2. Installation
Please take in mind the following aspects when installing Stoneskin.
-
The supporting structures (underground for installation) are characterized by their composition and flatness tolerance.
- Composition: possibilities: full concrete of regular granulate and full concrete of ‘expansion clay’, casted or prefabricated (2-3 months old), plastered with concrete mortar or compound mortar on 3 weeks old brickwork.
- Flatness: on a distance of 2 m the flatness tolerance must be smaller than 5 mm and 2 mm along a distance of 20 cm.
- Cleanliness: the underground needs to be clean, free of oil based release agent and flat. Humidity: the sticking may not be carried out when the underground is not dried out completely. However by warm weather, or if the stone is very porous, the underground needs to be moisten first.
- Temperature: the installation may not be carried out on an underground that is too cold, no temperature below 5°C. This applies as well for temperatures above 30°C.
- Joints: For the installation of Beltralinea Stoneskin-strips as wall cladding, no joints are required. Carcass- and extension joints need to run in the same width in the adhesive and cladding. Expansion joints have to be 5 mm width and filled with a smooth joint. The different assembling surfaces may not exceed 60 m² (horizontal joints about every 6 m and vertical joints every 10m).
- Maximum height: The allowed height of the façade with adhesive is at maximum 2.4m (according to UK regulations)
- For outside cladding, the upper part of the upper strips needs to be protected with a suitable covering: cornice, moulding, roof-ridge, etc. to avoid that rain water would infiltrate between the background, adhesive and the stoneskin cladding.
BELTRAMI recommends to consult the technical datasheet of the specific natural stone in order to make sure that you use the most up-to-date information.
3. Maintenance
After the installation
Maintenance starts with a first cleaning about 1 week after the grouting of the floor. This cleaning has to be carried out only once with a suitable cleaner (e.g. Lithofin MN Power Clean). Important: always use an acid-free product! Allow the floor to dry thoroughly during the next month.
Protection
When the cladding is completely dry we advise to protect the stone with a suitable sealer:
- Lithofin Splash-Stop if you want to leave the wall cladding with a ‘natural’ look and water repellent.
- Lithofin MN Coating (only for internal use) if you want to stress the colours with a ‘brilliance’ effect (attention: Coating is not an impregnation)
- Lithofin Stain-stop Plus (for external use and humid/wet places/rooms) if you want to stress the colours without a ‘brilliance’ effect
These products are to be applied with a sponge or brush.
Regular maintenance
Dusting of the Stoneskin strips from time to time will be enough as regular maintenance. For exceptionally dirty surfaces and stubborn marks, a suitable acid-free product can be used (e.g. Lithofin MN Easy-Clean).
Products mentioned on this page
