By definition, Sto is a manufacturer. We make building materials for construction, maintenance and restoration. But we are so much more than that. We are advisors. We are consultants. And for architects, we are trusted design partners.
Yes, partner is an overused word. So, what does it really mean to be a trusted design partner? It means we provide you with the technical support and tools you need to deliver integrated, performance-driven solutions for your clients, while giving you and your team creative freedom. While most manufacturers point you to product literature or their website, Sto gets in the trenches with you. To strategize. To solve. And to create.
Early Engagement is the Key to Success
So, when should you engage Sto on a project? The earlier, the better. We have a wide portfolio of systems to choose from—from EIFS and stucco to rainscreens and prefabricated panels—so there are many possibilities. By understanding the client’s goals, the project challenges and your vision, we can help you zero in on the products and systems that will work best for your project. After all, every successful building envelope begins with understanding the project’s performance priorities, lifecycle goals and environmental context.
Those are just a few of the initial considerations. There are plenty more, and we’re here to help you sort through them.
Key Factors to Selecting the Right System
Sto has numerous advanced tools to help architects. There’s the Sto Wall Selector, the Aesthetic+Product Selector and our Documentation Center, to name a few. These tools simplify the exploration process. Our technical team often points to the Sto Wall Selector as the starting point, as it outlines essential factors every architect should assess when selecting materials and systems for their project. These are a few of those factors.
Timeline
- Project schedules often dictate system choice—prefabrication (Sto Panel) or fast-installing systems (StoPowerwall, StoVentec) can accelerate timelines.
- Early coordination with Sto Representatives ensures constructability reviews and compatible detailing are resolved before construction.
Budget
- Sto systems provide scalable solutions to meet budget constraints without compromising quality.
- Prefabricated Sto Panel Technology reduces onsite labor costs and weather delays.
- StoGuard integrated AWRB systems cut rework costs by simplifying moisture protection across multiple trades.
Performance Requirements
- Define thermal, air and moisture performance targets at the outset.
- Sto’s engineered systems—StoTherm ci, StoVentec, StoPowerwall—are designed and tested to meet energy, durability and fire performance standards, including Sto HVHZ systems.
Maintenance Considerations
- Sto coatings and finishes provide long-term protection with low maintenance requirements.
- Specify StoColor® coatings and finishes engineered for UV stability, water repellency and dirt resistance to extend facade lifespan.
The Beauty of a Comprehensive System from One Manufacturer
Sto believes in a system approach to wall solutions. Mixing materials and products that weren’t designed to work together and that may be incompatible increases the risk of exposure to air and wind, the enemies of thermal control.
Tested for impact, weathering and aging, Sto integrated systems ensure long-term building resilience. But there are many other benefits of our system approach.
- Continuous AWRBs like StoGuard and StoShield SA help prevent water intrusion and uncontrolled air leakage.
- Proper drainage and ventilation within StoVentec rainscreen systems manage moisture and extend wall life.
- Available dew point and hygrothermal analysis ensure design performance across climates.
- Vapor-permeable and impermeable AWRBs suitable for any climate, from humid coastal zones to cold continental regions.
- Sto’s HVHZ systems include various types of cladding systems that meet Miami-Dade’s NOA or Florida Building Product approval.
- Sto systems are tested to meet stringent fire and code compliance requirements, including NFPA 285 assemblies.
- Sto Fireblocking meets the country’s most stringent fire codes, including New York City 2022 Building Code.
Flexibility, Sustainability and Design Freedom
Our products contribute to sustainable design through material efficiency, durability and improved building performance. And our systems support LEED and green-building goals by enhancing energy efficiency and reducing lifecycle maintenance costs. Prefabrication options also reduce onsite waste and carbon emissions. Our systems also deliver design freedom for designers and architects.
Our solutions support nearly unlimited design freedom—textures, colors and materials that achieve creative visions without sacrificing performance. From StoSignature finishes to StoVentec facades, architects can combine aesthetics and performance in a single system. Plus, Sto’s systems are engineered to integrate with a wide range of claddings, substrates and structural assemblies, allowing the seamless use of a variety of facade materials and giving you the ability to create one-of-a-kind designs that look as good as they perform.
A Powerful Partnership
Every project is unique, but Sto provides the systems, tools and technical expertise to help architects build with confidence and creativity. We are your trusted partner–in every sense of the word!
So, engage with our team early. And if you want to explore some of our design tools in advance, log on to our website and check out the Sto Wall Selector. You can also visit our Documentation Center for details on the system and product specifications. Or you can talk to one of our experts at 800-221-2397.
