CONCRETE & STONEWORK
Wet-Cast
Wet cast is similar to casting in
plaster and provides a close-grained
dense surface which can be stronger
that semi dry cast but looks more
like cement and less like natural
stone.
It allows precise rendering of fine
detail and, for structural elements,
the use of complex reinforcements.
Wet-cast cast stone units usually
require secondary surface finishing
and typical techniques include
acid etching, grit blasting, hand or
mechanical tooling and polishing.
Wet cast mixes use considerably
more water than the semi-dry
process and are generally a through
mix of the finished face. The
mix design is especially critical
to the process and the finished
appearance. After the wet-cast
mix is poured into the mould, it is
compacted using a vibrating table or
vacuum casting, or increasingly by
the use of self-compacting additives.
Longer lead times are required for
wet-cast cast stone as the process
generally yields only one cast per
mould per day.
Fibre Reinforced Cast Stone
This process incorporates fibre
reinforcement into a higher water
content mix that can be either
poured or sprayed into moulds, from
which the product is demoulded the
following day. The incorporation of
fibre reinforcing into the wet-cast
mix increases the tensile strength of
the finished product.
A dense cast stone product with
a close face texture is achieved
which can be varied by the use of
secondary surface treatments.
Often fibre reinforced cast stone
units are produced in thin sections
which reduces the weight and
associated manual handling issues,
and offers the opportunity, through
careful design and the use of
specialist fixings, for retrofitting
the fibre reinforced product to the
structure.
Longer lead times are required for
fibre reinforced cast stone as the
process generally yields only one
cast per mould per day.
What is cast stone used for
Cast stone proves to be a sound
investment that improves with the
passing years. This is even more
important in these changing times,
which demand that our society
moves away from disposability
and looks to create long-lasting
products that stand the test of time.
We really value the artistic and
cultural heritage of our gardens and
buildings here in the U.K and around
the world. As such, companies have
sought to create a collection which
preserves this history for future
generations. Chilstone have been
privileged enough to gain access
to some wonderful pieces of stone
work. They have carefully restored
damaged stonework for many well-
known clients, including Embley
Park and Hever Castle.
www.chilstone.com
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