Concept-stage advice
A conversation and a short technical note about what your relief will do at panel scale, before the design is frozen. Usually a couple of hours of our time; often saves days of redesign later.
For architects and specifiers · Early-stage advice, written specs, bespoke reliefs
Get the tooling conversation started before the design is frozen.
Bespoke reliefs from your drawings, written material specs for architect approval, and early-stage input on what will and won't demould at panel scale. We'd rather join the design conversation at RIBA Stage 2 than fix a problem at Stage 5.
What matters to you
What we can offer at each stage of the design.
At concept stage — a conversation about what the mould can and can't do. Silicone or polyurethane, splice strategy, how big a panel can practically be, what pour count is realistic for a specific relief.
At technical design — a written material spec for the tooling, a sample panel from a small trial mould, and a co-ordinated splice plan across the elevation.
At construction stage — attendance at first-off approval, documented release regime for the panel manufacturer, and a paperwork trail for the specifier's records.
Post-completion — the drawing, pattern and material spec on our file, so if a panel is damaged in service and needs replacing, the reproduction matches the original.
How your work looks
Three ways architects and specifiers work with us.
Bespoke relief development
Your drawing, our patterning, a physical sample, then a full mould. The pattern and the sample go through you for approval before the mould is poured.
Specifier support during procurement
Written technical spec that the panel manufacturer can quote against, so the tooling is scoped correctly from the tender stage.
Services that fit
Services this sector reaches for most often.
How the first conversation goes
Getting in touch as an architect or specifier.
An email or a call with a rough description of the project and where you are in the design. If drawings are ready, share them. If not, a description of the relief and the panel context is enough.
We come back with a short technical note: what's straightforward, what's awkward, what would be worth changing at design stage to make the tooling more economical or the finish more reliable.
No obligation, and no invoice for the initial technical conversation. If the project moves ahead, we quote the tooling. If it doesn't, we've spent an hour thinking about it, which is fine.
At a glance
The idea in a picture.
Planning liners across a wall
Swipe to see the whole diagram
FAQs
Questions we hear from this sector.
Do you supply a written material spec we can include in the tender documents?
Yes. We supply a technical sheet describing the silicone or polyurethane grade, its temperature range, its expected working life for the pour count and mix specified, and its release compatibility.
Can you attend design meetings with the panel manufacturer and the client?
Yes. We travel for meetings where it will save time in the tooling design. It's often better to spend an afternoon at a design meeting than to iterate a mould drawing three times by email.
How much can we push the relief depth before it becomes uneconomical?
There's no fixed limit, but the trade-off is between visual impact and mould life. Deep relief means longer draft, larger splice zones, and shorter working life on the tool. We'll show you the trade-off on your specific drawing.
Can you help match a texture from a heritage neighbour building?
Yes. Photographs of the neighbouring elevation are enough to start. For close matches we may need to visit and take a squeeze.
Do you take on projects at design competition stage?
Yes, informally. Send us the concept sketch and we'll give you a quick view on feasibility. No fee at competition stage.
Get in touch
Send us a photograph of the panel or the elevation.
One photograph tells us what surface you're chasing, and one line about the mix tells us what silicone or polyurethane will survive it.
Real people, a real workshop
You deal with the people who make it.
No call centre and no middlemen. When you contact TCI Construction, you speak to the team who design, build and check your mould.
- A real Warwickshire workshopUnit 15, Waterloo Park, Bidford-on-Avon, Alcester B50 4JG.
- Real people on the phoneCall the team on 01789 224228, Monday to Friday.
- The same team on every jobDesign, production and aftercare come from the people you see here.
- Part of TCI GroupFive specialist brands, one engineering team. Visit TCI Group.
Thomas LaneManaging Director
George PrestonDesign & Project Manager
Kelly BallingerHead of Partnerships
Jim AndertonProduction Manager
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