Mix
Cast stone uses finer aggregate and often semi-dry mixes; precast is usually wet-cast with coarser aggregate.
Knowledge · Route guide
Choosing between cast stone and precast concrete.
Both come out of a mould. Both can look superb. But they're different materials, cast differently, and they ask different things of the tooling.
Start here
It's usually a question of what the piece is imitating.
Cast stone is made to read as natural dressed stone — fine aggregate, often semi-dry or wet-cast, tight arrises. Precast concrete is the broader family: structural and architectural units, formliner faces, larger elements.
If the piece sits among natural stone and has to pass as stone, cast stone is usually right. If it's a larger unit, structural, or the texture is the point, precast usually wins.
Side by side
Four ways they differ at the mould.
Arris
Cast stone demands sharp, crisp arrises; the mould has to hold them without tearing.
Size
Cast stone pieces are usually smaller: cills, quoins, keystones. Precast runs up to full panels.
Tooling
Semi-dry cast stone often suits rigid or reinforced moulds; wet-cast suits silicone and polyurethane well.
Rules of thumb
Quick guide by piece.
Cills, lintels, quoins
Usually cast stone, especially on masonry elevations.
Balustrades and copings
Either. Cast stone for period work, precast for contemporary schemes.
Wall panels and cladding
Precast or GRC.
Street furniture
Precast, usually wet-cast for density and durability.
FAQs
Common questions.
Can one mould do both?
Sometimes, if the mix is wet-cast. Semi-dry cast stone usually needs a different tool.
Which lasts longer outside?
Both can be very durable when well made. Density and curing matter more than the label.
Who decides?
Usually the architect or conservation officer. We'll advise on what each route means for the tooling.
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
TheodoreEmployee Welfare