Interior stone wall cladding is just as easy and inexpensive to use as ceramic tile, and it presents itself as a superior design medium. A building clothed in stone wall cladding can portray elegance, importance and strength. Through choice use of design, architects, builders, remodelers and designers can immediately transport people to a European building or Tuscan villa. Interior stone wall cladding is available in different styles that can be combined for any wall covering application.

1. Full faux stone wall panels

2. Wainscoting

3. Decorative stone wall clad

4. Interlocking wall cladding

5. Veneer stone wall panels

Stone wall clad is also made for outside use. Stone wall cladding contractors, builders, masons and landscapers can use the facade for home and building exteriors and for fabricating walls. Browsing the various manufacturers will help you become familiar with the textures, colors and finishes available to offer customers.

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Get stone wall cladding education and training for architects

Stone wall cladding has been introduced into the wall covering market fairly recently. By becoming familiar with its use in design and its benefits over other wall coverings, architects can utilize this in their building designs more often. As demand for this sophisticated look without the high costs of real stone increases, architects will find stone wall cladding to be an asset to their repertoire.

I recommend: ASTM International has a guide for architects and contractors to assist in design, selection and installation of wall systems such as stone wall cladding. At Scribd, architects can become familiar with the medium through a guide about commercial wall cladding.

Learn about exterior stone wall cladding

New construction, renovations and repair services are all in demand for contractors of outdoor building stone wall cladding. The specific knowledge it takes for this kind of work differs from that of wood building and even stone masonry. In spite of the differences, the cladding can be applied easily to any clean, structurally sound surface.

I recommend: For an overview of how stone wall cladding is installed, view this video presented by LikeStone. Construction Consulting International is a resource for all designers and builders, providing training and other support. Get step-by-step installation instructions from Infinity Stone Exteriors.

Create beautiful interiors with decorative stone wall cladding

Dynamic and memorable interiors can be created with well chosen interior stone wall cladding. A variety of colors and textures makes it possible to truly create works of art inside buildings. A common request for such design and placement is in kitchens and bathrooms.

I recommend: See product sheets at International Slate & Stone for information on some of the wall clad products available. The Stromberg Group shows you their process of installation and talks about various interior choices for stone wall cladding and their benefits.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most styles of faux stone wall cladding have the option of coming with a preapplied sealer for even easier installation. Adhesive indoor stone wall cladding costs a little more per panel but saves times in the installation process by cutting out the adhesive application step.

Building with stone wall cladding, sometimes called stone wall clad, is a hot trend in construction. Stone wall panels are beautiful and durable and can add a classic yet modern appearance to your next project.

Whether you are renovating a building or constructing something new, building stone wall cladding is sure to draw attention to your project and add value. Before you start looking for stone wall cladding contractors, figure out exactly what you want by asking yourself the following questions:

1. Would you like interior stone wall cladding?

2. Would you like exterior stone wall cladding?

3. Would you like specialty stone wall cladding?

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Find contractors to provide interior stone wall cladding

Interior natural stone wall cladding is known for its warm beauty and low maintenance. Chose a contractor that can provide interior stone wall panels in a variety of sizes and finishes, giving you and your architect design flexibility.

I recommend: Stone Selection is the North American subsidiary of the French company Marbres du Boulonnais, recognized as a world leader in stone construction materials. The company has a large selection of stone and a team of architects and designers willing to help you make your selection. From the company's webpage, you can request a quote by filling out a form describing your job. StonePly, a division of the Stromberg Group, aims to build the finest architectural paneling in the world. The company makes strong, lightweight panels that are easy to install.

Select a company to provide exterior stone wall cladding

Stone wall siding on the outside of a building must be able to stand up to the harsh effects of weather and other environmental factors. You'll want to choose a company that can provide you with exterior stone wall cladding that is resistant to staining, freeze-thaw cycles and extreme conditions.

I recommend: Vermont Structural Slate Company has dozens of types of durable cladding available in a variety of stones and colors. The family-owned company quarries and fabricates natural Vermont slates. A B Impex provides natural stone wall cladding in stones such as granite, limestone, marble and sandstone. The company is based in India with distributors across the United States.

Locate specialty stone wall cladding

If your project has restrictions that make installation of traditional stone wall cladding difficult, you may want to consider a specialty cladding product. These products include thin panels made of an authentic stone veneer or faux stone wall panels.

I recommend: Stone Panels makes a product called StoneLite, which is a thin veneer of real stone on a backing reinforced with an aluminum honeycomb substrate. FauxPanels.com has a complete line of faux stone wall cladding, siding and columns available for residential or commercial use.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When choosing stone wall cladding, be sure to consider environmental factors such as moisture, as some materials are more impervious to water penetration than others.

Today, stone wall cladding (also known as stone wall clad) is one of the most popular ways of increasing the aesthetic beauty of homes and offices.

Whether you want to become a stone wall cladding service provider or you want to use stone wall cladding for residential or commercial purposes, you will need to know the various technical terms related to it.

This guide intends to familiarize you with the stone wall cladding key terms, such as stone panels, cladding, cultured stone, wainscoting and spot bonding method.

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Cladding

Cladding refers to applying one material over another to provide an addition layer of protection. This layer can be useful to control the infiltration of weather elements or even for aesthetic purposes.

I recommend: Designbuild-network.com, an online resource for the architecture and construction industries, explains more about cladding.

Stone panels

A stone panel is made of natural stone, like slate, limestone or mica. To prepare a stone panel, stone is cut into pieces and then glued together.

I recommend: Luxury Stone Supplies Pty Ltd, a supplier of natural stones products and accessories, provides information about stone panels.

Cultured stone

Cultured stone refers to manufactured stone. Due to its lightweight structure, it is extremely useful for interior walls.

I recommend: Selector.com, an online information resource explains more about cultured stone.

Wainscoting

Wainscoting is an ornamental wood paneling that is applied to the lower portion of an interior wall. Such type of paneling is common in offices and commercial areas.

I recommend: You can refer to MaasInfo Media, a professional consultation company, for information on wainscoting.

Surface preparation

Surface preparation ensures the proper attachment of the coating / panel on the surface. Surface preparation involves various surface cleaning methods, which help in forming a good bond between the surface and the panel or material being applied.

I recommend: LATICRETE, a manufacturer of installation systems for ceramic tiles and stone, provides detailed information regarding surface preparation and its importance.

Spot bonding method, dab method

The spot bonding method is also known as the dab method of installation. The problem with spot bonding is that adhesives cover only a portion of the cladding and the substrate-bonding surfacem, with potentially serious consequences.

I recommend: Stone World magazine, a leading source of information on stone use, explains the spot bonding method in detail.

Back butter method

Back butter method (also known as one-step, buttering and thick bed method) encompasses several different techniques. It involves applying thick layers of adhesive mortar over the entire surface of the cladding.

I recommend: Castle Tile, a tiles supplier, provides detailed information about the back butter method.

ASTM E2266 - 04

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides the standard E2266 - 04 for the design and construction of low-rise frame building wall systems, including wall cladding.

I recommend: You can learn more about the ASTM standard E2266 – 04 at the ASTM International's website.