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River Rock Installation Instructions

General Tools and Materials:

  • Caulk Gun Caulk Gun
  • Chalk Line / Laser Chalk Line / Laser
  • Clean Cloth Clean Cloth
  • Color Coordinating Textured Caulk Color Coordinating Textured Caulk
  • Cotton Swabs Cotton Swabs
  • Level Level
  • Loctite© PL© Premium© 3X Construction Adhesive Loctite© PL© Premium© 3X Construction Adhesive
  • Panels Panels
  • Pencil Pencil
  • Safety Glasses Safety Glasses
  • Small Paint Brush Small Paint Brush
  • T-square T-square
  • Tack Cloth Tack Cloth
  • Tape Measure Tape Measure
  • Touchup Kit Touchup Kit
  • Water Water
  • Wood Cutting Saw with Finish Blade Wood Cutting Saw with Finish Blade
NOTE: (1) tube of Loctite PL Premium 3X adhesive is typically needed for every (3) panels.
(1) tube of textured caulk is typically needed for every (4) panels.

Installation-Specific Tools and Materials:

Adhesive and Fastener Installation (Recommended)

  • Deck Screws Deck Screws
  • Drainage Mat Drainage Mat
  • Screw Gun / Drill Driver & Driver Bits Screw Gun / Drill Driver & Driver Bits

Adhesive-Only Installation Over Concrete/Masonry/Metal

  • Disposable Gloves Disposable Gloves
  • Great Stuff
Applicator
Gun Great Stuff Applicator Gun
  • Great Stuff Pro Gun Cleaner Great Stuff Pro Gun Cleaner
  • Great Stuff Pro™ Construction Adhesive Great Stuff Pro™ Construction Adhesive
24 Hours Before Starting

Acclimate all panels by storing them flat in the installation location (but away from moisture and direct sunlight or other heat sources) for at least 24 hours.


WARNING:

  • Be sure to obey all safety rules and recommendations set forth by tool manufacturers.
  • Wear safety glasses during the entire installation process.
  • Be sure to follow all applicable building codes.
  • Always comply with clearances set forth by the manufacturer of stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, and any other heat source.

River Rock Installation

Before You Start

  • Ensure wall is structurally sound and in good condition.
  • Gather all tools and materials.
  • For exterior Installation, install exterior sheathing and house wrap.
  • Installation will run left to right. Orient one of your panels so that the flat lip on the long side (A) is up.

Left to Right Installation

Left to Right Installation
Work Flow

Click Here for Care and Maintenance info.

Directions

Step 1

Install Drainage Mat (Exterior Only)

Tools:

  • Drainage Mat
  • Deck Screws
  • Screw Gun/Drill Driver with Driver Bits

NOTE: Skip this step if installing with adhesive only method over concrete, masonry or metal.

  1. Orient the roll so that the grid side faces the wall and the smoother side faces out.
  2. Fasten the drainage mat to the wall using deck screws long enough to pass through the mat, house wrap and into the structural material.
  • Please comply with all regional building codes. Drainage mats are required for all exterior installations except those over concrete/masonry/metal.
  • The DM-3611R Drainage Mat meets Canadian Building Codes and is required for most exterior installations in Canada.
  • Exterior sheathing and house wrap must be installed before the drainage mat.

Orient Panels & Determine Installation Order

Step 2

Orient Panels & Determine Installation Order

  1. Orient each of the panels so that the flat lip on the long side (A) is up.
  2. It is often helpful to establish an order for the panels by laying them out prior to starting the installation process. Look at the variation in color and texture to ensure no one section draws the eye.
  3. Since the rocks project lower than the body of the panel you will have to decide if you want to trim them to be flush with the bottom of the panel or allow them to project. We do not recommend rotating the panel so that the rocks project up because you will lose the shiplap joint between panels, leaving them vulnerable to water penetration.

Trim Panels

Step 3

Trim Panels

Tools:

  • Pencil
  • Tape Measure
  • T-square
  • Wood Cutting Saw with Finish Blade

NOTE: Skip if installing interlocking corners

  1. If trimming the bottom of the first row of panels, determine the number of panels needed to run the length of the first row. If using a corner be sure to include it in your measurement.
  2. If the width of your installation requires using a partial panel and/or mitering an inside corner, you will want to use the River Rock Grouted Filler Panel and Rock Set as part of your installation.
  3. Trim the bottom off panels/corner needed for the first row.
  4. If not using an interlocking corner, trim the fingers off the first panel.

