---
title: "Tile hanging versus stone cladding"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 9
key: "semester_6/building_technology:tile-hanging-stone-cladding"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/tile-hanging-stone-cladding
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Tile hanging versus stone cladding

Building Technology · Chapter 9: Finishing works

- Asked in: 2067 Asar (old course), 2+3+3 marks
- Video: [External Stone Cladding with mechanical method (Natural stone Cladding)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uw0NYscPbc) — Building Construction | Civil Engineers
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/tile-hanging-stone-cladding
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-9

## Question

What do you mean by building finishes? Differentiate between tile hanging and stone cladding in external wall surface showing section (vertical) with neat sketches.

## Short answer

Building finishes are final surface treatments like plaster, paint and cladding for protection and appearance. Tile hanging uses light overlapping clay tiles hung on battens; stone cladding uses heavy stone slabs fixed with mortar and cramps. Tile hanging is cheaper and better for rain; stone cladding is heavier and used on commercial buildings.

## Answer

**Building finishes** are the final surface treatments applied to floors, walls, ceilings and roofs, such as plaster, paint, cladding and flooring, to protect the structure and improve its appearance.

| Point | Tile hanging | Stone cladding |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Clay or concrete tiles | Natural stone slabs (granite, marble, slate) |
| Fixing | Hung on timber or metal battens with nails or hooks | Fixed by cement mortar, cramps and dowels |
| Weight | Light | Heavy |
| Cost | Cheaper | Costly |
| Backing | Battens on brick or concrete wall | Structural wall with gap and grouted joints |
| Rain protection | Overlapping tiles, good | Needs sealed joints, fair |
| Use | Houses, gables, upper floor walls | Public and commercial buildings, plinths |

```text
 TILE HANGING (section)       STONE CLADDING (section)
  wall | batten                wall | 25-50 mm gap
  wall |=tile (overlap)        wall |==cramp==[stone slab]
  wall |=tile                  wall |   dowel [stone slab]
  wall |=tile                  wall |   mortar grout
```

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What are building finishes?
   A. Foundations
   B. Columns
   C. Beams
   D. Final surface treatments on floors, walls, ceilings and roofs
   Answer: D. Plaster, paint, cladding and flooring are finishes. (Key point: Building finishes)

2. Which is lighter?
   A. Tile hanging
   B. Both heavy
   C. Stone cladding
   D. Equal
   Answer: A. Clay or concrete tiles are light compared to stone slabs. (Key point: Weight)

3. How is stone cladding fixed?
   A. Nails on battens
   B. Cement mortar, cramps and dowels
   C. Adhesive tape
   D. Screws only
   Answer: B. Stone slabs use cramps, dowels and mortar. (Key point: Fixing stone)

4. Why is tile hanging good in rain?
   A. Joints are sealed
   B. It is thick
   C. Overlapping tiles shed water
   D. It is stone
   Answer: C. Overlap gives good rain protection. (Key point: Rain protection)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Granite and tile floor finishes](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Agranite-tiles-finishes) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Floor finish, wall cladding, floor finishing materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Afloor-finish-wall-cladding) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Ground floor with mosaic tiling and external wall](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amosaic-ground-floor-wall) — Building Technology, chapter 7
- [Plan and vertical section of panelled door](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apanelled-door-plan-section) — Building Technology, chapter 6
- [Types of stone masonry](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Astone-masonry-types) — Building Technology, chapter 3, asked 5×
- [Cladding: types and functions](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Acladding-types-functions) — Building Technology, chapter 9, asked 7×

## Related in other subjects

- [Differentiate GVF, RVF and SVF with sketches](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fhydraulics%3Adifferentiate-gvf-rvf-svf-sketch) — Hydraulics, chapter 5, asked 5×
- [Single-storey external wall: stress, brick, mortar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Awall-single-storey-100kn-12mm) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 8
- [Internal/external drainage; water logging; Terai surface drainage](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Ainternal-external-drainage-water-logging-terai) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 9
- [One-roomed building: earthwork, plaster, openings](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aone-room-a-fig-c) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6