GenStone Common Questions (FAQ)

GenStone faux stone and brick veneer is made of a closed-cell high-density polyurethane. This material is what makes GenStone so lightweight and easy to install without making a mess. Each panel is cast from 4-5 unique molds made from real stone or brick and hand-painted with 12 coats of paint to avoid repetition and give a more random, authentic appearance.

GenStone weighs approximately 1 to 1.5 pounds per square foot, making it easy for one person to handle and install which then eliminates the need for lift equipment and extra labor. It’s made of high-density closed-cell polyurethane, which is what makes it so light.

GenStone panels are 42" long by 12" tall with a coverage area of 41" long by 11" tall. The stacked stone panel features a 1″ shiplap edge along the top and right side of the panel, making attaching the next panel not only seamless but also watertight. Each panel covers roughly 3.13 square feet of space.

The surface of GenStone varies due to the nature of the rock, but the thickness at the lip and the joint is a minimum of ½” to a maximum of 2”.

GenStone has an R-Value of 3.6 per inch. R-Value refers to the material’s thermal resistance, or, in other words, the material’s ability to keep hot or cold air inside or outside of the structure. Below is an infographic that explains R-Value in more depth.

GenStone has a 25-Year Limited Warranty. It warrants that the Trim, Panels, Corner, and Ledger Pieces will not blister, peel, corrode, rust, rot, delaminate, flake, or excessively fade due to defects in materials or manufacture when used for its intended purpose, is properly installed, and is maintained according to GenStone’s installation instructions for a period of 25 years from the date of purchase. If you have a claim you need to submit for your warranty, GenStone needs to be notified promptly so we can validate the claim. We will repair, replace, or refund the purchase price of the product. The warranty also offers limited hail damage protection if your homeowner's insurance (or other insurance sources) does not cover the entire damages. We may cover up to the replacement of the damaged product.

Faux Brick and Faux Stacked Stone Samples can be purchased through DIY Home Center. If you purchase a sample and end up placing an order for GenStone, you will be credited for the cost of the sample you paid for. Each sample is 12” x 12”, but if you’re wanting a better depiction of the color profile, it’s recommended to purchase a full panel.

GenStone faux stone and brick veneer is perfect for a variety of interior and exterior residential, commercial, or industrial applications, such as accent walls, fireplaces, patio enclosures, window trims, foundation, porch pillars, and more.

While GenStone is virtually maintenance-free, there is some recommended maintenance to keep your GenStone looking as new as the day it was installed. The GenStone Use & Care Guide addresses that in more detail.

When you are trying to determine how many GenStone panels and accessories you need, there are two ways to go about it. One way is to start by measuring the total linear feet in your improvement area. A linear foot is simply a measurement of how many feet make up the area horizontally. The other way is to determine how many square feet your area is composed of and divide that number by the coverage area of the stacked stone or brick veneer panel. We typically recommend using the linear foot method because you will need the linear feet measurement to figure out how many ledgers and trim you may want to incorporate into the project. Check out GenStone's How To Measure Guide for more information and helpful tips.

GenStone can easily be installed by one or two people with very basic carpentry skills in a surprisingly short amount of time.

• GenStone Brick Installation Guide
• GenStone Stacked Stone Installation Guide
• GenStone Pillar Installation Guide

View the GenStone Installation Checklist for a breakdown of what tools and materials you will need for your project.

GenStone recommends 1 tube of Big Stretch White Caulk for every 100 square feet installed and 1 eXact Color Caulk Kit for every 400 square feet installed. See the GenStone Caulk & Paint Overview for additional information.

Both caulking products have the same properties and will perform the same no matter where the caulk is applied. Big Stretch White Caulk is recommended for areas where you will not see it, simply because it’s less expensive. The eXact Color Match Caulk is meant to be used in visible areas.

It’s recommended to use a polyurethane-safe adhesive such as PL-200 or PL-300. Both are great adhesives for construction and are good for both indoor and outdoor use. They’re environmentally friendly, water-based adhesives that can bond to most building materials and are intended to give an easy cleanup.

When installing GenStone over a vapor barrier, adhesive is not required.

GenStone is a faux rock that is made of a lightweight durable substance that can be cut with any wood cutting blade, but most will use a circular saw. Because the inside of the panel is flat, you always want to cut on that side.

GenStone artificial siding only requires a clean, dry substrate such as OSB, plywood, concrete, or existing siding provided the surface is flat such as RB&B, Textured 1-11, or any hardboard panel siding. The panels are easily applied to almost any flat surface. There are no strapping or starter strips required unless you are installing or purchasing the product in Canada. Simply use a polyurethane-safe adhesive (PL200 or PL300) and attach it with concrete screws (Tapcons).

