GRC stone cladding for walls and building façades

A common method of decorating the interior and exterior surfaces of a building is with the use of wall cladding. Cladding can be described as the application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer. Internally it is often used to cover the framework and essential services from view, as well as a way of improving appearance. Utilised on the outside of a building, cladding provides a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance in addition to adding to a building’s aesthetic appeal.
GRC cladding is manufactured away from a construction site, in panels which mount to a specified support system. GRC panels typically contain a framework and glass fibre matrix reinforcement to provide strength. Manufactured GRC cladding is quick and easy to install on-site by simply positioning each panel and securing it to the building’s support system.

Benefits of fibre glass reinforced concrete

Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC), also known as GFRC concrete, is a popular building material for cladding due to the versatility it offers and the fact it is around 80% lighter than pre-cast steel reinforced concrete cladding. There is virtually no limit to the shape or profile that can be created with GFRC concrete and it can be manufactured to provide different coloured or textured finishes.

GRC stone cladding with Jesmonite

Jesmonite has these benefits and more. We manufacture GRC stone cladding with Jesmonite – an alternative to GFRC concrete. Jesmonite AC730 is an Acrylic Modified Cementitous Composite that can replicate the appearance and texture of almost any surface finish, in any number of colours. We use AC730 to create GRC wall cladding, panels, tiles and design features that can look like and behave like stone, granite or marble.

Jesmonite AC730

Jesmonite AC730 is designed for glass reinforced decorative structures and can also be used for small castings. It is available in eight standard stone finishes. These are Natural Stone, Bathstone, Yellow Sandstone, White Marble, Portland Stone, Silver Grey Granite, Old Terracotta and Charcoal Black. However, it is possible to pigment AC730 to match a RAL colour or material sample.

There are a number of product benefits that make GRC stone cladding with Jesmonite superior to other building materials:

Shrinkage compensated material of low permeability
Durable in all conditions of external weathering including water features
Superior cast and glass reinforced mouldings
Solvent free & no VOCs
Fire resistant
Lightweight
Impact resistant

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Portland Stone cladding panels

Portland Stone is one of eight options available in the Jesmonite AC730 range. Building facades can be created or accurately replicated using Jesmonite AC730 due to its unique abilities to look like and behave like real stone.

Moulded wall cladding panels are much lighter than brick, concrete or stone and therefore faster to manufacture and simpler to fix in place. The advantage of using Jesmonite instead of true Portland Stone, for example, is that it opens up the possibilities of what is architecturally achievable – as this picture of the London School of Economics and Political Science building shows. This sculpture by Richard Wilson replicates the colour and texture of the other external building surfaces to create this amazing and arresting effect.

Design and Visual Concepts is an Approved Manufacturer of Jesmonite. We have over twenty years’ experience working with Jesmonite creating GRC stone cladding, architectural mouldings and decorative features for building projects nationwide. Moulds can be created to replicate the most complex of profiles and we can assist architects and designers to match any colour scheme and surface finish they are keen to achieve.

A good example of Jesmonite AC730 GRC stone cladding can be found at 200 Hammersmith Road, where we were commissioned to provide a moulded wall panel design featuring a rope pattern repeated throughout. The wall colour was blended to meet the customer’s requirements. Manufacturing was completed off-site and at point of installation each panel was securely mounted using a framework hook and rail system.

To find out more about Jesmonite, see our case studies, or download our brochure, please visit the Jesmonite Mouldings page.