Prepare Surfaces

Step 4

Prepare Surfaces

Tools:

  • Clean lcoth
  • Tack Cloth
  1. Wipe hard surfaces with a wire brush to remove loose debris
  2. Wipe walls with a tack cloth to remove any dirt or sawdust.
  3. Clean surfaces are required to ensure the panels adhere properly.

Draw Level Line

Step 5

Draw Level Line

Tools:

  • Pencil
  • Level / Laser Level
  • Chalk Line / Laser

Find the high point on the floor/ ground using a level. Place a full size panel against the wall and mark the height. Draw a level line the length of the wall.

Install Outside Corner (optional)

Step 6

Install Outside Corner (optional)

Install the interlocking outside corner by following Steps 7-8.

Attach Panel to Wall

Step 7a

Attach Panel to Wall

Fastener Installation:

Tools:

  • Deck Screws
  • Screw Gun / Drill Driver & Driver Bits
  • Level / Laser Level
  • Tack Cloth
Place (1) screw per foot along the perimeter and (1) screw per square foot in the middle of the panel. Screws should be slightly recessed. Place screws under protruding rocks or in grout lines to make them less noticeable.
Do NOT over tighten screws.

Attach Panel to Wall

Step 7b

Attach Panel to Wall

Adhesive-only Installation:

Tools:

  • Great Stuff Applicator Gun
  • Great Stuff Pro™ Construction Adhesive
  • Disposable Gloves
Wearing gloves and following the instructions on the Great Stuff Pro™ Construction Adhesive canister, turn the panel over and apply beads of Great Stuff Pro™ Construction Adhesive to the panel in vertical lines starting 2” from the edge and in 6” increments along the interior of the panel and a dab on the back of each panel finger. When applying to metal buildings ensure that the adhesive beads align with any embossed patterns in the cladding.

Add Adhesive and Caulk

Step 8

Add Adhesive and Caulk

Tools:

  • Clean lcoth
  • Caulk Gun
  • Color Coordinating Textured Caulk
  • Loctite PL 3x
  1. Add a bead of caulk to the lip of the panel where it meets the face.
  2. Add adhesive to the lip of the panel
  3. Use a damp cloth to remove any excess adhesive or caulk.

Repeat Steps 7-8

Step 9

Repeat Steps 7-8

Tools:

  • Clean lcoth
  • Caulk Gun
  • Color Coordinating Textured Caulk
  • Loctite PL 3x
  1. Butt the panels tightly together while following the level line. Dry fit each panel before applying adhesive to ensure it fits flush. Trim if necessary. The last panel on the row will have to be trimmed from the finger side of a panel.
  2. Wipe off any excess caulk or adhesive with a damp cloth before it dries.
  3. When you reach the point that you will need a partial panel (typically when using two outside corners or mitering an inside corner), cut a grouted filler panel to width and install it like the rock panels. Adhere the individual rocks to the filler panel at the end of the installation.

Start Next Row

Step 10

Start Next Row

Tools:

  • Caulk Gun
  • Wood Cutting Saw with Finish Blade
  • Loctite PL 3x
  • Pencil
  • Chalk Line/ Laser
  • Level
  1. Apply a bead of adhesive to the top lip of the installed row of panels.
  2. Start the next row with either the outside interlocking corner or a panel with the fingers cut off.
  3. Repeat steps 5 to 9.

Touch-Up As Needed

Step 11

Touch-Up As Needed

Tools:

  • Water
  • Touch-up Kit
  • Paint Brush
  • Clean Cloth
  • Cotton Swabs
  • Caulk Gun
  • Color Coordinating Textured Caulk
  • Loctite PL 3X
  1. If filler panels were used, add individual rocks to the filler panels using Loctite PL 3x.
  2. Add caulk to fill in voids, gaps and holes from screw heads. Carefully blend before it dries.
  3. If your touch-up kit contains a base coat, use a cotton swab to apply a light layer of the base coat and allow it to dry completely (about 30 minutes).
  4. Using a paint brush, apply the appropriate paint then dab with a soft cloth to blend and allow to dry completely (about 30 minutes).
  5. If your touch-up kit contains a wash, apply the wash using a paint brush and dab with a soft cloth to blend. If the bottle is labeled “wash concentrate” add tap water to the neck of the bottle, screw the lid back on and shake to mix before using.
HINTS
  • If you need to mix colors to achieve the desired shade, we recommend doing so on a piece of scrap material.
  • Paint can be thinned by adding water.