Acceptable Misalignment of Stone Facade Panels 1

[Rjeffery]

This may be more in the "Art of Architecture" realm, but I nave been unable to locate any real information. My question is: In an existing building, how much displacement or misalignment (from vertical) of stone panels is acceptable? The panels are 6-8 inches thick and the largest is 4x5 feet... Esthetically, 1/8 inch vertical misalignment is visible at 4 stories. By this, I mean that the upper stone panel overlaps the lower panel by more than 1/8 of an inch.

The best way to test something is to squeeze it, slowly, until it breaks!

 

[jike]

Check with Indiana Limestone Institute of America. I am sure they have a suggested spec.

 

[youngstructural]

How has/is the misalignment occurring? This might be a sign of structural deterioration.... I've seen lots of falling stone veneer panels in my short time as an engineer.

Often veneer panels really aren't all that well connected in many structures. Corrosion, fatigue failures, epoxy deterioration; There are litterally dozens of reasons why these things come off, and they just fall like bricks.

I might be way off the mark for your situations, but just thought I'd mention...

Cheers,

YS

B.Eng (Carleton)
Working in New Zealand, thinking of my snow covered home...