How to Build Stone Veneer Columns or Pillars

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• published: 08 Jan 2013
• views: 140157

This is a demonstration of my four-step process to construct concrete columns/pillars, cover them with a natural stone veneer and then top them with poured concrete caps. This video is VERY long - one hour and 40+ minutes! I work slow, and I talk slow. Hopefully, you have lots of patience. If not, this video (and stone work in general) is probably not for you. I'm not very good with a camera, so things jump around a bit. I used Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 to make the video. My wimpy computer can't really handle the processor-intensive rendering necessary for large video files, and the result is that the audio lags behind the video by a couple of seconds - kind of like watching those original Godzilla movies. Hey, I'm just keeping it real. Four years ago I had an idea to build 4 stone columns connected with cedar fence panels, and also to replace the painted brick hip-veneer on my home with a stone hip-veneer. I knew how to build the fence panels but I was starting from scratch on the stone work (except for some experience with ceramic and travertine tile). At the time I searched the Internet for how-to info and found some bits and pieces here and there but no real end-to-end instructions on how to construct the columns and work with stone. Based on this research I ordered a pallet of portland cement and several yards of play sand. I bought a Harry Homeowner cement mixer and tried to mix my own mortar. It turns out that cement mixers can't mix mortar, and it takes a great deal of experience to get the mixture of cement, sand and lime correct. Several frustrating days later I demolished what I'd constructed thus far, returned the pallet of cement and donated the play sand to my kids. I'd discovered pre-mixed Type-S mortar in the big box store. Just add water, work only in small, hand-mixed batches and you're off to the races. This current construction project began one lazy summer day in 2012 by sticking a shovel into the ground to fix a fence post, and eventually ended four months later with a new wood shed, three stone columns (concrete footers, block pillars, field stone veneer and colored concrete caps), and 70 feet of cedar fence panels and gates. I did not film the entire project but I did think occasionally to fire up the camera and record what I was doing. Eventually I had the thought that I might make a how-to video. Sometimes I realized I'd missed a concept and had to go back and record it after-the-fact. The result was a non-linear collection of video footage and voice-overs which I then had to edit into a semi-coherent, semi-linear "story" of how to build the columns. My apologies in advance if the narrative seems a bit disjointed - hopefully all the info you need is in here... somewhere. Good luck with your stone project! ps - at 20 minutes into this video I start talking about "speed squares" and "carpenter squares". What I actually meant to say was "speed LEVEL" and "carpenter LEVEL". Sorry about that!