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Wall stones, otherwise known as stone veneers, are thin pieces of stone that have been shaved or naturally broken into tilelike pieces. They are meant to resemble actual rocks stacked on top of each other when the installation is finished. They can be cemented or glued into place depending on the type of support you have behind the surface of the stone.

Waterproofing Layer

Ensure that there is a waterproofing layer in place before you actually install any wall stone. Regardless if you cement them or glue them up, the stones still need to be installed on top of a waterproof layer that sheds water to keep it from damaging the structure behind. Installing the stones without waterproofing can lock in moisture that will rot the walls or foundation. Painted-on latex, plastic sheeting, painted-on tar-based sealers and interlocking plastic membrane systems are all used for waterproofing, depending on the preferences of the installer and, in the case of man-made stone veneers, recommendations of the manufacturer.

Glue Type and Use

Contact cement, silicone adhesives, epoxy glues and all-purpose construction adhesives can all work with natural stones. Glue can be found in buckets and you use a notched trowel to apply the glue to the wall, such as with natural stone mastics. The notch size is determined by the size of stone; refer to the glue manufacturer guidelines for the appropriate size of trowel. A 3/8-inch notch is common for 12-inch tiles, with larger and smaller tiles requiring larger and smaller notches. It also comes in a caulking tube that you install into a caulking gun and then apply to the backs of individual pieces in a five-star pattern -- a daub in each corner and one in the center. Egg-sized daubs are good for 12-inch tiles; smaller or larger tiles will require less or more. They are then pressed into place, moved and spaced with wedges to accommodate joints in some installations, allowed to dry, grouted and finished.

Cutting

Individual pieces that need to be resized for around wall outlets or fixtures or into corners and similar areas can be fixed in two ways. The first is with a tile wet saw, since these are essentially natural stone tiles that are being installed vertically. The other is to go for the rough, natural look by using a hammer and chisel to roughly hew the stones into shape before they are installed on the wall.