How To Install Stone Slips

Installing stone slips is the easiest of wall coverings to install, much simpler then brick slips and mistakes are very easily forgiven due to the random nature in which our stone cladding is designed to be installed in. Following the below steps will make it a walk in the park and ensure that you have a perfect finish to your Stone Slips. Within this Installation guide, we will advise of all materials needed, the best methods and how to look after your stone slips to ensure the best possible result. If there is anything in this guide that does not answer your stone slip questions please get in touch with a member of our live chat team.

Prepare And Measure For Stone Slips

• When asking "How to install stone slips" Getting the wall perfect before installing your stone slips is not always necessary however, it is important to consider the longevity and apperance of your stone slips is dependant on the surface they are being installed on. Its important to ensure the wall surface is not flaking or crumbling and that the wall is flat. If your wall is not flat, please bare in mind the stone slips will follow the contour of the wall.
• If your wall is painted we would advise "scoring" your wall with a sharp blade to allow the stone slip adhesive to adhere to the wall and not the paint. If your wall is bare plasterboard, brick, plaster or wood we recommend priming the wall before installing Stone Cladding. To do this we recommend using an acrylic based primer such as BAL Pro Primer. When priming the wall, follow the instructions on the back of the primer. 
• Now your wall is primed, and prepared for the stone slips it is time to plan out the install. Unlike brick slips which are installed in a brick bond fashion, stone slips are installed randomly so, when learning how to install stone cladding, Using all different sizes and infilling small gaps using small pieces of the stone. However when planning your install, you want to remember that if you have corners, to start the install using these. Always install your corners first as this will prevent you from needing to cut them down, this is an important step in the process of learning how to install stone slips

Mix Your Adhesive And Get Installing! 

• The purpose of this page is not just to install stone slips but, how to install stone cladding correctly. This starts before you even put a stone slip on the wall. The key element when creating a stone effect wall is to create a natrual finish, with different tones and textures placed without. So with that, you will open at least two boxes of stone cladding and you will use both boxes at the same time rather then one after the other. This will ensure your stone slips look random and perfect!
• When it comes to adhesive, you want to use a powder based adhesive, many tile shops and diy shops stock powder based adhesive. There are two main types, fast set - This adhesive sets within 3 hours which is great if you are a fast worker and have experience or, in a rush. if you have the time we would advise using slow set as it allows for corrections and you can work at a slower pace which is perfect for Stone Cladding! On the back of the adhesive it will advise how to mix the adhesive using water. For this you will use one bucket to put the powder in and then with another bucket, fill it with water and pour this in to the bucket containing the powder as per the guidelines. You then need to mix this together.
• THIS SECTION IS ONLY FOR THOSE USING CORNER PIECES We know this guide is how to install stone cladding but, with stone cladding comes the corner pieces. Now that you have your adhesive ready, you can begin to start installing your stone slips. You want to use your 10mm notched tile trowel and your mixing trowel. When tiling with stone cladding, it is important that your corners are installed first (if you do not have corners please skip this and the next paragraph). Starting from the bottom you will spread your adhesive on to the back of the stone slip in a consistent fashion (the adhesive should be spread vertically and 100% of the back of the brick slip should have adhesive on it) once your happy with the adhesive on the corner, you will then place on to the corner of the wall, pushing firmly. For your next step you will place your next corner directly above this (there is no need to use spacers the stones are irregular in shape and will have a natrual gap) Continue doing this untill your corner is completed.
• THIS SECTION IS ONLY FOR THOSE USING CORNER PIECES If you have corners and this is now completed it is time to start with the straight stone slips You will again start from the bottom, spread your adhesive on the back of the stone slip and place this next to the first corner in a row. You will repeat this process, until, your row is almost complete. Now that you have installed your stone cladding along the bottom row you will probably have a gap that is smaller then a whole stone slip. This is where cutting comes in to play. Measure the remaining space e.g 40mm, you will then deduct 10mm (to allow for a natrual gap) and mark your stone slip at 30mm. Using a wet tile saw or angle grinder, cut this peice from the stone cladding. Once cut you will then spread adhesive on the rear and place this in the final gap with the cut end of the piece facing the edge of the wall. Now that you have your first row complete, you will repeat this process for each row untill your wall is complete. Now you know how to install stone cladding corner pieces.
• Now that you have your adhesive ready, yoiu can begin to start installing your Stone Cladding You want to use your 6mm notched tile trowel and your mixing trowel. For your first row you can start either on the left or right side of the wall, fit your first stone slip by spreading the adhesive to the back of the stone cladding and pressing it against the wall. Then continure to install the next stone slip and so on until, your row is almost complete. Now that you have installed stone slips along the bottom row you will probably have a gap that is smaller then a whole brick slip. This is where cutting comes in to play. Measure the remaining space e.g 40mm, you will then deduct 10mm (to allow for a natrual mortar gap) and mark your stone slip at 30mm. Using a wet tile saw or angle grinder, cut this peice from the stone slip. Once cut you will then spread adhesive on the rear and place this in the final gap with the cut end of the piece facing the edge of the wall. Now that you have your first row complete, the next row, you will start from the same side of the wall you started with your first row.  other vertical line you marked and continue until that row is complete and keep doing this process until your wall is complete, you made need to cut the stone slips down at the top of the wall due to spacing.

Cleaning & Pointing Your Stone Cladding

• Wait 24 hours after installing your Stone Cladding to clean them. Once that time is up, the best method to use, to get your stone slips clean and ready for pointing, is to clean the stone cladding, the best method to do this is either a hard-wire bruch or a stiff bristle brush. Ensure you brush all the gaps, faces and joins of the stone slips. It is important that no adhesive is sticking out from the gaps.
• Once brushed and cleaned, it is time toi start pointing, pointing is a messy job so please ensure your floor and skirting boards are covered to prevent damage. Again with the pointing mortar, you want to mix this as per the guidelines on the reverse of the packaging. ensuring you are only mixing as much as you can work with at one time. At this point youve completed "how to install stone cladding" and your now on "how to point stone cladding"
• There are two methods when it comes to pointing Stone Cladding, you can head down the traditional route of using a pointing trowel and a profiler. This method is a lot slower but some prefer the old school way of doing things. The other method is to use a poitning gun. You simply feel the cartridge with pointing mix and squirt it in to the gaps. Whatever method you choose, you just want ensure all the gaps are full and that the mortar sticks out past the face of the stone slip. Work in small sections at a time 5-15 stone slips. Once pointed you will then profile them either with a pointing trowel or ice lollly stick to get a nice smooth finish. Once this is done and, before the mortar has dried take your hard wire brush and brush off any excess mortar. Repeat this process until your wall is full pointed.
• Now that you have pointed your wall (and you no longer need to know how to install Stone Cladding) it is time for a final clean, again the best method is a hard wire brush to remove any excess. Due to the texture of stone cladding a sponge will simply disintegrate so, stick with the brush.
• This final step is optional, but some customer choose to seal their stone slips. The process of sealing is to protect the stone cladding rom stains, oils, shampoos etc (depending on where your installing Stone Cladding depends on wether sealer would be needed) If you do wish to seal your stone slips ensure the stone slips are clean and free from dust. Following the instructions on the bottle of sealer, seal your stone slips. You have now learnt how to install stone cladding and, hopefully have a perfect stone effect wall. If you need any further help, please do get in touch with us.

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