General Steel - GenStone Installation Guide

Applying GenStone to your General Steel building is a relatively simple process. In this section, we will walk you through the installation process.

For proper installation of GenStone to your building, the following tools may be required: Pencil, level, measuring tape, caulking gun, circular saw, chalk line, drywall rasp or rotary sander.

The following safety gear should always be used when working with GenStone products: Safety glasses, ear plugs (while using power tools), and dust mask (when cutting in enclosed areas).

Always follow General Steel's GenStone installation procedures closely. Similarly, always study and follow local building codes when applying GenStone Products.

Some applications require special cuts. Please allow a 5% overage in the quantity of the product to ensure a timely job completion.

Adhesives, fasteners, and moisture barriers (if required) are not provided by General Steel.

Measuring & Marking: GenStone product should be measured and marked from the backside, since it is flat and uniform in color. Using measuring tape, mark the backside with a pencil or marker and then use a straightedge or chalk line to mark a cutting line. All panels and corners have a top (positive) and bottom (negative) shiplap edge.

Cutting: GenStone panels are easiest to cut from the flat backside. Mitered cuts can be simply acheived with the same procedure. For ripping panels, a table saw may be most effective. Chop saws can be used for cutting ledgers and other profiled products. To cut outlet and fixture holes, make accurate markings on the backside, then use a hole saw to cut the opening, just as you would with other siding materials. When using a table saw or any other table for cutting, be sure to have something under the face of the panel to avoid any unnecessary panel damage. For close trimming, a dry wall rasp can be used to reduce the edge. Also, a router can be usede to form a new negative shiplap edge.

Applying Adhesive: When applying GenStone to your General Steel building, you may or may not need to use adhesive, but using adhesive could ensure a better overall adhesion. All surface areas must be clean, dry, and free of oily loose materials. It may be necessary to use a solvent, such as denatured alcohol, for cleaning the surface to ensure a proper adhesion. Use only commercial-grade polyurethane adhesive with GenStone.

Apply the adhesive to the backside of the GenStone product. On panels, always apply the adhesive with a 3/8" bead in a vertical line, every 12" along the full length of the panel. For corners, apply two vertical lines to the inside and two vertical lines to the outside edges. All ledges and profile parts have a solid edge on the backside for applying adhesive.

Grouting and Caulking: As with adhesive, the areas of your General Steel Building where you are applying the GenStone must be clean, dry, and free of oily and loose materials. Apply grout to the shiplap edge (the smooth surface, not the textured surface) from the bottom to the top, on the right hand side of the panel. Once the panels are installed, apply a small amount of grout to any exposed seams to ensure a proper seal. The grout skins over quickly, so only apply a small amount and then work the grout in place. Screw heads should be covered with GenStone grout to ensure that the screw heads are not exposed to the elements, which prevents rust and deterioration.

A high quality silicone caulking should be applied around all of the door and window openings, according to local building codes, prior to applying GenStone Products to your General Steel building. For best match results, we suggest having a local Sherwin-Williams color match the grout line using A80 exterior grade, water based, mat finish paint.

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