Beaver Creek Master Suite – 24ft Slate Feature Wall

Project Overview

Twenty-Four Feet.
Floor to Peak. No Shortcuts.

This Beaver Creek mountain home project required installing slate stack stone on a cathedral master bedroom feature wall that rises 24 feet to its peak — one of the most demanding residential tile installations in terms of height, logistics, and material weight management. Scaffolding was erected inside the occupied bedroom to safely reach the upper vault, and the slate was installed from floor to peak with continuous coverage wrapping through the arched window surround and continuing into the master bath.

The critical technical challenge on this project was substrate adhesion. Standard tile thinset is not rated for direct application to drywall — and when you're hanging natural slate stone at 20+ feet with no mechanical fasteners, adhesion failure is not an option. The solution was Mapei Eco Prim Grip, a water-based acrylic primer specifically engineered to create a bonding bridge between smooth, low-absorption surfaces like drywall and the thinset mortar system. Applied before tile setting begins, Eco Prim Grip transforms a substrate that thinset would normally slide off into a surface that provides the grip needed for heavy natural stone installation at any height.

Slate Stack Stone 24-Foot Cathedral Wall Mapei Eco Prim Grip Scaffolding Installation Stone-to-Drywall Master Bath Wrap Beaver Creek, CO

Scope Highlights

01

Slate Stack Stone – Floor to Peak

Full 24-foot cathedral wall coverage — continuous slate stack stone from floor to roof peak with no interruption

02

Mapei Eco Prim Grip – Drywall Bonding

Full substrate prime coat applied prior to tile setting — the approved method for installing heavy stone directly to drywall

03

Scaffolding – Interior Occupied Bedroom

Multi-level scaffolding erected inside the occupied master bedroom to safely work at full ceiling height

04

Cathedral Corner & Column Wrapping

Continuous slate wrapping around all vertical corners and columns — mitered returns maintained at every edge

05

Master Bath Continuation

Slate installation wrapping from master bedroom through into master bath — single continuous material at both spaces

06

Arched Window Surround – Custom Cuts

Precision cuts around custom arched wood window frames — slate fitted tightly to millwork at the upper vault

        Technical Detail
      

Why You Can't Just Set Stone
Directly on Drywall

Drywall is a smooth, low-porosity surface that standard thinset mortar doesn't bond to reliably — especially under the weight of natural stone. Cement board or Schluter-KERDI-BOARD is the standard solution for wet areas, but on a large interior feature wall that isn't subject to water exposure, installing cement board over the entire 24-foot surface adds significant weight, cost, and complexity. The approved alternative — used by professional tile contractors when the conditions are right — is Mapei Eco Prim Grip.

Eco Prim Grip is a water-based acrylic bonding primer that chemically prepares smooth, non-porous substrates — including painted surfaces, existing tile, concrete, and drywall — to accept thinset mortar with the bond strength required for tile and stone installation. It works by creating a micro-textured bonding layer that gives the thinset something to grip, converting a surface it would slide off of into one it can mechanically and chemically adhere to.

Mapei Eco Prim Grip

The Approved Method for Stone-to-Drywall

Eco Prim Grip is listed in Mapei's system approvals for tile and stone installation over drywall substrates on non-wet interior applications. It is water-based, low-VOC, and compatible with all standard thinset mortars. Applied by brush or roller and allowed to dry to a tacky, water-resistant film, it provides the bond strength needed to safely install natural stone on vertical surfaces without secondary mechanical fasteners. For this Beaver Creek project it was the difference between a 24-foot slate wall that holds — and one that doesn't.

Step 01 — Substrate Assessment

Drywall Inspection & Preparation

Existing drywall inspected for fastener schedule, joint tape adhesion, and surface condition. Any loose tape or damaged areas addressed before priming. Surface cleaned of dust and debris. Drywall does not need to be sanded — Eco Prim Grip bonds to the paper face as applied.

Step 02 — Eco Prim Grip Application

Full Coverage Prime Coat

Mapei Eco Prim Grip applied by brush and roller in a single coat over the entire tile installation area — including all wall surfaces, corners, and areas within 12" of the ceiling line. Allowed to dry to a tacky, slightly textured finish (approximately 30–60 minutes depending on conditions). Once dry, the surface is ready for immediate thinset application.

Step 03 — Scaffolding Setup

Multi-Level Interior Scaffold

Baker-style scaffold erected inside the occupied master bedroom to provide safe working platforms at multiple heights from 6 feet through 22 feet. Scaffold boards leveled and secured. Drop cloths and protection deployed across all furniture and flooring. Working from bottom up — slate set from floor level first, then scaffold raised progressively to reach the cathedral peak.

Step 04 — Slate Installation – Floor to Peak

Stack Stone Set in Non-Sag Thinset

Slate stack stone set in Mapei Ultraflex 2 large format non-sag thinset using the back-butter method — mortar applied to both the primed drywall face and the back of each stone panel. Non-sag formulation critical at height to prevent stone from slipping before thinset sets. Each course leveled before the next is placed. Mitered returns at all outside corners maintained throughout.

Step 05 — Cathedral Peak & Window Surround

Precision Cuts at Vaulted Ceiling & Millwork

Upper courses cut to follow the cathedral wall angle — each piece field-measured and cut individually at the top of the scaffold. Slate fitted tightly against the arched wood window frame with field cuts made on-site. Ceiling transition sealed with flexible sealant to allow differential movement between the stone wall and the ceiling plane.

Project Gallery

7 Project Photographs

7 photos · Beaver Creek, CO

Click any photo to view full screen

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Slate Feature Wall – Scaffolding Installation at Height

Full-height slate stack stone installation in progress — scaffolding erected to reach 24-foot cathedral peak, bedroom occupied during work

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Master Bath – Slate Wall Wrapping Into Vault

Slate stack stone wrapping from master bedroom into master bath — vaulted ceiling tile-to-drywall transition, soaking tub surround visible

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Slate Stack Stone – Corner Detail at Full Height

Mitered corner detail on full-height slate column — stack stone wrapping continuous exterior corner from floor to ceiling

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Slate Column – Upper Height Installation

Full-height slate column installation — stack stone approaching ceiling at 24 feet, scaffolding visible in background

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Slate Feature Wall – Full View Near Completion

Full 24-foot cathedral feature wall nearing completion — slate stack stone floor to peak with arched ceiling and exposed timber beam

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Master Bath – Slate Wall & Marble Tub Surround

Master bath slate feature wall complete — wrapping into bath with existing green marble tub surround and soaking tub

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Slate Wall – Upper Vault & Arched Window Detail

Slate stone tile-to-ceiling transition at arched wooden window — cathedral vault, tight cuts around custom millwork

Beaver Creek Master Suite
24-Foot Slate Feature Wall

Twenty-Four Feet.
Floor to Peak. No Shortcuts.

Why You Can't Just Set Stone
Directly on Drywall

Large-Scale Stone Installation
in a Mountain Home?

Beaver Creek Master Suite24-Foot Slate Feature Wall

Twenty-Four Feet.Floor to Peak. No Shortcuts.

Why You Can't Just Set StoneDirectly on Drywall

Large-Scale Stone Installationin a Mountain Home?

Beaver Creek Master Suite
24-Foot Slate Feature Wall

Twenty-Four Feet.
Floor to Peak. No Shortcuts.

Why You Can't Just Set Stone
Directly on Drywall

Large-Scale Stone Installation
in a Mountain Home?