FAAPEFEA ONA FILIFILI LE PIPI MA'A MO LOU fa'afale-ma'a

I totonu o lenei tusiga, o le a tatou vaʻavaʻai i nisi o vaega taua o le fatuina o lau puipui atoatoa ma elemene e tuʻu faʻatasi e tuʻuina atu ia te oe faʻamaeʻaina o loʻo e vaʻaia i aso nei i nisi o fale sili ona mataʻina i le salafa o le atunuʻu.

We’ll take a look at what natural stone cladding is, what types are available to you, which would work best for you and ultimately a guideline on how to install your cladding.

O LE A LE CLADDING?

“Cladding” is made to dress your wall with stone without the costs of building walls with blocks and labour costs associated with them. You can easily clad your wall with your preferred material and blend it in to suit your environment in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

O LE A LE UPIINA MAA NATURA?

Fa'apipi'i ma'a o se ma'a manifinifi e fa'aoga i se fale po'o se isi fausaga e faia i se mea e ese mai i le ma'a. O le fa'apipi'i o ma'a e pipii i se puipui sima, piliki ma fale e fai ma vaega o le latou fa'ata'ita'iga muamua. O le pito i tua o fasi maa taʻitasi e 'ili i se mea mafolafola, lea e mafai ai ona faʻapipiʻi maʻa i mea talafeagai.

Faatasi ai ma nofoaga faʻasalalau i le lalolagi atoa, o le tele o atunuu o loʻo i ai se ituaiga o maʻa masani o loʻo maua i lalo ifo.

Natural stone “cladding” is thin slices of quarried natural stones. They are taken out of the land and accordingly sliced into blocks and boulders – from these blocks/boulders, the products you see today are manufactured and made.

Faatasi ai ma le tele o ituaiga eseese o maa masani, e amata mai i le maamora i le quartzite mai le travertine i le maamora o loʻo i ai ituaiga faʻapipiʻi e fetaui ma soʻo se tasi ma tagata uma.

O le a le free form Cladding?

Free form – These are small, medium and large pieces of loose natural stone with sawn flat back pieces that come together to create an organic wall that appears like it has been built for centuries. The definition of “free-form” is individual pieces.

Fa'atasi ai ma le tua ua uma ona va'a mafolafola mo le fa'apipi'iina faigofie, o a tatou ma'a fa'apipi'i puipui ta'itasi o lo'o fa'apipi'iina i luga o se puipui o lo'o iai, e maua ai se foliga fa'alenatura ma le tumau.

O lo'o fa'apipi'iina e se tufuga ma'a poto, e tutusa lava lona taua i le tulaga lelei o le ma'a fa'aoga fa'apea fo'i le foliga ma le fa'ai'uga o le ma'a, o le tulaga lelei o tufuga mai lau fa'apipi'i.

Freeform organic stonework is an art form, and the artist is critical in completing the ‘picture’ that becomes your wall.

E le o se faʻataʻitaʻiga e tatau ona latou mulimuli ai, o loʻo i ai auala faʻapitoa e te manaʻomia e faʻapipiʻi ai ituaiga taʻitasi taʻitasi e maua ai foliga saʻo. O le mea o loʻo matou taumafai e ausia iinei o le foliga mai o lou fausaga na fausia lima mai poloka moni, seneturi talu ai.

Afai e te tuʻuina le faʻapipiʻi e pei o se ata vali poʻo se ituaiga o mamanu e te faʻaliliuina le puipui e avea ma se pa maʻa mamanu. (e lelei pe afai e te mulimuli i lena vaaiga) nai lo le ausiaina o foliga o se puipui fau fau e fausia/fa'aputu e se poloka maa ma lea poloka. O le auala lea e fetaui lelei ai vaega taitasi ma lona fatu, foliga ma lanu.

For example, If your stonemason were going to build a wall say 10m long and 5 meters high from blocks, the wall should be structurally stable, it needs to be stacked one on top of another so it doesn’t ever fall or collapse.

A fa'apipi'i se ma'a fa'ale-natura i luga o se puipui o lo'o i ai, e mana'omia lava ona foliga e pei na fausia mai poloka moni, e mana'omia pea ona foliga mau. E ui lava o le mea moni o le mea'ai i tua e mana'omia ona mautu!

Afai e te le vaʻai i le eseesega pe a vaʻavaʻai i se puipui puipui ma se puipui faʻapipiʻi, ona e ausia lea o le pa faʻatauvaʻa faʻatauvaʻa lea o le a masalosalo ai soʻo se tasi e taumatemate pe o le puipui o loʻo ufiufi pe poloka galuega.

Armstone offers corners pieces of all the stone claddings which are available in pre-cut 90-degree pieces to give you that full stone, block look. The benefit here is that you don’t have to get your stonemason to mitre the corners, its best to avoid seeing any cut joints anywhere on the wall.

To achieve the true organic look your installer shouldn’t have any sawn cuts on your stonework. They should make cuts from the back of the stone and split each individual piece of the stone to prevent having a sawn cut on the face or side of the piece.

