I remember my excitement when Airstone first hit the market. It was so realistic and lifelike, yet so lightweight and easy to work with. My first thought was “I’m putting this stuff over everything!”
Thankfully my wife managed to curb my enthusiasm before the entire house was covered in faux stone, but the fact remains that Airstone is the easiest way to bring the beautiful look of natural stone to your home without the help of a team of stonemasons.
While it may seem intimidating at first, working with Airstone is relatively easy. By the time you’ve finished our guide on how to cut Airstone, you should feel pretty confident in your abilities to tackle your next project with Airstone.
What You’ll Need
Fortunately, Airstone is made especially for DIYers and designed to install easily, without a whole workshop worth of tools. Here’s what you’ll need to get the job done:
- Airstone interior adhesive
- Putty knife
- Hacksaw
- Safety glasses
- Facemask
- If you’re installing Airstone outdoors, what you’ll need is a little different:
Construction adhesive (Airstone recommends Loctite PL construction adhesive)
- Putty knife
- Hacksaw
- Caulking gun
- Work gloves
- Safety glasses
- Facemask
I recommended using a hacksaw for cutting your Airstone just because they’re so accessible. You probably already have one, and if you don’t, you can pick up a quality one for under $20. If you prefer, a jigsaw or even a circular saw makes quick work of Airstone, just be sure you’re using a masonry blade.
Step I: Measure the Room
Your first order of business is going to be purchasing the proper amount of Airstone and adhesive for the job. You’ll need to measure the square footage of the surface you’re covering, making sure to account for any windows or other areas where you won’t be placing Airstone.
Each box of primary Airstones covers eight square feet while each box of corner/finished Airstones covers six feet of corner.
If you aren’t comfortable in your measuring abilities, just email the folks at Airstone with a photo of your project and the dimensions you need to cover, and they’ll let you know exactly what you’ll need.
As for the adhesive, one tub of Airstone interior adhesive covers 30 square feet. For exterior projects, one tube of Loctite PL covers 7-10 square feet.
Step II: Start with Corners
The easiest way to tackle your project is to start with the corners. Airstone’s corner/finished stones have an ingenious design that creates a beautifully finished corner every time.
Each box of corner/finished stones contains shrink-wrapped packs with two sets of two stones in each pack. These stones are mirror images of one another, with one stone having a flat edge and the other stone having a rounded and finished edge.
Join these sets of stones around each corner. Alternate which wall gets the finished edge and which wall gets the flat edge to create a natural looking offset seam.
To attach the stones to the wall, butter up the backside of the stone with a thick layer of adhesive, and press the stone firmly onto the wall to set it in place. Repeat this process until you’ve finished all the corners of the wall.
Note: Each box of stones contains four different colors. Pay close attention to how many of each color stone you have, and alternate them often to create a natural look.
Step III: Attaching flat stones
Once your corners are finished, you’re ready to get into the meat of your project with the primary wall stones.
Unpack the entire box of stones, paying close attention to how many of each color and length you have. Be sure to alternate colors and lengths regularly to create a natural look.
Start at the bottom of the wall, and work horizontally. Apply a thick layer of adhesive to the back of each stone, and press the stone against the wall with even pressure to set it in place. When you’ve reached the end of the wall, apply a stone with a finished edge to create a clean look.
Step IV: Cutting
As you install the flat stones, you’re certain to come across a few stones you need to cut to fit the dimensions of your wall. When it comes to how to cut Airstone, the easiest way is to cut as you go. Once you reach an area where you need to cut, place the Airstone you’re going to cut against the wall and mark the area you need to cut.
Then, using a hacksaw or power saw, make your cut and continue attaching the stones to the wall. Whenever you’re cutting, be sure to wear eye protection and a facemask.
Final Word
Now that we’ve covered the ins and outs of how to cut Airstone, you should be able to make quick work of your next home project! Airstone is the easiest way to bring the beauty of real stone to your home. If you still have questions, this FAQ page is a great resource.