When installing GenStone to concrete, it is recommended to use both concrete screws (Tapcons) and a polyurethane-safe adhesive (PL200 or PL300) for a long-lasting, secure installation. The glue may be effective on its own for a period of time, but there’s no guarantee it will stay securely for as long as it will with screws.

No, because there is no flex in the GenStone panels, they require a flat substrate surface.

Although the moisture created in a bathroom is not a problem for GenStone, there is no testing on how the soap scum and household cleaners will affect the products. For this reason, it is not recommended to use GenStone around a tub or shower.

Yes. It is recommended to use deck screws to install the faux stone panels, however, if it’s too difficult to get them into the stucco, Tapcon screws may be used (similar to applying to a concrete substrate). In either case, it’s recommended to use Tyvek paper on the substrate and a polyurethane-safe adhesive (PL200 or PL300). The Tyvek paper protects the stucco from the adhesive should you, or any other person ever wants to remove the stone.

Yes. GenStone artificial siding only requires a clean, dry substrate, such as OSB, plywood, concrete, or existing siding, provided the surface is flat such as RB&B, Textured 1-11, or any hardboard panel siding. We recommend Tapcon screws to fasten your GenStone to existing brick. Tapcon screws can be drilled into the brick as well as the mortar lines.

Yes, however, if any of the areas get too hot to touch, it is not recommended to place GenStone in those areas. Installing stone veneer panels over poured concrete or cinderblock requires at least 8 mechanical fasteners – 3 into top shiplap, 3 into the face (field) at bottom 1-4” of the panel, and 2 on right edge shiplap. (Please use Tapcon, Calburn, or equivalent hardened masonry screws) and generous glue pattern (PL300, Franklin General Purpose, or equivalent) on the back of panels to help hold the panels. Housewrap is not required over cement applications or ICFs).

Yes and no. GenStone cannot be installed in areas that are exposed to sparks or flame. If you have a zero clearance or gas fireplace, GenStone can typically be placed next to the unit. However, if the area around the fireplace gets hot to the touch (too hot to touch for longer than 10 seconds), please contact the fireplace manufacturer for the specific distances necessary to safely install GenStone products.

GenStone offers two options. The first option is four 90° corners that are designed to fit a 16” column, giving a finished measurement of about 19”. These corner pieces are 2' tall. The second option is the pillar panel system. Pillar panels are made to fit around an 8” post with an outside dimension of 11”. Each pillar panel is 48”. Four panels would be needed to wrap your post. With either option, you may stack GenStone to reach your desired height.

The pillar kits do not come with trim pieces, but GenStone does have accessories that are available to purchase separately. GenStone offers a peaked-style and a flat-style cap to finish off the top of pillars and columns. Other than for aesthetic purposes, the caps also help to shed water. For the base, you can either cut out the center of a cap so that your piece maintains its paired fit to the kit you are using, or custom cut pieces of ledger to fit around the desired area. The latter option will require a bit more carpentry skill.

There are specialized strips known as ‘furring strips’ that are designed for this type of installation and are available at your local hardware store. You will also need closure strips to close the area between the backer board and the building. These closure strips can be purchased from the manufacturer of your metal building.

To apply GenStone to a metal building, a backer board must be used to provide a buffer between the building and the panels. This is necessary because of the properties of the building. This backer board should be plywood or OSB of at least ½” thick and should be attached securely to the building using construction adhesive and screws. Once the board is attached, you can follow the same procedure as installing to wood.

When GenStone is custom cut, the polyurethane foam will be exposed and should be painted using one of GenStone’s color-matched paint kits. The area where the factory panels terminate are a flat cut surface, which makes painting simple.

The edges of GenStone’s panels are smooth painted surfaces. However, anywhere a custom cut is made, you will need to cover over the exposed foam with a color-matched paint kit.

Mitering GenStone’s panels can be a great way to customize any project. All of the detailed and rough surfaces are on the face of the products, and the seams where the panels meet are smooth surfaces. This helps to keep that unified look throughout your project.

The end of a wall can be finished by 1) using the corner panel lefts and rights, remembering to stagger your seams; 2) by cutting the panels to butt up against a piece of our trim; or 3) cutting panels flush with the end of your wall. In all cases, custom cuts will need to be painted with a corresponding color-matched paint kit.

GenStone products have a smooth edge for a uniformed connection to the adjoining piece. To terminate at a custom length, cut the product to the desired length and then cover any exposed foam with a color-matched paint.

If the pesticide is water-based, there should be no harm in spraying it on GenStone.