RECOMMENDED TOOLS

• Screw Gun(s)
• Locking C-Clamps (Skin Grips)
• Drill with bits
• 48" Level & 24" Level
• Circular Saw with dry cut diamond tipped blade
• Screw Drivers (to pry panels when shimming)

FRAMING CONSTRUCTION

Steel stud or furring framing must be designed and installed for maximum deflection limited to L/240, and to not exceed allowable stresses.  Lateral support and bridging members must be installed.  This system does not provide lateral support for stud framing.

Framing must be erected plumb and true.  The maximum variation from a true plane should not exceed 1/8 inch in 10 feet.  Defects must be corrected prior to proceeding with panel installation.

Framing members must be located according to shop drawings prepared or approved by the stone panel installing contractor.  These drawings must account for panel joint locations in order to provide adequate attachment for each panel.  The maximum variation from shop drawing dimensions should not exceed 1/8 inch in 10 feet.

JOBSITE STORAGE

Panels must be stored in a clean dry area, free from contamination.  When removed from the packaging crate, they must be placed on a shock absorbent support such as expanded polystyrene for edge protection.

It is recommended that panels be placed so that identification numbers are easily readable when they are removed from the crates.  This will minimize the amount of time required to search for panels as they are needed for installing.  Reduced handling will also reduce labor cost and the possibility of edge damage caused by bumping and dropping panels.

StoneLiteTM Stone Panels are durable and impact resistant.  However, the natural stone facing is easily chipped at edges and the face surfaces of softer stones can be marred.  Softer stones including limestones and marbles can be stained by dirt, mud and other contaminates.

STAGING

Material handling labor is a very important factor for the installer to consider. The majority of installation labor is used for moving panels from the delivered pallet/crate to the final location on the building.

It is strongly recommended that panels should be staged in advance and moved to their appropriate locations to minimize labor during installation. The first panel needed should be located on the outside of an upright sloping rack. All panels should be arranged in the order needed for installing.

INSTALLING

NOTE: The following suggested instructions are intended for vertical wall panels only. If a horizontal soffit or sill is included, modifications to these instructions will be necessary.

1. Following the shop drawings, measure the wall to determine exact panel locations and mark the positions of panel edges at the base of the wall. Check vertical panel edge locations relative to framing locations for assurance that each panel edge will have framing support.

   Use a laser or level to establish a fixed elevation for the total construction area. From that elevation, mark on the framing, or existing wall, the exact location of all bottom panel lower edges.

   Using a transit or laser, check the elevation for alignment to find the most outward point(s). This will determine the installing "plane" and the amount of shimming required. Drop a string line (piano wire is recommended for this) from the top of the elevation to the bottom of the elevation. This string line should be set at least 2" from the most outward point of the elevation. This will be your reference line from where you will measure back from to establish the plane for all of the panel faces.

2. It is usually best to start with the bottom row of panels and progress up the wall. Since the center of the panels have no support, it will be necessary to apply structural silicone to the framing members at the center of the panels. 1 1/2" diameter globs of structural silicone should be placed at a maximum of 24" on center in each direction. It is not necessary to use the structural silicone at the panel edges with anchor plates. It is recommended that the silicone should only be applied to the framing directly behind the panel being installed at that time. Structural silicone will "skin" and will not fully bond to the panel if more than one panels worth of silicone is applied at one time.

3. Panels should be lifted into place and positioned, then when possible, clamped to the framing or furring. On polished or honed stones, suction cups are very helpful in handling the panels. The panel should then be checked to make sure that it is plumb and on the vertical plane determined by the string line previously set. It may be necessary to put shims between the back of the anchor plate and the framing to properly align the panel. Screws are then driven through the hole in the anchor plate at the edge of the panel through any shims into the framing behind. If the panel has a slight amount of bow, it will be necessary to set shims into the silicone on the framing at the back of the panel to "pack out" the center of the panel as the anchor plates pull the sides down flat.

