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Spotlight on StoneLite by Stone Panels Inc.
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| Mar 03, 2014 |
StoneLite® panels can be produced from almost any stone provided that slabs are available in large enough sizes. We stock 14 standard stones, but they are a small representation of the wide range of natural granite, marble, limestone, travertines, sandstones, and slates available from Stone Panels International LLC To see example pictures of our standard stones plus a limited representation of other available types of stone, please click on the stone type above.
The standard sized panel is 4 ft. by 8 ft. (122 x 244 cm), and we are capable of fabricating up to 5 ft. by 10 ft. stone panels with polished, honed, antiqued, sandblasted, bush-hammered, tooled, or flamed finishes. We also have panels available cut-to-size and with special fabrications. More durable than solid stone, these StoneLite® panels combine the high strength and low weight advantages of aluminum-honeycomb reinforcing with the beauty of natural stone, providing 15/16″ (24 mm) or 9/16″ (14 mm) thick panels weighing only 3.3 lbs. per sq. ft. (16 kg per sq. m), about the same as 1/4″ thick glass.
There are several ways in which our StoneLite® improve upon the conventional building material of dimensional stone cladding. StoneLite® stone panels are stronger, more flexible and more stable than traditional solid stone. StoneLite® turn natural stone into a decorative veneer, making dependence on stone for load-bearing purposes inconsequential.
Flexibility
StoneLite® are very flexible and can move with structures, making them invaluable in regions prone to hurricanes or earthquakes. Dimensional stone cladding is brittle and has low flexural and poor impact strength. Just as important to note, StoneLite® alleviates the concern with traditional solid stone panels that the stone can warp from cutting and temperature fluctuations.
Stability
The type of stone found on StoneLite® being as thin as it is, it cannot exert meaningful force on the reinforcing materials of the panels. As a result, our lightweight stone panels systems don’t experience the stability failures that dimensional stone cladding systems experience.
We have buildings clad with over 300,000 square feet of our StoneLite® that have the exact same stone used on the original installations of the Amoco and Lincoln First Tower Buildings. Our stone panels are the same today as they were when installed.
Bond Strength
Beyond the areas in which StoneLite® improves upon traditional stone panel systems, there are reasons for choosing StoneLite® over competitor products. Rigorous bond strength testing and approval from the International Code Council for StoneLite® do much to testify to the product’s bond strength.
In fact, bonding strength for our stone panels only improves with time; thanks to the curing of the epoxy resin. There is so much security in the bonding strength of StoneLite® stone panels that builders first and perhaps only concern for system failure lies with the stone itself. This fact only lends more credence to the fact that StoneLite® is preferable to both traditional stone panel systems and competitive products.
We have never had a warranty claim (delaminating or otherwise) of our stone panels. Neither are we likely to, considering the strengths we achieve.
Attachment Systems
In addition, StoneLite® panels are a preferable choice to traditional solid stone because of improved attachment systems. Dimensional stone systems have kerfs cut into their edges and leave little room to set anchors. The attachment system situation with dimensional stone exposes the weakest properties of the stone, whereas the full-surface bond coverage of a StoneLite® system alleviates attachment concerns that come with traditional systems.
Weatherproof
Two layers of impervious high strength fiber reinforcement between the stone veneer and the aluminum honeycomb, coupled with the epoxy skin backing of StoneLite® creates a weatherproof barrier that doesn’t exist with porous stone cladding systems.
Experience
The experience and testing endured by StoneLite® is what has, in large part, led to such wide acceptance within the industry for its use as a preferred building material. Stone Panels International LLC has been producing StoneLite® for over 40 years and our stone panels have been used on buildings in the U.S. for over 30 years. Beyond this history, the technology behind StoneLite® has been performing in the aircraft industry for about 60 years; bonding aircraft parts.
Check out the extensive list of projects here.
Testing
Should you want even further confirmation for choosing StoneLite®, you need only look to the testing page of our website, where we cover the acid freeze-thaw, air and water infiltration, structural and impact load, fire, attachment system, and other testing that StoneLite® has successfully and impressively undergone.
Cost and Color
StoneLite® improves upon both cost and color, when compared to solid stone cladding. Because natural stone composite panels from Stone Panels International LLC are so lightweight, panels can be both cut and maneuvered around at the point of manufacture and by installers to create a cohesive look much more easily than dimensional stone. Also, because of an 80 percent reduction in weight, StoneLite® can save builders 20 to 50 percent in installation costs.
Product Acceptance
While many companies attempt to recreate their own versions of StoneLite®, we can show buildings across the world with authentic StoneLite®. While “traditional” methods have shown shortcomings and major dimensional stone failures, StoneLite® continue to provide a natural stone façade to buildings that is extremely strong and can withstand the test of time. The millions of dollars we save for property owners on the initial cladding, or recladding, is an added bonus. Amoco’s experience (initial cladding cost – $6.5 million; corrective recladding – $80 million) amply demonstrates the long-term benefits of the StoneLite®panels solution.
For more information on the availability of different types of stone or for small samples, please contact our Technical Services Staff.
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