Front Porch Series, Part Three

He says:

So, we wanted to include some stonework on this porch.  We like the look of stone column bases, but we also like to do everything ourselves when possible.  The need was for a simple, DIY friendly way to create the stone look.  Now, every big box home improvement store in the world has a stonework display by the front door...but the employees never have any clue what it is, how it installs, or how to order it.  Fail.  After lots of research, we discovered M-Rock.  

Pictures are worth a thousand words, but the phone call clinched the deal.  The people are knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.  About $1,000 bought everything for the porch and some extra for some future projects.  For something new to us, online videos are always appreciated, and M-Rock has one:

The truck pulled up 4 days later and work began.

I can't say enough nice things about this company and their products.  One or two notes that I wished I would have known:

1.  A regular pine "6x6" post is sized like all pine lumber, smaller.  It's actually 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 ".  A cedar or other decorative post is actually a full 6x6".  The M-Rock product is designed for a full 6x6" post.  In order to use it, I had to add a strip of pressure treated 1/2" ply to two sides of the posts to make up the size difference.  I nailed them on with galvanized ring-shank nails.

2.  The post top caps are a little "vague", they are molded for a very loose fit.  They are to be installed with polyurethane construction adhesive (which is terribly nasty stuff) and you have to use a lot of it.  So, use masking tape to protect the top of the column, and use more tape to hold the cap in place while the adhesive dries.

She Says:

I really love how this turned out!  We wanted the look of stacked stone, and no mortar to mess with.  Very cool product.