Stone Veneer Installation in Encinitas CA - Stone on a Wall Ready to Carry It
Plain stucco or a worn wall you want covered in stone? We check and fix the wall underneath first, then set the stone right.
Stone veneer on a sound wall
Manufactured stone veneer is a lightweight facing of cement and aggregate made to look like natural stone. It adds no structural support, so it's only as good as the wall behind it. I check that wall first, and if it's worn, unsound or old stucco, we fix or rebuild it before any stone goes on.
The size of the wall, how much repair it needs and the stone you pick set the price. Repairs and any city permit set the schedule, and your estimate spells out both.
What goes into stone veneer installation
Most of this job is what goes behind the stone, and if the wall itself needs rebuilding, we build concrete block walls too.
Weather barrier
On light-frame walls that need a water barrier behind the stone, industry guidance says to put it on in two separate layers, each lapped like shingles from the bottom up.
Base drainage
One trade author sets the weep screed, a drainage strip along the bottom edge, above the ground, paving and roof lines so splashed dirt is less likely to clog it.
Rainscreen option
A rainscreen is an optional layer behind the stone that drains stray water and helps the wall dry faster. Bring it up while we plan, because it's decided before stone goes up.
Setting stone
Once the wall and barrier are ready, our crew sets the stone and keeps the joints and edges tidy. Then we clean up, so you're left with the wall and not the mess.
Tell us about your wall
Send wall photos, the current finish such as stucco, and your address. We reply within one business day to set a free on-site estimate, with no pressure to book.
(760) 230-9799How we run stone veneer jobs
Since 2017 I've seen what industry guidance says, that most veneer trouble starts with workmanship on site and that veneer done to recommended practice can do its job for decades.
- I look at the wall myself. Before any estimate, I come out and check what's under the finish, because that wall decides whether stone can go on at all.
- Our crew, my site. Our own crew does the work with me running the site, so the person who looked at your wall is the one checking it.
- Licensed and insured in California. We're fully licensed and insured, and California's licensing board lists manufactured stone among the work a masonry contractor installs.
- Satisfaction guaranteed on every job. That's our promise, and if your wall needs work first, I'll say so up front, so you hear it from me now and not from a failed wall later.
- Call before you pick stone. Call (760) 230-9799 and I'll tell you whether your wall is ready, needs repair or calls for foundation block wall installation first.
Based in Encinitas, working nearby
Advanced Encinitas Concrete and Masonry is based in Encinitas and works in many cities around it, including Carlsbad and San Clemente. If your city isn't listed, call (760) 230-9799 and ask.
From first call to walk-through
I want you to know what we're doing and why before we start, so you hear it from me at the visit, in the estimate and again at the end.
Visit
You call or send the form, and we get back to you to set a time. I come out myself, look at the wall and what's on it now, and tell you straight what I see.
Estimate
You get a written estimate that lists the wall repair, the water barrier, the drainage at the base and the stone, plus whether a rainscreen makes sense. Nothing starts until you've read it and said go.
Work
Once you say go, we check with the city and handle any permit paperwork. Our crew does the work with me running the site, and when it's done I walk the finished wall with you.
Stone veneer questions in Encinitas
What does stone veneer cost in the San Diego area?
Midrange manufactured stone veneer in the San Diego area usually runs about $11,000 to $15,000 per job. That's the going rate around here, not our price, and where your job lands depends on the wall's size, the repair it needs and the stone you choose. Your written estimate gives you our figure.
Can stone veneer go over my old stucco?
We don't set stone over old stucco. Industry guidance says veneer shouldn't go over a deteriorating or unsound wall or over EIFS, a foam-backed exterior finish, and one trade author adds existing stucco to that list. So if your house has old stucco, we rebuild the wall to carry the stone first.
How do I find out if stone veneer needs a permit in Encinitas?
Ask the city's building department, which requires a permit to alter, repair or replace walls but doesn't name stone veneer on its list. A project exempt from a building permit may still need a planning, engineering or fire permit, and the city has required a Coastal Development Permit in its Coastal Zone. We check with the city before work starts and handle the application when one's needed.
How do I clean stone veneer without damaging it?
Keep it gentle and skip the pressure washer, since one trade author advises against pressure washing stone veneer at any time. If a spot needs more than a light rinse with a garden hose, call us and I'll take a look before you try anything stronger.
Plan your Encinitas wall with us
Call or use the form with your address, so we know if Coastal Zone review applies, and we'll set a time to look.