Stone paving is widely used in plazas, pedestrian streets and urban public spaces across New Zealand, but many installations begin to quickly deteriorate.

Joint washout, cracking and surface movement are common, linked to environmental and mechanical stresses, as well as installation systems that aren't designed to manage long-term structural performance.

As climate variability increases and sustainability becomes a key consideration in construction, designers are looking for paving systems that can deliver durability and environmental performance.

A system designed for strength and durability

The Mapestone system was developed to provide paving installations capable of withstanding demanding environmental conditions, such as freeze-thaw cycles, temperature variations, heavy rainfall and exposure to aggressive environments like de-icing salts, acids and marine spray.

It's suitable for exposure classes XF4 (high water saturation with de-icing agents or seawater) and XS3 (tidal, splash and spray zones).

The system consists of a high-performance bedding mortar, Mapestone TFB 60, and a low-viscosity high-strength grout, Mapestone PFS2 Visco. Both products are pre-blended to minimise installation errors related to mixing proportions or aggregate selection that can negatively affect the installation strength.

Once installed, the bedding mortar achieves a compressive strength of 60 MPa, while the Mapestone PFS2 Visco grout provides a compressive strength of 55 MPa, creating a stable paving structure suitable for areas exposed to heavy traffic.

The paving system is also rapid-setting and allows controlled permeability through the joints, helping manage surface water.

Supporting sustainable construction

Mapei is committed to developing products with reduced environmental impact. The Mapestone system is EPD-certified, meaning the environmental performance of the products has been assessed and documented according to internationally recognised standards across their lifecycle.

Environmental Product Declarations provide transparent information about the environmental impact of construction products and support informed decision-making for sustainable building projects.

Versatile solutions for architectural paving

The Mapestone system offers versatility for architectural paving applications and can be used in historic town centres, pedestrian areas, plazas and other urban public spaces, suitable for use with granite setts, cobblestones, interlocking paving stones, thick porcelain slabs, natural stone slabs, precast kerbs and other prefabricated paving elements, even where paving thickness varies.

Designing for long-term performance

Selecting paving systems that can withstand environmental exposure, traffic loads and long-term wear is critical.

Engineered systems such as Mapestone provide a reliable approach to creating durable paving installations that support both structural performance and sustainable design objectives.