Silvermine Stone is a manufactured stone veneer, made from Portland Cement mixed with lightweight aggregate with an imbedded piece of flashing.
In addition to general job-site safety precautions, Silvermine Stone is a cement-based product. Cutting cement products can create airborne, respirable silica. Wearing a properly fitted NIOSH approved facemask is required while cutting Silvermine Stone. In addition, safety glasses and gloves should be worn as well.
Silvermine Stone can easily be installed with basic carpentry tools such as a circular style saw fitted with a segmented diamond blade, a level and a drill. It may also be beneficial to have a 4” grinder, caulking gun, construction adhesive, and durable 5-way painters tool.
Silvermine Stone does not require sealing. Sealers for concrete can be used on Silvermine Stone, if desired, however Silvermine Stone does not have a recommendation for a sealer. The use of a sealer may alter the color of the stone and performance is not guaranteed.
For a variety of reasons Silvermine Stone does recommend a single later of WRB to be installed over the wood sheathing prior to the installation of Silvermine Stone. Check with your local building code for more details on their WRB requirements.
No, you can use other screws to install Silvermine Stone. It is recommended to use an exterior grade screw with a “pan-head” and a fully threaded shaft that will penetrate the substrate by a minimum of 1”.
Nails are not recommended to install Silvermine Stone as they may not offer ample holding power, or proper water protection that is found with a pan-headed screw.
“Fasteners should be installed through the metal flashing and should be placed within the first inch above the stone panel, with a one fastener penetrating a wood stud by at least 1” and two fasteners into the sheathing.
Based on the results of the ASTM E84 test, Silvermine Stone has a Class A Fire Rating with a Flame Spread Index of less than 10 and a Smoke-Developed Index of 450 or less. For more information on Silvermine Stone’s performance and relative to the International Code Council’s (ICC) builder code, download the Silvermine Stone ICC ES Report – ESR-4787
As a cement-based product Silvermine Stone handles heat very well and is suitable to be used to clad fireplaces and surrounding wood-burning stoves. Silvermine Stone should NOT be used in the firebox or in direct contact with flame. Like virtually any other material, when Silvermine Stone is exposed to smoke, soot can accumulate on the face of the stone causing a darker or blacked appearance.
Like other brands of cement-based manufacture stone veneer, stones installed above a paved surface should maintain a 2” gap and a 4” gap is needed above areas of raw dirt.
Yes, Silvermine Stone can be installed over concrete and block walls with the use of a pan-headed masonry screw. Check with local code officials for any wall-prep requirements.
