Stone Cladding

Stone Cladding from London Stone: Elegant & Enduring Architectural Solutions

Transform your spaces with Natural Stone Cladding, a sophisticated, durable material that brings the timeless appeal of natural stone into any scheme. From residential façades to garden walls and commercial interiors, it’s ideal for adding visual depth, indoors and out. Stone cladding also enhances structural integrity, creating surfaces that are as resilient as they are beautiful.

Why Choose London Stone’s Natural Stone Cladding?

Our external stone cladding is supplied as modular wall panels (measuring 600x150mm). Quick and cost-effective to install, they’re available in a range of sandstone and slate to complement our market-leading range of exterior stone and porcelain paving. London Stone Cladding stands out for its premium quality, ease of installation, and lasting durability. We provide a range of textures, colours and formats, ensuring the right fit for your project. Here’s what makes our stone cladding a sound choice:

• Authenticity and Craft: Our stone cladding captures the texture and colour variation of its constituent stone, providing a sense of organic luxury in every piece. Each product is crafted to deliver a stylish architectural feature.
• Diverse Style Options: Whether you’re drawn to the rugged character of split stone or the streamlined elegance of smooth finishes, our collection has options to suit any taste, from the rustic and rugged Black Slate and Green Slate Cladding, to the sleek modernity of sandstone options Graphite, Mint and Kandla Grey.
• Long-Lasting Durability: Known for withstanding harsh weather conditions, natural stone cladding maintains its beauty over years with minimal maintenance. Stone is resistant to fading, impact, and the effects of freeze-thaw cycles, making it a wise investment for exposed areas.

Application Possibilities for Stone Cladding

Blend your outdoor space with nature by using stone cladding for garden walls, planters and borders. The material’s natural aesthetic seamlessly integrates with outdoor environments. By installing Graphite Cladding to create feature walls behind the outdoor kitchen and decorative grasses in this modern garden design, Kent-based The Landscape Design Studio have established a lasting, contrasting finish.

Tom Howard used Black Slate Cladding to add both colour-and-texture contrast into this compact London garden. The direction of the cladding matches that of the modern timber fencing, giving the vertical surfaces continuity, while also contrasting with the paleness of the Urban Grey Porcelain steps and paving.

Laura Anstiss of Oakmore Green Landscape Design Studio used Mint Cladding to complement the extensive use of Harvest Sandstone paving throughout this sprawling countryside garden. Mint and Harvest are the same stone type, and this is stunning example of how to integrate cladding into a unified design.

Gadsden Gardens featured a whole host of London Stone materials in their stunning Hampshire project, including Kandla Grey Sandstone Cladding, to create a water feature. Using stone cladding as a backing for water features is a popular choice, owing to the material’s hard-wearing nature.

Stone Cladding is not just an option for exterior use. Indoors, add depth, texture and a natural feel to living rooms and bathrooms with a striking feature wall. Natural stone cladding offers a sense of solidity and permanence, creating welcoming spaces with a touch of sophistication.

Natural Stone Cladding at Famed RHS Shows

Several high-profile garden designers and landscapers have used natural stone cladding at prestigious RHS Shows, including Kristian Reay at Tatton Park, who was crowned 2019’s Young Designer. Kristian featured Mint Sandstone Cladding across his The Phytosanctuary Garden, alongside our Harvest Sandstone Copings and a bespoke-engraved feature wall.

RHS Malvern Spring 2022 saw Jamie Langlands and Oxford Garden Design feature Graphite Sandstone Cladding in their A Peaceful Escape garden. The cladding gave a crisp finish to two imposing feature walls around the garden, which added privacy to the space, as well as being used as the base of the water feature, an intriguing way of using the material.

In an unusual move, the aptly named The Chelsea Gardener installed Black Slate Cladding, in their 2023 The Shifting Garden, with the blocks running vertically. Representing the movement of water – but without using water – the consistent, dark colours of the slate cladding provided a dramatic backdrop to the container garden.

Installing Natural Stone Cladding – Hints & Tips

Installing stone cladding requires a careful, methodical approach to ensure a safe, lasting application. We’ve teamed up with expert landscaper and trainer, Mark Youde, of The Landscape Academy, to give you a step-by-step video guide on how to install stone cladding. We have also produced a comprehensive stone cladding installation guide which you can refer to as and when required.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing stone cladding, whether it is a DIY project or a professional installation:

1. Preparation of the Surface: Begin with a clean, dry, and level surface. Most substrates, including concrete, cement backer boards, and exterior insulation, are suitable. Check for any moisture issues and ensure the surface is sound and free of dust or debris.
2. Planning the Layout: Before adhering any cladding pieces, plan the layout by dry fitting the panels on the ground. This allows for even colour distribution and optimal pattern alignment. Arrange the pieces to avoid vertical joints aligning in multiple rows, creating a natural flow.
3. Applying Adhesive: Use a high-strength, flexible stone adhesive suited to the material and surface. Apply adhesive with a notched trowel, ensuring full coverage. This maximises adhesion and prevents any air pockets from forming.
4. Placing the Stone Panels: Fix a timber batten for the first row of cladding to sit on and then, starting from the bottom, work your way upwards, pressing each piece firmly onto the adhesive to achieve a secure bond. Tap gently with a rubber mallet to eliminate air gaps and adjust for a flush fit.

Is sealing necessary for stone cladding?

Sealing stone cladding isn’t required, owing to the hard-wearing nature of the materials used. If an area is particularly exposed to water or prolonged periods of extreme weather, sealing can help to provide a barrier against stains, making it easier to maintain. Read more in our Sealing and Pre-Sealing Sandstone, Limestone and Other Paving.

Do London Stone recommend contractors to install stone cladding?

London Stone are a supply-only business, but you may find reputable local landscapers and garden designers via our Connect service. Please note that we do not vet the work of members of our Landscape Specialist Scheme, so we advise you to seek a range of quotations and references of previous work for anyone undertaking works at your property.

Can I view Stone Cladding products in your showrooms? 

Yes! Our network of nationwide showrooms offer inspirational displays where you can view our materials before buying. You will never receive a ‘hard sell’ approach from London Stone – our showrooms offer a relaxed atmosphere, with complimentary refreshments and free customer Wi-Fi. Our friendly, expert sales staff are always on-hand to answer any questions you have, and to guide you into making the right choice for your project. 

We encourage you to visit a showroom prior to purchasing, as most customers find viewing materials in person highly beneficial. If you can’t make it to a showroom, why not take a virtual tour of our flagship Birmingham showroom in HD quality?