Architectural Cast Stone

Cast Stone is a highly refined architectural precast building stone made from fine and coarse aggregates such as limestone, marble, calcite, granite, quartz, natural sands, Portland cement and mineral oxide coloring pigments. The mixture is rammed into sturdy moulds to achieve a dense texture, similar to natural cut stone. It is available in any color and can look like limestone, brownstone, bluestone, granite, slate, travertine or marble. It can match terra-cotta or brick and makes a perfect substitute for brick shapes. Cast Stone’s appearance is improved by weather, year after year.

Cast Stone is ideally suited for use as architectural trim, facing or ornament. Since it can be reinforced, it has the aesthetic properties of natural cut stone combined with the structural advantages of concrete.

Cast Stone is specified in section 04720 and is a highly refined architectural precast building “stone”, similar in appearance and manufactured to simulate the color, texture and appearance of natural cut stone. It is the most aesthetically refined form of concrete known. Cast stone is used as a masonry product to provide architectural trim, ornamentation or functional features on buildings and other structures in various forms such caps, sills, bands, medallions, veneer panels and in many landscaping and monument applications with architectural finish. It is made with ingredients including white cement and graded sieve aggregates typically 1/2” or smaller. Cast Stone is a dense material with a finish more highly refined with less “bug holes”, commonly referred to as “sugar cube finish”. Typical finishes for Cast Stone include acid etched, honed or polished. The compression strength is minimum 6500 psi at 28 days with a lower cold water absorption rate making it stronger and less permeable to water, weather and dirt than natural limestone or concrete. Cast stone will improve in appearance with decades of exposure to weathering and other atmospheric elements.The quality requirements for cast stone are typically governed by the Cast Stone Institute (CSI).