Frequently Asked Questions

We are always happy to help by answering any queries.

What thickness is the schist walling stone?

Standard cuts are 150mm or 180mm, the wider the stone is front to back the longer and taller each each piece will be and the less time it will take to lay.

Can you cut thinner or thicker than this?

We can cut thicker, but 150mm is the narrowest we cut. The narrower the stone (front to back) the smaller the pieces become and 150mm is as narrow as we can cut while maintaining a quality product. 

We can arrange to have the schist diamond cut as thin as 40mm to create a lightweight veneer suitable to be fixed onto any wall with no additional foundations or bracing. 

This lightweight veneer is particularly good for adding stone during renovations. 

How far ahead of time should I order my stone?

The quarries can be very busy at different times of the year with orders. It is best to order schist early in your build process to avoid waiting, especially in the spring and summer. We try to keep stock of our most popular products so call to see what is available.

I am planning to renovate and already have Cluden Stone or Poolburn Stone on my house, can you match existing stonework?

We will do everything we can to match the existing stonework. It is best if we can do a site visit or get some photos showing the existing stone and we may need longer lead times to be able to select the stone as we cut. There can be variations in colour at a quarries even over a relatively short timeframe.

If I plan to do my project in stages can I order my stone incrementally?

Yes you can, however we may not be able to colour match perfectly. It is best to order all your stone at the same time, even if you will complete the job in stages. 

Can you recommend stonemasons to lay Wanaka Stone?

Yes, we work with selected stonemasons throughout New Zealand and can recommend quality stonemasons in almost all regions.

I am an architect or designer looking for specifications for schist cladding, do you have any information I can use?

Yes, please contact us for technical information.

Do I need an engineering sign off for schist cladding on my building?

In most instances yes, schist is heavier than regular cladding and therefore foundations and bracing must be approved by an engineer. For straightforward cladding designs specific engineered design is relatively quick with minimal cost.

Stone Terminology and Glossary

Stacking stone Refers to stone that has been shaped (in this case with a guillotine) for use as a cladding, it has a relatively flat top and bottom which are at right angles to the guillotine face.

Corner stone Corner stones have two natural or guillotine cut faces which is are at right angles to create a piece suitable for using as an edge piece.

Natural A flat faced stone which has not been cut, the flat face has occurred naturally.

Face is the surface that is exposed when the stone is set into the wall. Generally the guillotine cut face is used although occasional natural faces can create texture and colour variation.

Courses Are the horizontal layers of stone, these must be keep horizontal. Generally every 3-4 course is continued at the same level through the wall.

Joint Is the space between any two stones in a structure. Every wall has joints between courses and every course has joints between stones.

Running Joints Occur when the joints in a series of courses fall along the same vertical line. It’s important to avoid creating these as they weaken the stone structure.

Dry stacked Walls are built using only stone, gravel and backfill material. No mortar or cement. They are usually double sided and slope slightly (around 5-10 degrees) to increase stability.

Footing The foundation of the wall which is usually created in concrete. It is important to have a sturdy footing for long term stability.

Cap stones or coping Uppermost stones on wall creating a strong cap, these should be relatively flat and be some of the largest and heaviest stones in the wall

Churching (cams) upright stacked cap stones

Raked joints Mortar is brushed out of the joint to create a naturally stacked appearance. The recessed mortar allows more shadow which increases the texture of the wall.

Mortar Is a mix of sand, cement and water used to bind the stone together, and can be used to add decorative colour or texture.

Grout See mortar description

Pointing Pointing is the process of applying the final grout or mortar between the stones in a wall or paving area after the stone is laid. Pointing is often done with a coloured mortar or grout to create a rendered or bagged look.

Dye Mortar can be mixed with dyes to create a specific look, darker or lighter grouts make the stone stand out.

Keen to discuss your project? Call or email now.