Cementing Rocks around a stove

I used to do stone work (Mansonry). She dun goofed. Should’ve put down lath. That’s gonna fall off there some day 😂

Some day soon, I would be using construction adhesive and just grouting for appearance. With the hot chimney I wouldn't probably use lath unless there is a fireproof type. All I have ever done is subway tile on a kitchen wall, and that was directly on painted green board.
cabby it started at 15 minutes for me, maybe Dave knows a way to embed the videos to start at a predetermined point?

Our main house and casita are both exterior stucco here, the wire mesh over a foam backing like about 90% of homes in the Phoenix valley. I don't know how a mesh would work over the backer board. I had a friend who worked in a shop making stone panels in frames for hearths and under wood stoves, don't know if maybe they built some horizontally that were meant to be used vertically when finished, but it would make sense to me to build them flat and then attach to the wall.

Its just a metal lath. Depending on what your structure is built of, you generally lay down a moister barrier (like a felt paper almost) then the lath over it. If the fireplace is laid in cmu block, you can add extra Lyme to the mix and apply straight to the block. Gives it a way better bond when the moisture sucks out. The type of stone you use as well dictate’s best practices. But I’ve seen in the past where people didn’t use lath (especially outside in the weather) and it pops right off after a few winters. Insides a tad different, however I didn’t see and support under what she laid. Once the house settles more, I’ll give it 10 years before it falls off in one big sheet 😂