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Stoneflex

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Stoneflex is a glass fibre reinforced polyester resin architectural wall panel built up to provide a surface finish of natural stone aggregate.

The Stoneflex panel is manufactured by a continuous process whereby a substrate of glass fibre and granulated stone is successively built up, resin impregnated and consolidated. Natural stone aggregate is resin bonded to the outer surface and the panel is then oven cured.

PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY

Stoneflex panels are lightweight yet strong with high impact resistance and are suitable for both interior and exterior applications. The panels are maintenance free, unaffected by climatic extremes, impervious to moisture, chemical resistant and will not delaminate under any conditions. They are inorganic, rot proof, immune to attack by insects and vermin, and will not nourish mold growth.

Panels can be installed year round and are compatible with all common building materials.

ADVANTAGES

• Economical
• Lightweight and Strong
• High impact resistance
• Impervious to moisture
• Will not delaminate
• Unaffected by extremes of climate
• Rot proof
• Maintenance free
• Resistant to normal atmospheric pollutants
• Class A fire resistance
• Factory finished for consistent quality
• Year round installation
• 15 year warranty

APPEARANCE

Stoneflex panels are available in twelve standard colors and up to three aggregate sizes. Only natural aggregates are used in the manufacture of these panels and factory finishing assures consistent quality.

Color	Fine	Standard	Large
Amazon Green	X	-	X
Arctic Pink	-	X	-
Bermuda White	X	X	X
Boston Brick	X	-	-
French Rouget	X	X	-
Indian Ivory	X	X	X
Java Grey	X	X	-
Mexican Pink	X	X	X
Pacific Beach	X	-	-
Sahara Beige	X	X	X
Smokey Mountain Grey	X	X	X

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS

Standard panel width is 47 3/4" ( 47 1/2" for Large aggregate), length 48" to 120". Special sizes can be supplied to order with a dimensional tolerance of +/- 1/8". Thickness and weight depend upon the size of aggregate used.

Grade Aggregate Size Nominal Panel Thickness Approx. Panel Weight Fine 1/8" +/- 5/16" 2.6lbs/sf Standard 1/4" +/- 1/2" 3.0 lbs/sf Large 3/8" +/- 5/8" 4.3 lbs/sf Note: Aggregate sizes shown may vary slightly depending on the stone selected.

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

WEATHERING

No significant change in properties occurred following accelerated weathering testing giving the equivalent to seven years exposure. Stoneflex technology has been used successfully in external applications for over 20 years.

INSTALLATION

Back-Up Framing

Stoneflex panels may be installed as a complete exterior wall, as accents to other building finishes (i.e.: fascias, soffits, spandrel panels, etc.) or as infill panels over doors or over/under windows. Supporting structures include:

• light guage steel framing (min. 18 ga.)
• wood studs
• steel furring (i.e.: hat channels, "Z" sections)
• wood furring (preferably pressure treated)

Panels may also be installed over framing covered by plywood, gypsum sheathing or cement board sheathing.

Vertical framing members should be placed at a maximum of 24" on center or 16" in high-impact or windload situations.

JOINT TREATMENT

Illustrated is a typical detail using a caulking compound. A good grade sealant should be used in all cases when filling the joints between the panels.

Recommended Caulk Joint Width 3/8" (min. 1/4")

All panel joints must be supported by a framing member. The size of the joints will depend on the type of caulking used but generally, width should be twice the depth. The recommended gap between panels is 3/8" and must never be less than 1/4".

Joints and panel edges should be free from dust and, if recommended by the sealant manufacturer, the edges should first be primed. Special care should be taken to avoid primer from being applied on the face of the panel.

It is mandatory to provide a release at the back of each joint so that the caulking compound will only stick to either edge of the panel and allow for differential movement. To accomplish this release, a polyethylene or similar bond breaker tape must be used. Care should be taken to protect the stone surface from excess sealant and to leave finished work in a neat and clean condition. For best results, it is recommended that a recognized caulking contractor be used.

