StonePly featured on Materialicious

Posted on January 20, 2010
Filed Under Applications, Stone | Leave a Comment

StonePly is featured on materialicious.com!

Materialicious is a user-created/submitted content site featuring architectural materials and products.

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StonePly - Real Stone. Real Strong. Real Thin.

StonePly natural stone panels are thin stone panels laminated to an aluminum honeycomb backing using aviation epoxies. The process starts by laminating aluminum honeycomb sheets to both sides of a stone slab. Then we saw the slab in half producing two panels. The panels are then sanded down to the required thickness and then polished. Typically, StonePly Panels are 3/4″ thick (1/4″ stone and 1/2″ honeycomb).

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StonePly Exterior Stone Panels

Posted on May 21, 2009
Filed Under Applications, Benefits | Leave a Comment

StonePly lightweight stone panels have many benefits over solid slab stone.  These lightweight panels are made by bonding a thin piece of natural stone to an aircraft quality aluminum honeycomb backing using aviation epoxy.  A few of the main benefits of this type of construction are:

Lightweight

StonePly stone panels only weight 3.3 lbs/sq ft on average.  This is about 5 times lighter than traditional stone cladding.  StonePly is not only easy to handle because it is lightweight but it is also easy to install.  Using StonePly stone panels will yeild less installation time and lower installation costs.

Flexible

StonePly stone panels are flexible to handle building movement, high winds, and freeze/thaw climates.  In new construction, buildings move and settle.  The high flexural strength allows for the panels to slightly flex during this time.  Traditional thick stone panels do not allow this movement and can crack after a building settles.  When natural stone freezes it expands and when it thaws it contracts.  StonePly is flexible and allows for freezing and thawing unlike traditional stone cladding.

Non-Combustable

StonePly is non-combustable and will not shatter.  Thick stone cladding can be a hazard as exterior cladding.  When a building is on fire, the stone will heat up to unimaginable temperatures.  When cooled with water, the stones will crack and break into large chunks and begin falling off of a building.  This is hazardous to the firefighters and other service officers and pedestrians below.  With StonePly thin stone panels, every square inch is bonded to the aluminum honeycomb backing making it only crack during this instance.

60 Times the Impact Strength

StonePly has 60 times the impact strength of traditional stone cladding.  During impact testing, a 2×4 is launched at a StonePly panel and merely bounces off leaving only a small crack.  The same 2×4 is launched at a thick stone panel and causes the panel to shatter.  This test shows that StonePly stone panels are the superior choice for exterior cladding in seismic, hurricane, and tornado-proned areas.

As always, more information can be found on the website.

StonePly Stone Panel Curtain Walls

Posted on January 13, 2009
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StonePly stone panels are the perfect option for curtain walls.  The stone panels are lightweight, weighing about the same as 3/8″ glass.  These stone panels are thin and waterproof.  The aluminum honeycomb backing provides them with a water tight seal and gives them the rigidity needed to work as a curtain wall system.  StonePly stone panels are completely custom and can be made in any size panel needed and can accomodate any size order.

Compared to thick traditional stone panels, StonePly can reduce dead load on curtain wall system because it only weighs 3.5 lbs per square foot.   StonePly has been tested in wind speeds of more than 300 mph.  It has been formulated to withstand impact caused by hurricanes and flying debri.  In a large missle impact test, a 2×4 merely bounces off a StonePly panel.  The same test shatters a 1.5″ thick traditional stone panel.  The use of aviation approved honeycomb and epoxies bond a thin layer of stone over every square inch so the stone panel does not shatter.  Earthquakes are no match for StonePly because StonePly’s stone panels are rigid but flexible enough to move as the building moves.

Worried about installation?  StonePly can help.  We have an installation crew that is dedicated and knowledgable and is available to install your project anywhere across the world.  If you have your own installers, StonePly can provide you with installation drawings during the shop drawing process at an added fee.  No project is too small or too large for StonePly.  Please contact us.