Afai ei ai ni au pito i'a, e mafai ona e tata'iina le pito o fasi fasi pepa taitasi e maua ai le ma'a se pito masani. O i'inei e tatau ona fa'aalia moni ai le tomai o lau ma'a.

A mae'a lelei, e mafai e se puipui fa'aola fuala'i fua ona fausia se uiga mata'ina e le tumau i lou fale po'o fafo. Ae pei o soʻo se mea i le olaga, afai e tipi tulimanu, e leai se aoga o le alu i le faagasologa. O le a sili atu le tasi i le isi, sili atu ona aoga filifiliga.

O LE A LE UPI MAA MAMAGO?

In the Free Form individual stone cladding range, you can either do “Dry Stack” aka “Dry Stone Cladding” which means that the stone cladding is Not Grouted (no any cement filled into the gaps) or Grouted. 

Some stones look good in “dry stack” and some “grouted”. E fa'atatau tonu lava i lou lava mana'o.

Some Natural Stone Claddings looks really organic when you lay them in “Crazy” pattern. This is where the pieces don’t have any even sizes or shapes.

If you are planning to do a dry stack you must plan ahead to have the grout joints tight or you if you’d like to grout you should use packers to get consistent grout joints for each individual piece of stone.

Afai e te le o mautinoa po'o fea e fetaui ma lou fale po'o le galuega faatino vala'au mai ma talanoa mai ia i matou, matou te mautinoa o le a matou fa'aogaina oe i le fofo sili.

Besides the “Crazy” format stone cladding nowadays more architects and landscape designers are specifying the “Random Ashlar” pattern which is suited for more modern designs.

“Random Ashlar” is a random Geometric pattern – Ashlar fa'afuase'i, o fasipepa e aofia ai sikuea faʻafuaseʻi ma faʻataʻitaʻi.

 

 VAEGA MAA MA MAA FA'ATAU.

Z-panels – “Z-panels” have a ‘Z’ shape which allows each stone panel to interlock with the next. These pre-made dry stack panels are the most cost-effective way to transform your wall to a dry stack look.

With a concrete backing Armstone’ Z shape panels which are also known as “Stone Panels” or “Ledgestones” as well as “Cultured stones” have chicken wire holding each individual piece of stone together on a concrete backing system for a functional and feasible install makes for a great product. We’ve seen many homes use this type of wall cladding and the results have been very pleasing.

Z panels e mafaufauina i le va pe a oʻo mai i le faʻapipiʻiina ma e faigofie ona faʻapipiʻi pe a faʻatusatusa i le faʻapipiʻi fua fua. E maua i le faigofie e galue ma lapopoa, e mafai ona e fa'apipi'i vave nei mea i luga o lau mea'ai talafeagai. Matou te tauaveina patino fasi tulimanu tutusa ma faʻapipiʻi faʻapipiʻi e maua ai se faʻamaʻi atoatoa mo lou fale.

With a number of options available such as Micha Quartz, Toad Limestone and Natural colours as Rustic Granite – there is something to suit any home.

 

 

Stacked Stones – Stacked stones are a more linear approach to wall cladding. With ready to use stone veneers holding together small individual bits of stone which are stacked to together with glue, it’s very simple to clad any suitable structure.

Each stone is stacked and glued onto the panel which helps gives your wall or structure a natural 3D appearance. If you’re looking for an easy way to add appeal to your internal and external walls or structures, this option is for you.

Made from premium natural stone and a combination of durability and strength the range of options in this format are endless. It’s important to choose the right one that brings out the best in your home.

Fa'aputu Ma'a Panels o lo'o avanoa i se lapo'a talafeagai o le 600x150mm ma e mama-mamafa. E faigofie ona pipii i luga o lou puipui, e pei o tile.

 

 

O le fea Ufi e Sa'o Mo Oe?

Faatasi ai ma le tele o filifiliga o loʻo avanoa mo oe i le pito o ou tamatamailima, o loʻo i ai mea e tatau ona mafaufau i ai ma mafaufau i ai aʻo leʻi lokaina au mea.

It’s wise to consider where the wall cladding will be going?

• 1. Faamata e fa'asaga tele i le la pe o lalo o le paolo ma e mafai ona pala?
• 2. Pe e iai se vai tuusaʻo i luga, pe e faaaogā ea e fai ma puipui mo se faatanoa vai masima?
• 3. E mo lau tafu afi, o lo'o i totonu ma e tele le vevela?
• 4. E mafai ona e fa'apipi'i fa'apipi'i i luga o le puipui sima?
• 5. O le a le maualuga o le puipui? Mata e mana'omia le fa'apipi'iina o masini?
• 6. Afai e mo pou po'o koluma, fa'amolemole fa'afeso'ota'i ma i matou e iloa po'o le fea lapo'a ma le fa'atulagaga o le a sili ona lelei ma lau tele koluma fa'apitoa.
• 7. E mo le puipui lau o lou fale?

