All about cast stone

The benefits of cast stone

Cast stone, or reconstituted stone as it is also called, is an attractive and very cost effective alternative to quarried stone. (This assumes that the quality is excellent and although our products certainly are, this can’t be said for all that are available in the market.)

Architectural designs can be reproduced in cast stone to create a wide range of decorative features to enhance new buildings, or match natural stonework for sympathetic restoration.

The benefits of cast stone

Freedom of Design – as cast stone products are made in a mould, there are few constraints on the designs that can be created in this versatile material
Complement/match natural stonework – because cast stone weathers in the same way as natural stone, there is no problem using new cast stone alongside existing natural stone.
Replication of existing units – moulds can be created to replicate existing natural stone features where an existing building is being restored or extended
Match existing colour – new cast stone elements can be produced in a colour that will match existing stonework
Added value to buildings – by the addition of attractive cast stone features in new houses, the value of the building can be enhanced by many times the cost of the features
Cost effective – cast stone is very cost effective when compared to natural stone
Quality consistency – because cast stone is manufactured under closely controlled conditions, a very consistent quality of colour and finish is assured.

Contact us directly for your Cast Stone Enquiry so we can get straight back to you to discuss your requirements and provide a proposal.

Advice from UKCSA October 2010

"Cast Stone or Natural Stone?"

"A Viable Alternative

Cast stone has been a familiar and much-used alternative to carved natural stone in the UK since Georgian times. It evokes a sense of timelessness which fits in with any form of massive construction.

As well as newbuild, cast stone is regularly used on sensitive conservation and refurbishment projects where natural stone is a predominant material. Its use includes the replacement or repair of natural stonework damaged by exposure or neglect.

Costs significantly less

Cast stone stands alongside natural stone as a building material in appearance and performance, yet it's readily available and can cost up to a third of the price.

In many ways, cast stone is far better. It can beat natural stone on strength, moisture penetration, colour and textural consistency. Stratification is never a problem and it's free from imperfections. Cast stone can weather like natural stone and it looks much the same.

For designers concerned with truth to materials, there's another thing that today distinguishes cast stone. Often its colour is the result of choosing an aggregate with the appropriate inherent colour. So the final product can mirror the way natural stones are coloured.

And since cast stone details are based on centuries-tested stone details, they work first time.

Solid masonry

Cast stone can also take the form of ashlar masonry. These days natural stone is too expensive for solid masonry but it's simple and economical to use cast stone ashlar blockwork - which not only satisfies the truth to construcition architectural argument but will perform in terms of bearing strength and weather in the same way as natural stone.

Concerns about carbon miles dog natural stone, which can be sourced from all over the world. In contrast, cast stone is made and distributed in the UK, often in localised markets, providing a minimal carbon footprint and maintaing UK employment. "