How was permastone done ?
About permastone, a brand of simulated stone stucco.
Permastone was a brand name for a system of Simulated stone stucco that was popular in the 1950's. Other brands included Formstone, from Baltimore, Maryland, Rostone, and there were others.
A set of permastone tools included the molds with wooden handles for pressing the "stones" on the wall, and a salt shaker for sprinkling the color and mica dust.
Thanks so much to Jeff Collins from Les Collins Plastering in Saint Josephs, Missouri for this great picture.
Talking to Jeff confirmed to me how this was done. Jeff's father was a plasterer and Jeff has seen this done.
The molds were lined with wax paper and filled with mortar. Before filling the molds with mortar color was sprinkled on and well as mica dust. The mica gave the stones a shiny stone like appearance. The stones were then pressed on the wall using the wooden handles. After the mortar started to set, the wax paper was peeled off, leaving the finished stone.
Later, the stones were sealed by painting them with white gas.
More molds: the hinge molds are for outside corners. Note the scratching tool and the inside corner tool.
A permastone or Formstone franchise gave the contractor access to a lot of benefits, such as these wall plaques, molds and tools, yard signs, and national advertising leads.
Simulated stone was a golden opportunity for the plastering contractor, who was displaced in the1950's by the popularity of drywall. Permastone was a fad that took off, with the promise of a maintenance free finish. This plaque is in Washington, DC.