How to Apply Decorative Crushed Stone to an Interior Wall

Decorative stone added to an interior wall creates a conversation piece.

Stones decorate countless outdoor retreats with their natural beauty, lending a mood of peace and tranquility. These outdoor accessories also present endless options for bringing nature inside and updating your home. For home decorators looking for a fresh stylistic element, create a conversation piece by decorating a prominent wall of your home with crushed stone. This adds a natural, organic feel to any room and presents a cost-effective way to transform your living space. Set aside a weekend and roll up your sleeves for a project that is well worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• Premade mastic
• Trowel
• Premade sanded grout
• Rubber float
• Sponge
• Silicone grout sealer
• Crushed stone

Instructions

1. Measure the area of the wall you intend to cover. Multiply the area by the size of the rock you plan to install to find the cubic feet. For example, a wall that is 9 feet by 5 feet is 45 square feet; 45 square feet by ½ inch depth of stone equals 22 ½ cubic feet. Bring these measurements to the local home improvement store to ensure purchasing the correct amount of crushed stone.

2. Purchase the color and type of stone you plan to apply. As noted by the experts at Home Depot, "There are many different colors, shapes and textures of decorative stone available and making a choice is mostly based upon personal preference." Buy marble chips to brighten your room and add an iridescent luster to you wall.

3. Purchase pre-made mastic, pre-made sanded grout and silicone grout sealer at your local home improvement store. Ask an attendant if you have any questions about the amount to buy for your space. Purchase a trowel, a rubber float and a plastic floor covering.

4. Put plastic on the floor for protection against splattering. Clean the intended area for the stone. Apply pre-made mastic generously to the wall using a trowel and spreading evenly from side to side. Work with 3-foot high sections of your wall at a time, covering it in mastic, stone and grout then waiting for it to dry before working with the next section.

5. Press the decorative, crushed stones into the mastic. Pack the stones as close together as possible for smaller joints and less possibility of cracked grout.

6. Apply half of your pre-made sanded grout to the stone-covered area using a rubber float. Cover the area evenly making sure to pack the grout into the spaces between the stones. Push the grout deeper into the joints using your sponge. Wipe away the excess grout with a damp sponge. Rinse the sponge often during this process. Repeat spreading, packing and wiping the grout with the second half of the mix.

7. Apply a spray-on silicone grout sealer to the entire area one week after creating the crushed stone wall to prevent staining and achieve a lasting shine. Stand close to the wall and spray the sealer on evenly moving from left to right in 3-foot sections. Wipe the excess sealer with a damp rag immediately after applying because of its accelerated drying time.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to apply clear caulking between the wall and baseboard for a finished look.

References

• Home Depot: Decorative Stone
• Lowe's: Install a Tile Backsplash

Resources

• Design Ideas for Decorative Concrete and Stone; Ellen Frankel and Mervyn Kaufman; 2006