Stone Cladding
Stone cladding is one of the services we are best known for, and it is the fastest way to change how a structure reads. A rendered pillar, a besser block wall or a plain pool surround edge becomes something that looks built from stone. Done well it is indistinguishable from solid stonework. Done badly it drums, cracks at the joints or falls off, and all of that is decided by preparation and fixing method.
Stone cladding is one of our specialties. Getting it right takes precision mortar work, careful alignment and the right stone selection for the application. This is the finish that gets noticed, and it's where our experience shows most clearly.
- A specialty area with years of focused experience
- Careful stone selection and sourcing
- Precision mortar work and alignment
- Indoor feature walls and outdoor cladding
The substrate has to be right first
Cladding is only as sound as what it is stuck to. Loose render, painted surfaces, movement cracks and damp all have to be dealt with before any stone goes on, because the cladding will not hold a substrate together and any movement underneath will telegraph straight through to the joints. We assess and prepare the substrate first, which is unglamorous and is the reason the finished work stays put.
Sandstone and natural stone selection
Sandstone sits naturally against Central Coast homes and gardens and is what most people picture. Split-face, rock-face, sawn and random ashlar patterns give very different results from the same material, from rustic through to contemporary. Natural stone varies between batches, so laying out and blending across a wall rather than working straight from one pallet is what avoids visible colour banding.
Fixing, joints and the corners
Stone is fixed with the appropriate adhesive system for the stone weight and the substrate, and heavier stone or specific situations call for mechanical support rather than adhesive alone. Joint width and finish change the character as much as the stone does. Corners and returns are where cladding either looks like solid stone or obviously like a facing, so they are cut and set rather than butted.
Where cladding earns its keep
Pillars and entry features, retaining wall faces, pool surround edges, feature walls, house frontages and outdoor kitchen bases. It is also the most cost-effective way to tie a new structure to an existing stone element on a property, which is a common reason people come to us for it alongside a retaining wall or pool surround.
Where we do stone cladding
Across the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
Stone Cladding, answered.
Can you clad an existing rendered or block wall?
Usually yes, provided the substrate is sound, stable and not damp. Loose render, flaking paint or active movement cracks need to be dealt with first, because cladding over an unsound surface simply hides the problem until it comes through the joints.
Does stone cladding need sealing?
Sandstone and other porous stone benefit from sealing, particularly where it is exposed to splash-out around a pool or to heavy weather. Sealing reduces staining and salt marking. Denser stone needs it less. We will tell you what your stone actually needs rather than selling it by default.
How thick is the stone?
Cladding stone is considerably thinner than solid stonework, which is the point: it gives the appearance of stone construction without the weight, the footings or the cost. Thickness varies by product and by whether it is adhesive-fixed or mechanically supported.
Will the new stone match my existing stonework?
We can usually get close, but natural stone varies between batches and existing stone has weathered. We would rather show you the likely result and let you judge it than promise an exact match that natural material cannot deliver.
Other Services
More ways we can help.
Pool Surrounds
Coping, paving and non-slip finishes engineered around the drainage and chemical exposure of a working pool edge.
Learn morePaving
Natural stone, travertine and paver driveways, patios and pool decks, laid level and built to shed water the right way.
Learn moreConcreting
Exposed aggregate, plain and coloured concrete for slabs, paths and driveways built for Central Coast weather.
Learn moreRetaining Walls
Engineered retaining walls that terrace sloped sites and hold ground before erosion becomes a problem.
Learn moreGarden & Landscape Design
Garden beds, paths and planting design that ties the whole property together, fence line to pool edge.
Learn moreFull Service Landscape & Construction
Complete backyard transformations, from first sketch to a finished space your family will actually use.
Learn moreFencing
Quality fencing for privacy, pool safety and property definition.
Learn moreView All Services
See the full list of what Fibonacci can help with.