StonePly Stone Panels and LEED Certification

Posted on January 9, 2009
Filed Under Applications, Benefits | 1 Comment

StonePly lightweight stone panels can contribute to a LEED Certificate.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a program that defines the standards to having a “green” building.  LEED is recognized nationaly and was developed to promote use of green products during production.  In fact, 26% of all LEED buildings are government owned or occupied.

There are several reasons to go green:

There are many credits and categories a building must qualify for to receive a LEED certificate.  A committee decides whether or not you can receive this certificate.  Generally speaking, you must receive 26 out of 69 credits to receive the lowest LEED certificate.  The certificates are (in order from lowest to highest achievement):  certified, silver, gold, and platinum.

StonePly contributes to the Energy and Atmostphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Air Quality, and Innovation and Design categories.  For more information on how StonePly stone panels contributes to these many categories please visit our website.  On our website you will find exactly what credits StonePly qualifies for and exactly how they will help you obtain a LEED certificate.

StonePly Stone Panels and Fires

Posted on December 11, 2008
Filed Under Benefits, Stone | Leave a Comment

Solid stone cladding does not burn in a fire like other construction materials would.  The problem with traditional 3cm thick stone cladding panel systems is that the heat from the fire and the rapid cooling by the water causes the panels to crack and shatter.  Large pieces of the thick stone can fall from high rises and be a huge hazard to people, buildings, and objects below.  The 3cm thick stone panels are held up by metal anchors and fire can weaken these anchors also causing these panels to fall causing a safety risk to others.

StonePly eliminates the risk of large pieces of stone falling from buildings because the thin layer of stone is bonded over every square inch with aviation epoxies to aviation approved honeycomb panels.  These honeycomb panels are noncombustible and reinforce the stone.  StonePly stone panel cladding has a class A or type 1 fire rating according to ASTM E 84-01.  StonePly stone panels do not pose the threat of traditional 3cm panels in a fire, are comparable in price, are lightweight, and are easier to install.

For more information on StonePly please visit our website.

StonePly Translucent Stone Panels

Posted on December 3, 2008
Filed Under Applications, Backing Substrate, Benefits, Stone | 1 Comment

StonePly TranslucentStonePly presents unlimited stone choices from almost anywhere in the world.  Architects and designers can choose from granite, marble, limestone, travertine, alabaster, onyx, sandstone, and slate.  One unique option that StonePly offers is StonePly translucent stone panels.  StonePly translucent has three components: glass, stone, and epoxy.  The glass can be either tempered or laminated.  The stone should be a translucent onyx, alabaster, or marble (white marbles work well).  The glass is laminated to the translucent stone using a translucent epoxy so that it does not interfer with the beautiful color of the stone.  StonePly translucent stone panels can be used as lighted walls, security screens, wall sconces, light coves, and elevator ceiling panels.

StonePly Stone Panel Elevator Flooring

Posted on December 2, 2008
Filed Under Applications, Installation, Stone | Leave a Comment

Elevator Stone FloorStonePly has a lightweight solution for not only elevator walls but elevator flooring.  Traditional elevator flooring can be slow and labor intensive to install.  It requires a lot of substructure and using mortar to secure the tiles can be messy and add unnecessary weight.  The biggest advantage to StonePly stone panel elevator flooring is that it is prefabricated for immediate installation without the use of mortar.  The installation is easy and can be preformed by a carpenter or handyman.  The elevator floor panels can be installed using a silicone adhesive or a concealed tab installation method.

Most any design can be incorporated into your elevator floor plan.  We will detail out the drawings for approval before fabrication.  Simple elevator floors only require use of one type of stone while others require use of more than one type of stone.  No matter what your flooring needs are, StonePly can supply it.  Please contact us for more information.

StonePly and Marble

Posted on November 24, 2008
Filed Under Applications, Backing Substrate, Benefits | Leave a Comment


StonePly can be used in many applications, one of which is to replace solid marble tiles.  We have perfected the usage of floor applications in order to bring you the beauty of Marble tiles at a fraction of the cost.  As you will learn, we have utilized all our resources to bring you the highest of quality. Marble flooring is unique while holding an elegant decorative stone that cannot be matched aesthetically.  Highly sought after, the stone if firmly rooted in the history of architecture and development of both Western and Eastern civilizations.  Many monumental artwork pieces were crafted from marble so they would last for centuries.

