STACK STONE

Stack stone is the centuries-old natural stone that is used in construction and home renovation. It refers to the small slabs of the natural stones laid on the ground or wall in a uniform pattern. Earlier, stacked stones were used to mark important monuments and territories in Europe. Surprisingly, most of these buildings still stand intact after years of frequent use and weather exposure.

Stack stone dates back to the previous centuries when contractors would lay these stones on the walls without concrete slabs and other installation tools. The positions of these tiles and the material used were so sturdy that it would hold the stone in place for years. That’s the reason why these walls still feature the centuries-old stacked stones. The installation process of the stacked stone Melbourne was super challenging. It still is a labor-intensive process. Most homeowners hire professional contractors to get the best finish on their interior and exterior walls.

Stacked Stone Wall Application

Stack stone has become a common decorative piece in modern-day architecture. People have started to incorporate natural stones into their landscape by creating a fireplace, pool deck, patios, façade walls, interior walls, and driveways featuring a bunch of natural stones. One interesting quality that sets stacked stones apart from other pavers is its unique and authentic look. There is a good reason why this laying pattern was famous in ancient Rome. In fact, people used it for special territories and monuments.

Stack stones look beautiful in their raw and refined form. It can also be a combination of a bunch of irregular-sized natural stones featuring unique colors and different shapes. Today, the installation process has become a bit easier for contractors. The technology has brought the tools that make it easier to mount these stones on the walls. You could also incorporate stacked stone into your entire landscape without having to hire contractors. Travertine stacked stone is a perfect alternative to the concrete and man-made pavers. Contrary to the popular belief, stacked stone can be used in all settings.

Benefits of Stack Stone

Whether you need to create a retro-style exterior or give a contemporary touch to your home, stacked stones can help you achieve your desired landscape. One of the latest trends in the home décor industry is to add texture to your home designs. The best way to do that is by mounting stacked stones on your walls. The small pieces of the natural stones are mounted on your wall just like you would tile and pave the ground. The best part is that you don’t need grout for the installation. In fact, most homeowners choose the dry-stacked walls as they bring natural character and organic touch to your space. Nowadays, the stacked stones with smooth surfaces and sharp edges have become the homeowner’s favorite choice for interior walls.

This versatile material can be used both indoors and outdoors. From a backsplash in your kitchen to the feature wall in your living room to the foyer wall, stacked stones can be mounted just about anywhere you want. Now that it is made of natural stones, expect each slab of the stacked stone to have variation in color. This variation will help bring an organic feel to your space. Stacked stones can turn your boring and plain wall into a feature wall. Make sure that the slabs must be selected in advance. You can alter the color and sizes of the stone according to your landscape.

Cost and Maintenance of Stack Stones

These stones are mainly available in a natural, honed, and polished finish. If you want to create a sleek and sophisticated wall, then honed stacked stone tiles Sydney will be your best option. If you would like to retain the natural and old-world charm of this material, then choose the natural stacked stone. The cost of the project varies depending on the finish you choose. The more you customize the stone and change its color or design, the higher it will cost. For example, stacked stone in its most natural form is available at a reasonable price. It will cost you around $3-$10 per square foot.

As the stone is mounted on the vertical surfaces, it is easy to maintain and take care of stacked stones. All you got to do is wipe the dirt and dust off the wall with a clean, wet cloth. Since nobody is going to walk on the stones, it won’t require high maintenance. Experts believe that a wall featuring stacked stones collect as much dirt as a windowsill. You can run a handheld vacuum across the wall for basic cleaning. However, sealing is a must. Not only after the installation, but you need to seal the stacked stones every year. Sealing is required twice a year if you mount them on the façade or exterior walls.

No matter where you install them, stacked stones complement the surrounding landscape. They bring warmth and depth to space. The combination of a modern and rustic look makes stacked stone a perfect option for all types of home renovation projects.

How to Lay Stack Stone

Whether you need to build a stone wall or improve the façade wall of your place, stacked stone is your ideal choice for all kinds of wall cladding projects. It gives a stylish and contemporary finish to your walls. Most homeowners prefer natural stones in the dry-stacked form. That means they don’t use the wet mortar when installing these natural stone pavers on their interior or exterior walls. However, mortar is important for effective installation.

Without a proper base, your stacked stones can fall off the walls. It is the mortar that keeps the natural stones in place for years. You don’t necessarily need a wet mortar when installing wall cladding stones Melbourne. However, it is highly recommended for the exterior walls and load-bearing walls, such as the façade. It is also useful when you have chosen the stacked stones that have irregular and sharp edges.

