A Complete Guide to Stonewall Cladding

Stonewall cladding is a versatile and attractive material and can be used for both interior and exterior applications. If you’re considering it for your place, it’s a good idea to do your homework first to ensure you get a flawless and professional-looking finish. We’ve put together this guide to share everything you may want to know about stonewall cladding to help you make an informed choice.

What is stonewall cladding?

Stonewall cladding a thin layer of natural stones arranged on a tile-like material. These stonewall tiles, aka cladding, are adhered to a surface to create the appearance of a stone wall. It is typically used in place of expensive solid stones as the installation is much easier, and it is far more cost-effective. Stonewall cladding is most commonly used to improve the aesthetics of an area and comes in many different types of stones, patterns, and colour variations.

Benefits of using stonewall cladding

Stonewall cladding is an extremely popular product amongst Aussies looking to improve the look of their home, and there is good reason why. Here are a few of them:

It looks luxurious
Stone is a natural material that can bring a touch of luxury to any space. It can add warmth, dimension, and texture. The great thing about stonewall cladding is there is an option to suit every style of home. It can be used outside, inside, or both and improve the overall appearance and feel of a home.

Heat insulating properties
Stonewall cladding offers great heat-insulating properties, so if you are installing it on the walls of your home, either inside or out, you can expect to have a more comfortable home come winter and summertime. When your home is well insulated, your heating and cooling doesn’t have to run for as long or for as hard and, this can result in lower energy bills. The less energy your home uses, the better it is for the environment too, so its win, win!

Long-lasting
Natural stone is a strong and durable material that wears exceptionally well. It withstands the elements and doesn’t fade when exposed to constant sun. Because it is so long-lasting, you won’t need to replace it every decade or less. This can save you money in the long run. Other products used on walls such as paint, aren’t as durable and may need touching up or reapplying over the years. Stonewall cladding is essentially installing and forgetting.

Can add value to your property
As stonewall cladding has a high-end feel to it, you can potentially add valuable dollars to your home. It can boost your curb appeal and make your home look more expensive. With the market as hot as it is right now, this is a great thing, especially if you have intentions of selling in the near or distant future.

It’s timeless
Natural stone products are one of the few timeless building materials. Rather than looking outdated over time, they can look even better as they age and can give them a more authentic look.

Simple to Install
To process of installing stone wall cladding is straightforward and ours here at Bonita Stone comes in two standard rectangular sizes allowing you to plan the layout with ease and minimise waste.

Block out unwanted noise
No one wants the peace and serenity of their home to be disrupted by noisy neighbours or loud traffic. Stonewall cladding acts as a sound barrier and can effectively cut down on the amount of noise you hear from inside, allowing you to restore privacy and quiet.

Low porosity levels
Stonewall cladding has low porosity levels, which means it doesn’t absorb water easily. This makes it an ideal choice for areas that you want to eliminate or prevent water from getting to.

Before you install your stone wall cladding, the following things should be taken into consideration:

The structural integrity of the wall you are fixing the cladding to
If you intend to install your stone wall cladding on an internal wall, make sure you check that it is a structural wall otherwise it may buckle under the weight of the stone. If you are not confident in determining this, your contractor should be able to do it for you.

Factor in bracing if necessary
If you are using a heavier stone wall cladding such as granite, you’ll need to factor in bracing to support the product sufficiently.

Allow for thermal expansion and contraction
Expansion and contraction need to be thought of when installing cladding over a timber foundation. This will ensure the sections of stone wall cladding don’t separate from one another or crack as a result.

Wind loads in your area
Force winds can send thin stone wall cladding flying off the surface and into the things around it. This can be extremely dangerous. If you live in an area that has high winds, hurricanes, or cyclones, it’s best to get an engineer or builder to install the stone wall cladding for you to ensure it stays put in times like these.

We hope this post has given you an idea about stone wall cladding. It is a great building material that can have a real bang for its buck. Here at Bonita Stone, we have a generous selection of stone wall cladding options and more, check out our website! Or if you’d like more information on this topic, feel free to contact our friendly team.