Generally seen as a hypoallergenic choice for flooring, this dense surface is less likely to become infested with antigens and particles than its rivals.  Beating even the highest grades of granite in popularity, marble is also the perfect refreshment during warmer months because of its cool surface.    

Typically, natural tiles may not be laid out in a visually seamless manner.  This is because most natural marble have subtle veining and color variations that will not permit a perfect visual match.  StonePly allows the factory to lay out the natural stone in the most appealing manner, as we are able to send pre-assembled sections of tiles.         

Keep in mind that marble tiles are usually the “leftovers” from the cutting of larger slabs, since the largest possible sizes are given preference in the cutting and grading process.     StonePly’s relationship with multiple quarries allows us to bring you the highest quality stone.  We reserve larger sizes and apply the backing at our factories.  The large size slab allows a better overall look.  No “leftovers” are used at StonePly.    

Our application of applying a thinner layer of marble to an aluminum or honeycomb backing allows us to bring an even higher quality stone at less weight and cost.  Long term relationships and bulk orders allow us to hold rank in reservations of stone, resulting in better quality and no scrap pieces.  Pre-assemblies allow a better layout and more put together look.  Overall, StonePly can provide a superior product.

StonePly Stone Panels Composition and Process

Posted on November 24, 2008
Filed Under Applications, Backing Substrate, Benefits, Stone | Leave a Comment

StonePly Stone Panel Composition

Aluminum Honeycomb Backing

Aircraft approved aluminum honeycomb with aluminum skins has a lightweight aluminum core and is moisture and corrosion resistant.  This backing is not only lightweight, it also has high strength.  Aluminum honeycomb is also flame resistant and noncombustible.

Aviation Epoxy

The epoxy adhesive has been tested to hold over 45,000 pounds per square foot (psf).  A category 5 tornado is known to produce winds of only 404 psf.  StonePly’s bond strength is 100 times stronger than what a category 5 tornado exerts.  The epoxy is the same as the epoxy used on aircrafts traveling at mach speeds.

Natural Stone

StonePly only works with stone suppliers that they have a relationship with and trust.  We want to provide the finest stones to our customers.  The stone slabs are selected with care.  We only work with the best materials.  Almost any natural stone can be used including granite, marble, and limestone.

The Process

 The natural stone comes from the quarry in the form of blocks.  The stone blocks are then cut into 1 ½ inch slabs.  StonePly bonds the high strength aluminum honeycomb to both sides of the slab with epoxy under pressure to guarantee coverage over every square inch.  Once the epoxy has set, the slab is sawn in half.  The pieces are then cut to size from the stone slabs.  From here it is sent through a machine to polish, honed, or finish to the customers specifications.  Before the StonePly stone panels are crated, they are carefully inspected for chips, scratches and other damages.

StonePly Stone Panels - Specialty Textures

Posted on October 22, 2008
Filed Under Applications, Backing Substrate, Finish/Texture Options | 2 Comments

StonePly’s Lightweight Stone Panel system combines the beauty of natural granites, marbles, and limestones with a lightweight aluminum honeycomb material to create stunning, unique, and lightweight stone panels for any application.

StonePly has several standard textures including the most popular textures, polished, honed and flamed.  A polished texture is most typical because it gives granites and marbles a shine and it enhances the stone’s natural beauty.  A honed finish is a muted finish that is much like a polish finish but not reflective.  Most limestones have a honed finish.  A flamed finish causes the crystals to sparkle andis mostly applied to granites.

StonePly Stone Panels are not limited to the standard textures.  StonePly can create any texture desired by the client.   In some cases, however, the stone face may need to be thicker to accommodate for the special texture.  We can give the stone face a beaten, rough texture or saw grooves into the face.  Whatever your texture needs are, StonePly can help.  Please see our specialty texture page and our standard texture page.

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