Stone Cladding

Stone is a traditional construction material historically often used for cladding. The installation of hand chiselled stone over a cavity, or to a masonry substrate, provides a a durable and visually striking layer of protection for any building or construction.

Stone cladding adds a sense of history, permanence and often contrast when combined with other elements of building making it incredibly versatile in modern architectural design. As stone is inherently a recognisable geographical material it is ideal for blending or accentuating a project within its surrounds.

Stone cladding can be attached to a structure using many methods. The main methods used in New Zealand are stones of 150mm depth laid on a foundation restrained by a stone tie. Stone can also be mechanically fixed where a stone panel is suspended independently using light weight stones cut down to 35mm and glued onto fibre cement sheeting. This kind of stonework is particularly well suited for buildings with stone at height or for internal stone features, such as fireplaces.

It goes without saying that a qualified stonemason should always be engaged for stonemasonry cladding work as this is a specialised trade where longevity and quality are directly related to the efforts, experience and skill of the person shaping the rock, making the mortar, installing the stone and applying the pointing.