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Granite Facade With Bluestone Accent Dean and Derek transform a plain house front into an distinctive facade with stone-cold appeal. From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-307

(Continued from page 3)

The finished facade

Rock-Facing Bluestone Sill

With the veneer work complete, Dean and Derek decide to cap the stone with a bluestone sill on either side of the windows. First, rock-face the bluestone to add more texture to the stone.

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Figure O

Lay the bluestone down on sand or grass to give it a cushion. Use a carbide set to make your first cuts. Start at one end, and put the set about a half inch from the edge. Angle the set and hit it with a stone hammer to take a little bit of the face off (figure O). Go all the way around the stone until you create the rough face that you like.

Safety Alert: Wear your safety glasses whenever cutting or shaping stone.

Now repeat the process above using a finish chisel to fine tune the rock face.

	Figure P
	Figure Q

Cutting Bluestone Sill

• Measure the space on the ledge where the bluestone pieces will sit (figure P).

• Transfer the measurements to the stone and cut it with a diamond blade saw (figure Q).

• Safety Alert: Wear both your safety glasses and a mask when cutting stone with the diamond blade saw.

Once the pieces are cut, add about a half inch of mortar to the stonework. Make sure it is level and carefully slide the bluestone pieces into place. Gently set the bluestone in place with a rubber mallet.

Figure R

The bluestone should have a slight pitch so the water will roll off. Using a level, check that you have a quarter bubble pitch. With the bluestone sill in place, pack and joint the mortar underneath sill.

Your granite facade is now complete (figure R).

Go to next article in DIY's "Hardscaping" series.

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