneer pieces that sound hollow, crack loose or drop off, which usually points to a bond problem behind them.
Stains or damp spots
Water marks, white powder or damp patches on or near old stone, a sign water is getting behind it and staying.
Stone down in the dirt
Stone that runs into soil or mulch, where it stays wet and can draw water into the wall behind.
Ask for a stone wall check
Send the wall type, rough square feet and a few photos. We reply within one business day to set a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
What we check before stone veneer goes up
Before I recommend anything, I look at what the stone will sit on, how water will get out from behind it and where it'll meet the ground.
A sound, clean wall
Stone needs a sound, clean wall that can carry it, not a crumbling one or a foam insulation finish. A doubtful wall gets metal lath and a scratch coat, a mortar base the stone bonds to.
Block or poured concrete
One maker's guide lets stone go straight onto clean, unpainted, unsealed concrete block walls. Poured concrete needs lath and a scratch coat first, because form oil left from casting blocks the bond.
Water barrier on framed walls
On framed walls, the stone and its joints aren't what keeps water out. Industry guidance calls for two separate barrier layers behind the lath, lapped like shingles and tied into the flashing, the metal that steers water out.
Where the stone stops
Industry details call for the stone to stop above the finished soil and a little above any paving, so it isn't sitting in wet ground.
How a stone veneer job runs with us
We plan the job around your wall and your house, so you know what the wall needs, what can wait and who's doing each part before any stone goes up.
You call or write
Call (805) 233-6281 or send the form with your wall type and a few photos, and we set a time to come look.
I come out
I come out myself, look over the whole wall and tell you what it needs and what can wait.
Estimate in writing
You get my estimate in writing, with what I saw on your wall and what I'd do, so nothing's left to memory.
Permit and the work
Once you say go, we take care of any permit, and our crew preps the wall and sets the stone.
Check and walk-through
I check the work as it goes and again before we call it done, then walk the wall with you.
Why Camarillo homeowners call G&R Camarillo Concrete and Masonry for stone veneer
You get a straight answer about your wall, including when something can wait or doesn't need doing at all, and stone work that's satisfaction guaranteed.
The owner writes your estimate
I look at your wall and write the estimate myself, so the person pricing the job is the one checking it.
In business since 2020
I learned masonry fixing walls that had been patched again and again while water did the damage underneath, so we look for the cause first.
Ask how the work is done
A trade group's guide says field workmanship is the main source of stone veneer problems. Ask any installer, us included, whether their work follows that guide's recommended practices.
Licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about both before we start. Call (805) 233-6281 to set up a look at your wall.
Stone veneer installation in Camarillo and nearby cities
Here in Camarillo, the city's Building & Safety Division handles permits, plan checks and inspections. Whether your veneer job needs a permit is the city's call, so we check before we start, file it when it's needed and meet the inspector. Under California's license rules, unlicensed work is limited to jobs under $1,000 that need no permit and no hired help.
We're based in Camarillo and work across Ventura County and over into Los Angeles County, from Oxnard and Ventura to Calabasas and Westlake Village, and if your city isn't listed, ask us. Around here we see a lot of stucco fronts and block yard walls getting a stone face, sometimes over new foundation block wall installation work.
Got a block or stucco wall you'd like faced in stone?
(805) 233-6281Stone veneer questions we hear
Can stone veneer go over my stucco or block wall?
Usually yes, as long as the wall is sound, clean and able to carry the stone. I check it first, and if there's any doubt, the wall gets lath and a scratch coat before stone, as covered above.
How much does stone veneer installation cost in Camarillo?
Across the US, installing stone veneer usually costs about $25 to $40 per square foot. Where your wall lands depends mostly on its size, the stone you pick and how much prep it needs, and I'll put my figure for your wall in writing after I see it.
How long does stone veneer last?
A trade group's guide says stone veneer put on following recommended practices can perform as intended for decades. How long yours lasts comes down to the wall behind it and how well water is kept out.
How do I clean stone veneer without damaging it?
One maker's guide says to clean installed stone without acid. If a sealer is called for, that guide says to use only a breathable one, so moisture can still get out of the wall.
Is the dust from cutting stone veneer harmful?
It can be, because cutting, grinding or drilling stone, concrete and mortar can raise crystalline silica, a fine dust you can breathe in. Ask any crew how they keep it down, such as wet cutting or a HEPA dust collector.
Who issues building permits in Camarillo for stone veneer work?
Camarillo's Building & Safety Division issues permits and does inspections, and it takes plans through its online system. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, at 805-388-5395 if you'd like to ask them yourself.
Get your wall checked before stone goes on
A few photos and the wall's rough size help me tell you on the first visit whether your wall is ready for stone or needs prep first.