Color matched PVC and EPDM joint strips are also available. Contact Petrarch Claddings for samples and details.

FASTENING

All screw holes must be pre-drilled with a hold 1/16" larger than the screw shank diameter. It is important that the hole is drilled straight and the drill is kept perpendicular to the panel.

Maximum fastener spacings are 8" on center around the perimeter of the panel, a maximum of 1/2" on center for fasteners in the center of each panel.

All panels should be fully supported at the perimeter. Fastening should start at the middle of the tope edge of each panel and then down, proceeding left and right of the center thereafter.

Due to their texture, Stoneflex panels can be face fastened using painted screw head that are readily concealed in the aggregate surface.

Screw Sizes

For Steel Framing:

• No. 6 or Trim Head, stainless steel, flat head, Tek screws (for Fine and Standard aggregate panels)
• No. 8, stainless steel, flat head, Tek screws (for Large aggregate panel)

For Wood Framing:

• No. 6 or Trim Head, stainless steel, flat head, Type A screws (for Fine and Standard aggregate panels)
• No. 8, stainless steel, flat head Type A screws (for Large aggregate panel)

All fasteners have a colored head to match the aggregate closely as possible and are available from Petrarch Claddings.

COLOR MATCHING/PANEL SEQUENCE

Only natural aggregates are used in the manufacture of Stoneflex panels. Care is taken when mining and crushing to select veins in which the color remains constant.

To match Stoneflex on an existing building, a sample of the original Stoneflex panel should be submitted. It should be noted that natural stone aggregates, when mined, can vary from one deposit to another. Every effort is made to maintain consistency, but it may not always be possible to match an existing or desired aggregate exactly.

CUTTING

Cutting in the shop or on site is usually carried out using an electric circular saw with either an abrasive cutting disc (for minimal cutting) or a dry-cut diamond blade (for more extensive cutting). Operators should always wear eye protection and a respiratory mask. The panels should be face side down, held down to a flat saw bed and a guide rail used to ensure true and straight cutting. Dust should be cleaned from all panels immediately after cutting.

DRILLING

Normal drilling can be carried out from either the front or the back of the panel, using a portable hand-held pistol drill fitted with a masonry bit suitable for drilling at between speeds of 900 and 1200 rpm. The drill size should b 1/16" larger than the screw shank diameter. Dust should be cleaned from all panels immediately after drilling.

CLEANING

Stoneflex panels will retain atmospheric dirt as do other aggregate surfaces. Most of this can be removed with water or a mild detergent mix. To keep panels bright and clean, the building owner should include an inspection in his annual maintenance schedule. A high pressure wash or scrubbing with a mild detergent followed by a clean water rinse, at high pressure, from the top down, using standard commercial cleansing techniques is all that is normally required. During installation or subsequently during building alterations, building site dirt and dust can contaminate the surface. This should be removed immediately.

Certain dirt and stains induced by other trades on site may be removed by a proprietary brand of cleaner. It is advisable to test the cleaner first on a small area.

Stoneflex panels damaged on site can be repaired with the Stoneflex Repair Kit which normally includes color matched paste, catalyst, natural stone, and written instructions.

STORAGE AND HANDLING

Extreme care should be taken when handling Stoneflex panels on site. Panels will normally be delivered on the site on wood pallets, face side up, wrapped in plastic sheets with protective side panels. The pallets should be stored flat, clear of the ground and under cover in a ventilated space. Extreme care should be taken to avoid rain or standing water as migration of moisture between the panels can cause staining or bowing. Should wet material be suspected or discovered, it must be uncrated immediately and towel dried.

Panels should always be carried vertically and care taken not to damage the surface, edges or corners. One sheet should always be lifted completely off the next. They should not be temporarily stored outside of the original shipping crate unless completely supported and separated by the protective paper. If mechanical lifting equipment is used, panels should always be properly protected to avoid scuffing from ropes or chains.

If the panels are soiled or damaged, remedial treatment should be administered immediately for best results. It is much easier to clean before the panels are in place rather than after permanently installed when the panels are more difficult to access.

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