Professional Crafting to Replicate Architectural Cast Stone Products

At Design and Visual Concepts, we will use products we have professionally manufactured in our own workshops to provide features and finishes that replicate natural stone. These offer a high-quality alternative to architectural cast stone products which can then be quickly delivered to your site and installed to meet your deadline, all at a price we will have previously agreed on for your budget.

If you require finely crafted and expertly supplied and installed products that perfectly replicate real stone, contact our offices today. Our team of specialist craftsmen, contractors, and manufacturers will be fully prepared to discuss your requirements and specifications before you place your order.

What is Architectural Cast Stone?

Architectural cast stone is a precast concrete building material used to simulate and replicate natural cut stone in building and restoration projects. It will most often be made from a selection of materials, including fine and coarse aggregates, sand, Portland cement, mineral oxide colour pigments, chemical admixtures, and water. Once cast and installed or positioned, it can be distinguished by its fine surface texture.

During the casting and manufacturing process, it is possible to reinforce this material as needed in order to increase the structural integrity. A specialist may also use moulds with precise measurements to achieve a range of designs, or to offer an easy installation once the piece has arrived at its intended destination. As the material is also available in a wide selection of colours, it has the ability to replicate a number of different natural stone types.

Our Manufactured Products to Replicate Stone Elements

We offer a selection of materials that may be used to emulate cast stone products and features on properties across the UK. These are two particular variants of Jesmonite, the most common of which for this process is AC730, and glass fibre reinforced gypsum, which is usually abbreviated to either GFRG or GRG. We have supplied more information on these products below:

Jesmonite AC730

This water-based, rapid-setting micro-concrete composite material can be moulded in order to produce decorative finishes which replicate the aesthetics and textures of natural stone types. As such, any features or finishes created from this material will achieve a finish similar to architectural cast stone products.

Our team of manufacturers will formulate your particular purchase to achieve the finish you have requested, smoothing over the surface by leaving the cement rich film or layer intact. Revealing decorative aggregates in the material may also be achieved by acid etching, grit blasting, or sanding the product.

It may also be possible for the surface of this material to be painted, and it is available in a range of colour finishes to match the interior and exterior of any structure you’re intending to build or restore. We will also be glad to provide bespoke matching services if this is required to guarantee the ideal finish for your project.

Jesmonite AC630

This variant of the Jesmonite material family offers many of the same features as AC730, though it is more suitable for decorative castings and mouldings which require greater dimensional stability and enhanced durability. This is particularly true if you request for the product to be glass reinforced, which we are more than capable of providing.

Jesmonite AC630 also offers low shrinkage, which reduces the chances of it cracking over time. This makes it the ideal material for a wide range of architectural elements, including wall tiles and panels, ceiling lighting pieces, and external building decorations (both dry and as water features, such as fountains).

GRG

Glass-reinforced gypsum is made from a ratioed combination of gypsum casting plaster and glass fibre matting. The latter of these elements offers an increase in tensile strength and durability, preparing this material for a number of architectural uses. Many of these uses involve areas of high foot traffic, such as retail spaces and shopping centres, commercial offices (particularly those with reception areas), and transport terminals for airports and railway stations.

As recognised UK-based manufacturers of GRG and GRG products, we are able to craft and create a range of pieces, including bespoke requests, in order to meet the requirements of our clients. These will be achieved in fine detail using 3D computer-aided design (CAD) tools and manufactured to tight tolerances, ensuring the close, smooth fit that is necessary to complete the work to the highest of standards.

Why Choose Our Replicated Stone Products?

There are a number of reasons you may choose to complete your project in a material that replicates stone, rather than makes use of it. By working with us on your architectural design project and choosing Jesmonite or GRG, you will receive these as benefits to your building or restoration work:

• Jesmonite and GRG products are lighter, making them easier to position
• As the products are easier to position, they offer a quicker installation or application
• The quicker installation or application ensures a more cost-effective project
• The quicker installation or application also assists in the meeting of deadlines
• The manufacturing process minimises waste, offering a more environmentally-friendly product as a result
• Both products offer great design flexibility, meaning they can be produced to replicate any fine details you require from the finished piece, in a shorter amount of time than real stone

For the Specialist Manufacture of Replica Stone Elements

If you have been considering your options for stone products, or products that emulate the aesthetics and textures associated with stone, please contact us today. We are confident that our services will be able to provide everything you need for your architectural project, and our finished pieces will offer the durable, natural-looking finish your building requires to reach its full potential.