What Is Slipform Stonemasonry? Slipform Stone Masonry Pros And Cons
What Is Slipform Stonemasonry?
Slipform stonemasonry is a method of constructing stone walls by pouring concrete between stone facing, which is held together using mortar courses. It is a unique technique combining traditional stone wall building elements and veneered stone wall construction.
The slipforms provide support and guidance to ensure that the structure has uniformity in form and quality. The reusable nature of slipforms makes them extremely cost-effective, as they can be reused to create multiple walls without needing to build new forms each time.
Slipform stonemasonry is an effective way to achieve long lasting walls with beautiful stone facing for many applications including retaining walls, piers, columns, and more.
How Do You Make A Slipform Stone House?
Slipform stone house construction involves building forms on both sides of a wall and filling these with concrete and stones. Once set, the form is slid upwards to create the next wall level. This process is repeated until one side of the wall is complete before moving on to the next.
As it progresses, the walls are effectively ‘welded’ together, creating a solid structure that can be further strengthened with additional layers to give greater insulation and protection against weather effects.
Furthermore, slipform stone houses often blend in exceptionally well with their surroundings thanks to their rustic yet contemporary architectural aesthetic.
What Is Slipform Stone Masonry?
Slipform stone masonry is a construction method in which stones are embedded into reinforced concrete. It was initially discovered by architect Earnest Flagg in 1920 in New York and further improved by Scott and Helen in Vermont during the 1930s.
The method involves pouring a continuous concrete foundation and precasting concrete blocks for the wall support.
Then, smooth stones are placed on top of the precast blocks to create a seamless surface across the entire wall face that fits together perfectly with no mortar required.
This results in a beautiful natural stone look that looks much like dry-stacked stonework without any of the headaches associated with it.
What Are The Advantages Of Stone Masonry?
Stone masonry has a number of advantages.
- As it is made of natural material, it is highly durable and strong, meaning that it can withstand wear and tear from high foot traffic.
- Additionally, stone masonry is highly weather resistant, making it ideal for outdoor structures such as retaining walls in climates with extreme temperatures or windy conditions.
- Its long-lasting qualities make it an excellent choice for construction projects that require enduring materials.
- Furthermore, stone does not bend or dent when pressure is applied to it which makes it even more suitable for places with high foot traffic as well as areas exposed to the elements.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Stone Masonry?
Stone masonry has its disadvantages as well, most notably the reduced floor space created by its thick and heavy walls, compounded with its low flexural strength, tensile strength, and seismic resistance.
This makes it time-consuming to construct and requires skilled workers, making repairs or relocation difficult. Additionally, alterations cannot be made easily since stone is a more difficult material to work with than other common building materials.
What Are Slipform Stone Masonry Pros And Cons?
Slipform stone masonry is a construction method involving the use of pre-shaped stones laid on top of each other, with mortar being added and spread between layers to create a solid structure.
The pros of slipform stone masonry are that it is an efficient way to build larger walls while still achieving the desired design aesthetic; it also requires less labor than traditional stone masonry and can be completed relatively quickly.
It offers many advantages such as speed of erection, uniformity of the finished product, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation.
However, it does have some disadvantages including difficulty in obtaining precise dimensions when creating complex shapes, the need for skilled labor to ensure accuracy and proper formation of the wall, and potential water infiltration if not completely sealed.
Other cons are that the mortared joints may eventually crack over time due to freezing temperatures or shifting soil; in addition, the cost of pre-shaped stones may be higher than that of standard quarried stones.
In conclusion, slipform stone masonry is a great choice for those looking for an efficient and attractive way to build larger walls, but certain drawbacks should be taken into consideration before using this method which include potential structural weaknesses due to the strength of the mortar joints, greater labour costs, and an increase in sealing or waterproofing requirements to ensure that no water seeps into the wall.
