Sandstone cladding for walls, facades and columns

Cladding is a layer of real stone fixed to an existing or new wall. Done well, it reads as solid masonry: tight joints, properly returned corners and pieces that are dressed to fit rather than forced. Done badly, it cracks, stains or comes loose, which is why fixing and substrate matter as much as the stone. Building or designing a project? See how we work with builders and architects.

We work in split-face, rock-face, sawn and random ashlar sandstone, as well as recycled stone when you need to match an older wall. Every job is set out by hand, with each course planned so cut pieces sit where you won't notice them. We also clad in limestone where a lighter, more even finish suits the architecture.

What we build

• House facades

  Full or partial sandstone facades on new builds and renovations, including upper storeys from scaffold.

• Feature walls

  Indoor and outdoor sandstone feature walls for courtyards, entries, outdoor showers and living areas. For indoor feature and TV walls, see sandstone fireplaces and feature walls.

• Columns and piers

  Sandstone-clad entry piers, verandah columns and full-height pillars on modern two-storey homes.

• Chimneys

  Cladding on new or existing chimneys, inside and out.

• Window and door surrounds

  Sawn sandstone reveals, sills and heads set into split-face or ashlar cladding.

• Under-deck and subfloor walls

  Split-face or rock-face cladding around the base of weatherboard homes and under timber decks.

Fixing and substrate

Natural stone cladding commonly weighs 60 kg per square metre or more, so it needs a wall that can carry it. We fix sandstone to brick, block, concrete or a suitable fibre-cement cladding system, using a stone adhesive and mechanical fixings matched to the height and exposure. Stone does not go on plasterboard.

Around the base of the wall we keep the stone clear of garden soil and paving levels where possible, and we allow for flashings, weep holes and control joints in the existing wall. Getting these details right is what stops water sitting behind the stone.

Coastal exposure and sealing

Salt air, wind-driven rain and shade all work on porous stone. Salts carried in moisture can crystallise at the surface, showing as white efflorescence and, over time, flaking. On exposed coastal homes we pick stone by grade and exposure and recommend a breathable penetrating sealer.

A penetrating sealer soaks into the stone and lets moisture escape, unlike a film-forming coating that can trap it. It reduces water uptake, staining and salt damage, though no sealer makes sandstone fully salt-proof.

Matching old stone

Many Northern Beaches extensions need new cladding that sits beside an older sandstone wall. We match by colour, grain, face texture and coursing, and use recycled sandstone where new stone would look too clean. Recycled supply varies, so we source it for each project.