O le faʻapipiʻi saʻo e tatau ona faʻamalieina lou avanoa, siʻosiʻomaga ma le paketi.

E FAAPEFEA ONA FA'ATAU IPI MA'A?

There are a few things to consider when it comes to the visual appeal of your wall and there is one key element that really makes or breaks this and it falls under, installation. Let’s take a look below at what the most important factors are.

Filifili le mea fa'apipi'i sa'o:

It’s important to engage the right team, one with the commitment and experience to help bring to life your dream wall.

When shortlisting the right people for the job, always be sure to ask for photos of previous similar projects completed as well as any references they may have.

O le filifilia o le faʻapipiʻi saʻo e mafai ona faia se lalolagi o eseesega ma e tutusa le taua ma le lelei o lau maʻa.

Lau mea'ai:

Ia mautinoa o lo'o mautu lou fa'avae ma ua sauni lou pito i luga mo le fa'aoga. Mo ma'a fa'alenatura, e mafai ona e fausia le mea'ai mai piliki, sima po'o poloka poloka ma fa'atatau i le maualuga ma le lapopo'a atonu e te mana'omia fo'i e saini lou puipui e se inisinia.

Ia mautinoa o so'o se palapala po'o otaota E aveese mai le puipui a'o le'i pipii i lau pa'u ma'a, o le a mafai ai ona pipii maualuga.

Lau Poloaiga:

It’s important to consider things like wastage and breakage when ordering, depending on the type of stone cladding you may find some pieces are too small and you will need to sort through your extras to make the wall the size and shape you desire, it’s also possible that during installation or transportation that some pieces may break. We normally advise between 10%-15% wastage, depending on the product.

Fa'amatalaga:

The dollars in the details, therefore its best to have full piece corner pieces to really enhance the overall organic feeling off your wall – you’ll find this a much cleaner finish as you will not have any visual interference brought to you from mitred corners.

O le taimi lava e ufiufi ai lou puipui e mafai ona e faʻamaeʻaina i ni faʻamaufaʻailoga tutusa, o le mea lea e maua ai se foliga mama, mataʻutia ma faʻaliliu moni ai lou puipui i se foliga manino.

Afai e na'o se puipui pupu'u pu'upu'u po'o se atigipusa fa'ato'a e lelei fo'i le fa'aogaina o fasi tulimanu atoa mo le fa'apipi'i.

It’s key to be patient when using any free form or ashlar type natural stone product.

Try setting out the pieces on the ground and begin putting together the pieces the way you’d like to see them when they are up on your wall.

Ia manatua o le a e fetuutuunai fasipepa i le tele ma faʻafefiloi ma faʻafetaui fasipepa e fatu ai lau lava fesuiaiga masani, e moni lava e pei o faatufugaga ma se tusiata lelei saunia i taimi uma ana meafaigaluega.

E FA'AFEFEA ONA FA'AVAE I LE TU'UINA O LE UPI MA'A?

O le a le mea fa'apipi'i e fa'aoga mo le fa'apipi'i ma'a?

When adhering the stone pieces onto the substrate be sure to use a quality adhesive, Armstone recommends the products from Mapei and we’ve found the moisture sensitive glue from Mapei Granirapid Kit to be the best solution thus far.

The reasons why are quite important, Mapei Granirapid kit is a moisture sensitive adhesive which helps resists against moisture. Moisture is the number one culprit for de-bonding glue. Which to put simply means if you don’t use this type of glue there is a chance your wall will fall apart over time.

E le gata i lea, o le Granirapid o se kelu faʻapipiʻi vave lea e mafai ai ona e pipii vave vaega o lau puipui ma faʻagaoioia lau talosaga e sili atu le vave ona e te le manaʻomia le faʻaaluina o le taimi e faʻaopoopo ai le lagolago i fasi maʻa e manaʻomia le taimi e pipii ai i faʻapipiʻi masani.

 

Ufi ma'a e tafe samasama mo Vaivai

 

 

“Granirapid is a High performance, deformable, fast setting and hydration two-component cementitious adhesive for ceramic tiles and stone material.

Particularly suitable for the installation of stone material that is moderately unstable to moisture and requires a rapid drying of the adhesive. Suitable for bonding floors subject to heavy traffic.”

E FAAPEFEA ONA PIPIPI MAA?

You're installer will need to make sure each stone piece is clean and ready to take on the glue, swiftly paste the glue onto the back of each individual piece of stone and also on the substrate. All surfaces should be clean, dry and free of existing sealers or coatings. Dust off, wipe or brush all surfaces to be sealed to remove all loose particles that could adversely affect sealer penetration and performance.

Fa'aaoga pusa e fa'amautu ai avanoa i le va o fasi ma'a ta'itasi. E mafai ona e fa'aogaina pusa palasitika po'o mea fa'apipi'i e fai i fasi laupapa.

Ia mautinoa e tu'u le vaega e le'i pa'ia mo se isi 24 itula pe a mae'a ona fa'apipi'i vaega ta'itasi.