Precast concrete offers a virtually unlimited palette of options for creating unique aesthetic treatments ranging from a historic appearance to blend with nearby landmarks or a contemporary style that makes a strong statement of its own. The material can provide any appearance desired in a cost-efficient way with added benefits no other material can match.
Color, Form & Texture Versatility
Precast concrete allows an infinite combination of colors and textures through the use of formliners, aggregates, pigmentation, and various finishing techniques such as acid etching and abrasive blasting. Designers can create intricate bullnose, reveal, and custom castings. Traditional veneer materials (brick, stone, tile) can be embedded into precast panels utilizing their natural beauty, while gaining the many high performance benefits of precast concrete.
Photo via Metromont
Photo via Finfrock
Façade Integration
Precast solves the problem of needing multiple products and trades to create a façade with different elements such as a base wall, window surrounds, coining, beltlines, and pediments. All those elements and more can be created in a single precast concrete panel, eliminating the need for frequent expansion joints and slip joints to account for differential movement, as well as flashing and other moisture management components.
Photo via Finfrock
Historic Context
Precast provides an affordable way to provide historic façade elements on even low-budget structures. Precast producers can mimic stone and brick to provide historical context on a budget.
