THE STONE SELECTION

“Designers have a mental image of the stone look they want, but actually describing it is another story. And sometimes they won’t know it until they see it. A good stone façade provider is going to listen, interpret what you’re asking for and provide samples and suggestions. We help with finding the best stone, finish, attachment and detailing that works with the actual building you are designing.

StonePly offers the world’s largest selection of natural stone on honeycomb backing, and that makes the process of finding “the perfect stone” easier. We have stone from quarries all over the world, including some stones that are exclusive only to StonePly. Our goal is to help you find the ideal balance of a stone that is flattering to your particular design, durable and cost effective. If you have a particular stone in mind, we can start the process there. Providing a picture of a stone you like is a huge help too.”

White Carrara

Impala Black

Indiana Limestone

Perlato Svevo

THE ATTACHMENT

“StonePly makes stone panel attachment easier, stronger and safer. With the StonePly system, there are options in stone panel attachment and we like to show designers those choices and help them select the one that is best for the façade of their particular project. Do they need insulation behind the stone panels? Do they want a hurricane resistant stone cladding? Will it be an open joint rain screen cladding or a sealed joint system? Or does your project have a really unusual condition that needs a custom attachment method? We help you work through all that.”

Z-clip installation for StonePly panels

The concealed screw attachment method for StonePly panels

THE SURFACE FINISH

“The surface finish of the stone can make a huge difference in the appearance of the stone. Your options for stone surface finishes used to be limited to just polished or honed. Now there is sandblasted, flamed, waterjet and a host of other stone finishes available. You want a supplier who can offer you all of those finish options and who will work with you to find the best finish for your stone panel project. StonePly can do that and we are here to help.”

Polished Granite

Sandblasted Granite

Shop StonePly selection of stone panels here.

View Stone Façade specifications here.

Need assistance with your particular project or have a question? We are here to help. You can fill out our contact form or call one of our very informative specialists at 903-454-4630.

The post HOW TO: GET A GREAT LOOKING STONE FAÇADE FOR YOUR PROJECT appeared first on Stone Panel Information.

A retail storefront featuring expansive windows and natural stone

Many probably believe that when it comes to retail establishments it’s what’s on the inside that counts. While it’s true that the services and products offered by a business are the keys to its success, the importance of first impressions should not be overlooked.

For clothing boutiques, fine dining restaurants, shoe shops, and other types of stores, an attractive and enticing storefront is one of the most effective ways to elicit a favorable initial response. This can mean the difference between a customer entering the business or walking by.

Because of its elegance, timeless appeal, and stylish good looks, natural stone is a favorite choice for high-end retail storefronts. With StonePly natural stone cladding, marble, granite, and limestone storefronts can be created quickly and affordably.

Why StonePly for Retail Storefronts?

Using solid stone slabs to create a retail storefront is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process that is often costly and can also result in prolonged downtime (and lost revenue) for the business. Installing StonePly natural stone cladding panels is a much different and overall much simpler process for the following reasons:

• StonePly natural stone panels are a fraction of the weight of solid stone slabs
• StonePly natural stone panels are very durable and shatter-resistant
• StonePly natural stone panels can routinely be installed over existing cladding

StonePly Options for Retail Storefronts

At StonePly we strive to provide all clients with the exact stone, finish, and form they need. Large natural stone panels or smaller square or rectangular tiles can be created. Available finishes include polished, honed, and velvet. You can also choose from thousands of natural stone options. We have the ability to source natural stone from all over the world. Varieties we’ve used in the past to create natural stone retail storefronts include sleek academy black granite, luxurious travertine, and Indiana limestone.  Many different colors of granite as well as onyx, marble, alabaster, slate, and other stone varieties are also available.

Featured Retail Storefronts With StonePly Panels

StonePly has a track record of crafting natural stone panels for storefronts that impress business owners, managers, and–most importantly–customers. Some of the well-known and prestigious businesses that have StonePly panels as part of their design are:

• Tommy Hilfiger
• Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill
• Nobu Restaurant
• Neiman Marcus
• BCBG Max Azria
• Chico’s
• Versace
• Olly Kids
• Salvatore Ferragamo
• Ann Taylor Loft

For More StonePly Information

The StonePly website is an informative resource that will tell you more about our natural stone options, applications for our natural stone cladding panels, and some of our past clients and commissions. We know that you may still have questions about your particular project that you need answered before you can make a final decision, which is why we provide no-charge consultations and estimates to all prospective clients. You can contact us two ways: fill out the short form on the contact page of our site or call us at 903-454-4630.

