What is Rockface?
Rockface is a wall cladding with a raw, three-dimensional face, made by splitting and thinning natural stone.
Reflecting natural stone at its rawest, strongest and most characterful, the Rockface series gives both façades and interior walls a timeless look. This guide brings together correct installation, tips for a long life and answers to the most common questions, so that you get the most out of our products.
How is Rockface installed?
Surface preparation
The wall to be clad needs a base coat of render and must be dry and free of dust. Damp patches or loose, crumbling render must be repaired first.
Choosing the right adhesive
The right adhesive is critical for a safe installation and for the stone to bond fully to the wall. Astastone also supplies high-strength stone adhesives that are fully compatible with the stone you buy.
Laying and blending
Take stones from several boxes or pallets and mix them (blend them) as you lay. This spreads the natural shifts in tone and texture evenly and attractively across the wall.
Joints and cleaning
For jointed installations, use the joint filler that completes the look of the stone; Astastone also supplies the most suitable grout for your project. Clean any adhesive or grout off the stone face gently before it dries.
How do you care for Rockface?
Damp and dust
Façades can be washed from time to time with low-pressure water. Indoors, dust comes off easily with a slightly damp cloth or a soft brush.
Chemicals
Never clean with hydrochloric acid, bleach or any acidic cleaner. These substances damage the mineral structure of the stone.
Durability
Installed with the right materials and workmanship, your stones stay on the wall as sound as on the first day for many years, without problems.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rockface stand up to the weather on façades, and does it fade?
Yes, it is extremely durable. Our Rockface stones come straight from nature and do not fade. They are not affected by UV light, frost or changes in temperature. On façades they also add strong insulation, helping to keep rooms cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Where can Rockface be used indoors?
Indoors it is often chosen to create a refined atmosphere on the wall behind the TV, on living-room feature walls, around fireplaces, in entrance halls and on kitchen bar and counter fronts.
Can I install it myself, or does it need a professional?
Installing natural stone takes technical knowledge and experience. For professional workmanship, Astastone refers you to the expert stone-laying teams we work with regularly.
Does Rockface put extra load on the building?
No. The back of each stone is thinned with special methods, and as the stones are laid each one rests on the one below and carries the next, so the building takes no extra load.
How do we choose the right stone for our building?
With stone consultancy from our experienced team and our interior architect, you get a professional view on the choice of stone and on the balance between floor, walls and interior, and take your project further.
Technical specifications
- Stone types
- Travertine, marble, basalt, limestone
- Thickness
- 1.5–3 cm
- Surface finish
- Natural split face
- Structure
- Thinned on the back, lightweight, puts little load on the building
- Installation
- Easy to install, speeds up the work
- Visual effect
- Natural texture, natural light and shadow on façades
- Uses
- Interior and exterior façades, floors, gardens and landscaping
Hold the stone in your hand.
Tell us the series and product, and we will get back to you about samples and a quote.