Decorate Your Wall with Stack Stones

Usually, homeowners pick natural stones with a flat edge when it comes to wall cladding. Not only are these stones easy to install, but they give an elegant and natural feel to your space. But, that isn’t necessary. You can install stacked stones in a free-flow or random pattern as well. It depends on your preference and the landscape.

Make sure that the stones you choose complement the surrounding elements and overall landscape. If you are planning to DIY the stacked stone wall cladding project, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we are going to walk you through a few important tips for laying stacked stones on your walls. So, read on.

1. Preparing the Thin-set Mortar

You can prepare mortar with lime, dry cement, and masonry sand. However, if you don’t have enough time and the resources for the thin-set mortar, then consider buying it from a local hardware store. The ready-made mortar is available for stacked stone wall cladding. All you got to do is add water to the mixture before applying it to the walls.

Keep adding a small amount of water until you get a thick consistency. The mixture must look like mashed potatoes. It shouldn’t be too thin or too thick. Another important thing to note is that the mortar mixture tends to harden quickly. You must use the mixture within 2 hours of mixing. Most contractors prepare the mortar in small batches so that it doesn’t get thick and hard.

Keep mixing the mortar with water until you get the consistency of peanut butter and pancake batter. In other words, mortar must be thin enough to spread across the wall and thick enough to hold the stacked stone pavers in place.

2. Lay the Mortar

Mortar is to be laid on the layer of sand. Use Mason’s trowel to spread the thin-set mortar across the surface. As mentioned before, you can’t prepare the required mortar at once. Prepare mortar in small batches. Apply the mortar to the wall and stick the stone to the mortar bed firmly. You need to place the stones close to each other to avoid gaps.

If you are using the stacked stones of uneven sizes and shapes, then save some mortar mixture for later. You could use it to fill the gaps between the stacked stone pavers. Alternatively, you can use crushed stones to fill the small space. Mortar must also be applied to the sides of each stone paver. You can watch the video tutorials to get the application right.

3. Arrange the Stack Stones

The stones you use for wall cladding must be of the same size, texture, colors, and strength. However, no two slabs of the natural stone look identical. They vary by thickness, size, and shape. There is a chance the stacked stones you purchase from the Australian stone market have varying sizes and shapes. That being said, it is best to start with the large stones.

Start from the center and work your way up the wall. If you are installing stacked stones for the first time, lay these stones on the ground first. It is the best way to determine the arrangement of the stone so that you get a perfect final look. Try to pair the same colored stones together. You could also mix the dark and light color stacked stones for a natural and random look.

4. Clean up Your Wall

Now that you have applied mortar to the sides of the pavers, it’s natural for the mixture to cover the stacked stones. While that doesn’t affect the strength and durability of your wall, it looks quite unattractive. Mortar is not weather-resistant, which means it is only a matter of time until the excess mixture comes off the wall. In order to achieve a clean and fresh look, you must remove the excess mortar from the wall using a trowel.

There you go! Your stacked stone wall is ready. Make sure you seal the surface with a quality sealant to protect the wall cladding stones from liquid stains. You must also seal the surface every 6 months or a year.

We specialise in Stack Stone cladding in a modern geometric look that is light weight for easy installation by the home handyman. This light weight stack stone cladding panels are very easy to install for the DIY and is priced from $48m².

All stack stone panels are made of natural stone and will stand the test of time. This series is designed to give a more modern spin on a natural stack stone walling product, whilst each stack stone panel is light weight for internal or external use.

WE RECOMMEND THAT ALL STACK STONE CLADDING PANELS MUST BE SEALED WHEN LAYED EXTERNALLY AND NOT UNDERCOVER. Whether you use a penetrating or surface sealer to achieve the final result you are after is up to you BUT it must be sealed and resealed every 12 months. Also natural stone can naturally discolour overtime due to mineralization or oxidation, this is a natural effect that will occur. Prior to installation of your stack stone always ensure batches ( crates) of stack stone are shuffled to ensure even colour distribution over the entire job. This will mean opening every box of stack stone prior to starting installation to ensure an even colour distribution is achieved when installation is commenced. We recommend the use of MAPEI adhesive (follow manufacturers guide lines for usage) for installing all stack stone cladding and that you follow the Australian standards for installation of all stack stone. Mechanically fixing of Ledgestone especially is expected every 2 mtrs in height, this practice should also be applied to the light weight stack stone cladding as well.