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Cool granite, extravagant-looking marble, or virtually any other type of natural stone can be used to improve or complete the look of exterior building facades, retail storefronts, elevator interiors, flooring, and more. As a designer or other construction professional, one of the most important decisions you will have to make before you finalize your plans for a project is what type of natural stone material to use. Will you stick with traditional building materials and opt for solid stone, or will you give StonePly a try? The following points describe some of the similarities and differences between these two aesthetically appealing choices.

The Weights of Solid Stone Panels vs. StonePly Panels

Materials and completed architectural elements with heavy weights are typically associated with more labor-intensive and expensive handling, transportation, and installation. If you’re a contractor or other type of building professional, you know just how much working with a lightweight material can simplify things. The numbers below will show you just how dramatic the weight differences are between 1 ¾ inch granite cladding and StonePly panels:

• Solid stone cladding weighs approximately 27 pounds per square foot. StonePly cladding weighs between 2.5 and 3.3 pounds per square foot.
• A solid stone panel measuring four feet by four feet will weigh in at approximately 432 pounds. A StonePly panel of the same size will weigh about 54 pounds at most.

The Comparative Strengths of Solid Stone and StonePly Panels

In addition to weighing far less than solid stone cladding, StonePly is also much thinner. This does not mean that StonePly is weaker, however. The exact opposite is true. Consider the following comparisons:

• With an impact resistance of 1,500 foot pounds or 3,200 foot pounds, the maximum impact strength of StonePly panels is more than 50 times that of traditional cladding.
• The flexural strength of StonePly panels is superior to that of solid stone cladding.
• Unlike natural stone cladding, StonePly panels will not shatter.

Design Options for Solid Stone Slabs and StonePly Panels

A major upside of using natural stone is just how many looks, patterns, and colors are available. From deep black onyx to gleaming white marble with pink veining to complexly patterned granite, there are literally thousands of choices. Since StonePly is a thin layer of authentic natural stone attached to a substrate, the number of possible design variations is the same.

Finally, solid stone panels are unyielding, whereas StonePly panels are flexible. This means they can be used to cover flat surfaces, to create column wraps, and as a cladding for curved and rounded facades.

Learn More About StonePly

If you’re unfamiliar with our lightweight stone panels and our company, visit the StonePly website. It contains an overview of our consulting services, technical bulletins for our product, and photographs and descriptions of some of our most popular options. To arrange for a consultation and a no-charge personal quote, call us at 903-454-4630 or fill out the short form on our contact page.

The post StonePly vs Solid Stone appeared first on Stone Panel Information.

Brittle, hard, unbending, and unyielding are all words people commonly associate with natural stones such as granite, marble, and onyx. Because of these properties, the structures and elements that can be beautified and protected with natural stone cladding have traditionally been ones that are flat. With traditional stone cladding, bending inevitably leads to breaking.

With StonePly’s flexible stone panels, it’s possible to add authentic natural stone cladding to curved, slightly rounded, bent, and arched elements and facades. Stone facades no longer have to be flat, and that can help you bring any architectural design to a whole new level.

Applications for Curved StonePly Natural Stone Panels

Our curved natural stone panels are the perfect covering for building exteriors that have daring rather than flat forms, as well as outdoor accents that are used to add aesthetic appeal. Versatile and lightweight StonePly natural stone panels can be used as a cladding for curved:

• Facades
• Soffits
• Canopies
• Fascia
• Cornices
• Accent bands

Why Choose Curved Natural Stone Panels From StonePly Instead of Traditional Stone Cladding?  

The most basic answer to the question above is that traditional stone cladding cannot be bent without breaking or shattering. Therefore, it is unsuitable for the curved and gradually rounded areas that are integral components of the exterior design of many of the country’s most architecturally stunning high-rise buildings, retail complexes, office towers, hospitals, and other structures. The functionality of curved natural stone panels isn’t their only advantage, however. Consider that:

• Curved StonePly panels are made with real stone
• Our curved panels are much lighter than traditional stone panels
• Curved panels by StonePly are shatter-resistant and strong
• Our curved panels can save you time and money during the installation process
• Curved natural stone panels can often be installed over existing cladding

Choices For Curved StonePly Natural Stone Panels

In addition to having a large number of potential uses, our curved natural stone panels can be produced using almost any type of stone with practically endless color and pattern variations. Here is a small sampling of our more than 3,500 possibilities for curved StonePly natural stone panels:

• Autumn Brown granite from Canada
• Thasos marble from Greece
• Travertino Romano travertine from Italy
• Imperial White granite from India

Find Out More About Our Curved StonePly Natural Stone Panels

At the StonePly website, you’ll find technical information, photographs of some of our stone options, and a description of our design and production process. To arrange a free initial consultation and get a personalized quote for your exterior cladding project, call us at 903-454-4630. If you prefer, you can also visit the contact page on our site and fill out the short form.

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