What is Cast Stone?

and Architectural Precast

/ What is Cast Stone /

Cast Stone is defined as “a refined architectural concrete building unit manufactured to simulate natural cut stone, used in unit masonry applications.” Cast Stone is a masonry product, used as an architectural feature, trim, ornament or facing for buildings or other structures. Cast Stone can be made from white and/or grey cements, manufactured or natural sands, carefully selected crushed stone or well graded natural gravels and mineral coloring pigments to achieve the desired color and appearance while maintaining durable physical properties which exceed most natural cut building stones. Cast Stone is an excellent replacement for natural cut limestone, brownstone, sandstone, bluestone, granite, slate, keystone, travertine and other natural building stones.

/ History of Cast Stone /

Cast Stone has been a prime building material for hundreds of years. The earliest known use of Cast Stone dates about to the year 1138 and was seen at Carcassonne, France, the Cité which contains the finest remains of medieval fortification in Europe. Cast Stone was first used extensively in London in the year 1900 and gained widespread acceptance in America in 1920.

Today, Cast Stone is a truly superior alternative to natural cut building stone. Combined with its ability to simulate or reproduce an almost limitless variety of natural stones, Cast Stone offers many advantages over cut stone. Cast Stone can be integrally reinforced with steel and precisely colored through aggregates or mineral oxides. Mix designs have tested engineering values, which result in a predictable durable life. Strength and weathering qualities are consistently better than natural stone because the manufacturing process is controlled. Properties such as these cannot be assured in a quarried building stone. Repetitive treatment, either as trim or ornament, can be achieved quite economically in Cast Stone. The ability of Cast Stone to replicate deteriorating natural stone on existing buildings makes it an ideal material for the remodeling or restoration of old structures. For its beauty. For its permanence. For its versatility.