Technical and Laying Information

Natural stone is recommended to be fixed with the use of mortar or adhesive on a reinforced concrete slab. If calibrated 30mm or greater paver is to be used, a suitable crush rock base can be used for pedestrian traffic, however we recommend that the pavers be installed using a mortar bed rather than sand to give better stability to the finished product.

Natural Sandstone can have a size variation of up to 3mm therefore it is recommended to lay the stone with minimum of 5-8mm grout gaps. Travertine & Granite have a more precise cutting method therefore have smaller variations from each tile that can be laid with a minimum 3mm gap.

Particular attention should be paid to expansion joints in both their location and installation. Expansion joints should be used at every change in coping direction, at intervals no greater than 3.5 metres, between paving and any walls, wherever there is existing cracking in the foundation or bedding material and wherever there are existing expansion joints being covered over.

1. Remove all dirt, dust and debris from the concrete foundation
2. Dampen the concrete foundation with clean water
3. Hydrate the concrete foundation with a cement based slurry.  Only apply the slurry to the area where the mortar will be placed.  The slurry should be applied in an even coat approximately 2mm thick.  Do not allow the slurry to dry prior to installing.
4. Place and evenly spread the mortar mix on top of the concrete where the stone will be laid.  The mortar should be approximately 20-25mm thick with no voids or hollows.
5. Hydrate the back of the stone with the cement based slurry.  The slurry should be applied in an even coat approximately 2mm thick and should cover the entire back of the stone i.e. edge to edge and all corners.
6. Place the stone into position gently tapping down with a rubber mallet making sure to eliminate air pockets and to achieve compaction of the mortar bedding.  Ensuring there are no air pockets will allow a strong bond to occur and ensure the stone is fully supported i.e. the pavement does not become "drummy" at a later stage.
7. Tap the stone to the correct falls and levels.
8. Cut away (remove) any excess mortar and fill in any voids.
9. Sponge clean the surface of the stone to remove any excess mortar.

1. If necessary, apply a final screed to the foundation to prepare a foundation (base course) which is true and at the correct falls and levels.  The pre-screed will be a 3:1 (washed sand : cement) mix with the PlanicreteSP added at a ratio of 3 (water) :1 (planicreteSP).
2. Remove all dirt, dust and debris from the concrete foundation/final screed.
3. Evenly spread the chosen adhesive across the laying area (substrate) using a 8-10mm notch trowel.
4. Back blade ("butter") the back of the entire stone with the chosen adhesive as well to ensure full adhesion and to consistently fill all micro holes of the stone i.e. edge to edge and all corners.
5. Place the stone into position gently tapping down with a rubber mallet making sure to eliminate air pockets and to promote full coverage of the adhesive across the entire stone being laid.
6. Tap the stone to the correct falls and levels.
7. Sponge clean the surface of the stone to remove any excess adhesive.

Note: The thickness of the stone will help determine the type of adhesive you use. If the stone you are using is thicker than 20mm we recommend using Kerabond mixed with Isolastic50. If the stone you are using is thinner than 20mm thick or it may be moderately unstable to moisture, we recommend the use of Granirapid.

For organic based stains such as leaf and fruit stains or stains from bird droppings, we recommend cleaning Stone with a chlorinated solution. We do not recommend the use of acid as this can cause irreparable damage to the pavers, mortar & grout if applied incorrectly. Not all stains can be removed this way and may require alternate treatment.

The area to be cleaned should be wet down before applying any chemicals. Apply diluted chlorine as directed by manufacturer. Make sure to scrub any areas that need more attention. When area is cleaned to you satisfaction, make sure the area is well rinsed to remove any excess chemicals. The use of hot soapy water can assist with this.

Most of our stone is salt tolerant but we recommend the application of sealers especially if being used in the vicinity of salt water as we cannot guarantee all stone as the makeup of stone can vary in its density from pieces to piece. We also recommend sealing natural stone to facilitate easy cleaning and maintenance. Please refer to our cleaning and sealing guide on our website or contact us for more details and sealers to best suit your stone.

Natural Stone can be used for many different types of wall cladding. Stone can be installed onto Brick Walls, Rendered Walls or compressed sheet. Before the cladding is installed you must check that the wall structure is secure and solid to support the weight of the stone being used. Please ensure that the glue or adhesives to be used is suitable and recommended for the application and installation recommended for the adhesive is followed. Make sure the stone is clean and free from dust too ensure a strong bond.

A maximum of 1m high is recommended for each installation prior to continuing higher. For walls higher than 2m, engineering must be checked. If stone is to be used for water features. It is recommended that the stone be sealed to protect.