The more-natural-look (MNL) stone cladding panel is a pre-fabricated masonry unit. This modularized innovative stone system saves both time and money compared with traditional stone masonry. The MNL stone cladding modular consists both panels (or flats) and quoins (or external corners). The edges of all stones are hand-dressed so that it has a very natural appearance. Quoins are mostly done with actual stone-itself-cut stone pieces.
panel specification
For the MNL series of stone panels, the picture on the left is a dimensional drawing for the standard modular unit which covers an area of L550xH200mm (outer length is 600mm). The thickness is up to 40 mm from the back of the stone to the front surface.
We use different stone materials: slate, quartzite, granite, sandstone and limestone which have different colors ("colour" in British English) and textures. The individual pieces making up a panel also vary from piece to piece.
The panels can be done with 3 optional backs, full-concrete back, minimum-concrete back and metal wire back as follows.
front view of a full concrete backing modular
back view of a full concrete backing modular
In the full concrete backing system, concrete is actually the "glue" to freeze each pieces of stone in its position. Looking closer at the front of the panel, you see that all gaps between stone pieces are filled with concrete mortar and lights doesn't get through. The back of the panel is also covered with a 10mm thick layer of concrete. So this is the strongest system among the three.
This full-concrete-back system which originated from the Nordic countries has been the most widely used panel system ever. Its solid concrete back makes it more durable even in very cold areas. Each panel weights about 8.5~9.5 kg which is the heaviest among all the 3 options.
front view of a minimum concrete backing modular
back view of a minimum concrete backing modular
Minimum concrete back system uses much less concrete. Concrete mortar fills only the front, the gaps between the stone pieces. It uses limited concrete at the panel back without the 10mm thick layer of concrete at back as option #1, the weight is reduced quite a lot (by about 20%). Each panel weights for about 7.0~8.0 kg.
Since there is little concrete at the panel back, it is not as strongly bonded as full-concrete one, a PVC mesh is normally set at the back to increase the panel strength.
front view of a metal wire backing modular
back view of a metal wire backing modular
Metal wire net backing system uses no concrete at all, stone pieces are attached to the metal wire at the back by limited glue points. The metal wire is normally made by stainless steel which increases the cost by about 15% than options #1 & #2.
Looking at the front of the panel you will notice that no mortar is filled between the stone gaps. The stone pieces in the panel are totally dry-stacked.
This system is the lightest in weight, but stone pieces are not so strongly bonded as the above. There can be a risk that stone pieces may move or fall during the transit.
Two galvanized metal fixing clips can be embedded into the panel along with the production. When panels come with integrated fixing clips, the mechanical fixing to wall job is easier. All you need is appropriate bolts, screws and hammer.
2 galvanized metal fixing clips are pre-intergrated in one concrete back panel.
Ceramsite particles can be added into the concrete which is lightweight and has good thermal insulation properties.
Black Slate full concrete back
Rustic Slate full concrete back
Black Slate thin full concrete back
Rustic Slate metal wire back
4 mixed colors of quartz (gray, green, rustic and white) minimum concrete back
Blue Quartz minimum concrete back
Desert Gold full concrete back
Green Gray full concrete back
Nordic Gray full concrete back
Silver Green full concrete back
Silver Rustic full concrete back
Snow White full concrete back
Gray granite full concrete back
Tiger Skin full concrete back
Purple Vein full concrete back
Red Sandstone full concrete back
China Travertine full concrete back
quoin/corner specification
Quoin is an external angle of a wall.
For the MNL series of stone panel, the matching corner/quoin is done per the dimensional drawing on the left.
The regular size for the quoin is L(200+300) x H200. The thickness is up to 40 mm from the back of the stone to the surface.
The stone quoin we manufacture uses large-size actual-itself-cut stone dressed and arranged so as to form a decorative contrast with the adjoining wall panels.
Rustic slate
Black thin slate
Black slate
Desert Gold
Green Gray
Nordic Gray
Silver Green
Silver Rustic
Gray Granite
Tiger Skin
Red Sandstone
A standard MNL column module is one pre-assembled with full concrete backing stones.
The outer diameter for each column modular is L450 x W450 x H300mm. The modular is stack-able which provide great simplicity in installation.
All stones in the columns are hand selected and trimmed to provide the fantastic natural look.
Rustic Slate Column
Silver Rustic Quartzite Column
Tiger Skin Granite Column
Desert Gold Quartzite Column
Mixed of Gray and Rustic Slate Column
Silver Rustic Quartzite Column
Tiger Skin Granite Column
Cap stones are normally produced in the size of 550x550x30-40mm and are hand dressed with chopped edges.
Rustic Slate Cap Stone
Silver Rustic Quartzite Cap Stone
Tiger Skin Granite Cap Stone
The stone-itself-corner pieces cut angle cut 90 degrees from a real stone to build concrete back quoins.
This is a typical work shop for MNL panel production. Ledge stones are carefully knocked, trimmed, planed & placed.
The finished panels are being cleaned with water and brush from piece to piece before packaging.
Every 2 pieces of concrete back panels are bundled with 2 belts and put in crate.
A crate holds 4 no. pieces of concrete back stone column modular.
Every 2 pieces of finished concrete back panels are bundled with 2 belts and then put in a crate. Customer prefers this rather than card board boxes because the latter may rot stored in damp places.
Desert Gold quartzite concrete-back cladding panels
Green Gray quartzite concrete-back cladding panels
Silver Rustic quartzite concrete-back cladding panels
Tiger Skin granite concrete-back cladding panels
Classic Gold limestone concrete-back cladding panels
China Travertine concrete-back cladding panels
Classic Black limestone concrete-back cladding panels
This is a project using Silver Rustic quartzite wall cladding panel + Tiger Skin granite column, both are done in concrete-back system.
This is a town house construction site in England. Green Gray quartzite concrete-backing cladding panels are used for exterior walls.
In this project Silver Rustic quartzite concrete-back panels are used for the enclosing wall of the Victoria Hotel Dunedin, NZ.
This is a villa project using gray quartzite concrete back panels for wall at the foot of the Queenstown Hill, Queenstown, NZ.