4. Installation may progress horizontally or vertically depending on how the panels have been staged. Continue applying the structural silicone prior to installing each panel. Careful attention should be paid to aligning panel joints as the panels are installed. It is usually best to put a shim, the thickness of the joint width, along the edge of the adjoining panel and push the next panel up to the shim to establish the proper joint width. Once the panel has been properly positioned and shimmed, clamp the anchor plates on the leading edge of the panel to the framing and screw attach the anchor plates on the opposite edge through the joint to the framing. Care should be taken as not to chip the edge of the panel as it is being screw attached through the joint. Once the anchor plates at the joint have been screw attached, the anchor plates at the leading edge can be screw attached and the clamps can be removed.

CAULKING EXTERIOR JOINTS

NOTE: NOTE: It is recommended that testing should be conducted by the sealant manufacturer for assurance that neither sealant nor primer will "bleed" into the stone and cause staining. Allow 8 to 12 weeks for this testing.

1. At caulk joints around panel perimeters push round open-cell polyurethane foam backer rod between panels well into the joint to expose the veneer stone edge plus approximately 3/16 inch width of honeycomb. This should provide for approximately 3/8 inch bond width of sealant to panel, and a 1/4 inch sealant thickness at the center of the joint width.

   (CAUTION: Open cell backer rod must be used with stone panels. Closed cell backer rod can emit gas into the joint when the coating is scratched by the honeycomb causing the caulking to bubble at the surface.)

2. Apply primer if recommended by the sealant manufacturer. This primer attaches itself to the stone edge surface, and the sealant then adheres to the primer. Primer will not stick to a dirty surface and it is not a substitute for cleaning.

   (CAUTION: Primers are moisture sensitive and will deteriorate quickly when exposed to moisture. They should be purchased in pint containers and stored with caps tightly closed. When exposed to moisture, they form a cloudy white precipitate and must be discarded.)

3. Pour only a ten-minute supply of primer into clean container, then replace the cap on the primer can. Dip a clean, dry, lint-free cloth into the primer and gently wipe a thin film onto the stone edge surface.

   (CAUTION: Application of a thick layer of primer can cause severe loss of adhesion between the sealant and primer. A powdery white film will form on the surface if too much primer has been applied. This film must be removed with a clean, dry, lint free cloth.)

4. Allow primer to dry. The surface is now ready for application of sealant. If the sealant can not be applied immediately, the surface must be protected to avoid contamination.

5. Some sealant cannot be completely removed from some stone. It may be necessary for adjacent surfaces to be carefully masked or taped to prevent sealant from getting on the surface.

6. Sealant should be applied in a continuos operation from a caulking gun. A positive pressure, adequate to fill the entire joint width, should be used. This can be done by "pushing" the sealant bead ahead of the application nozzle. Within 10 minutes after application, tool sealant into the joint. This spreads the sealant against the back-up material and the joint surfaces to obtain compaction to the panel edges. This also fills voids in the aluminum honeycomb and provides a secure bond to the honeycomb.

   Do not use liquid tooling aids such as water, soap or alcohol. These materials may interfere with the curing or adhesion of the sealant.

   It is critical that the sealant fills the entire joint of cavity and that it firmly contacts the panel surfaces. If this is not done, poor adhesion will result and sealant performance will be weakened.

   Avoid the technique of scraping off excess sealant, which pulls sealant out of the joint and prevents bond to the panel edges.

7. Masking or taping must be removed within ten minutes after tooling. If a solvent will be used for cleaning, consult Stone Panels, Inc. for recommendations to avoid staining the stone surface and/or adversely affecting the sealant.

For additional details on any of our attachment systems or for custom details for your application, please contact our Technical Services Staff.

Disclaimer: By writing these instructions, Stone Panels, Inc. in no way makes any warranty nor takes any responsibility for the quality of the installation of the panels, joint sealant, or any other materials. Further, these instructions are merely our suggestions on how to install the panels and seal the joints. Use at your own risk. Any warranty, representation, statement or undertaking whatsoever that may be expressed or implied by statute, custom or otherwise is hereby expressly excluded. Under no circumstances shall Stone Panels, Inc. be liable for any costs, losses, expenses or damages (whether direct or indirect, consequential, special, economic or financial including any losses of profits) whatsoever that may be incurred through the use of any information contained in the Stone Panels, Inc. website or in any other website. This website may contain inaccurate information. Stone Panels, Inc. is under no responsibility to update or correct any such information or to even maintain this website.

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