Daily Archives: April 27, 2015

PRODUCT MATERIALS: HOW DO THEY COMPARE? HOW DO YOU SELECT?

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Advanced Architectural Stone (AAS) provide different product materials options for projects –

  1. Cast Stone
  2. Architectural Precast
  3. Architectural GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
  4. GFRG (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)

 

How do these products compare? How do you select a product material? Please refer to the tables below.

 

PRODUCT MATERIALS COMPARISON

Basis Cast Stone Architectural Precast Architectural GFRC
Definition High quality masonry building material simulating limestone. Masonry building material produced in larger sizes; can be visually comparable to cast stone with special finishing, but without special finishing more like concrete. Masonry product made with glass fiber for strength with a hollow back having appearance of cast stone or precast at the option of the specifier.
Design Made from graded aggregates, white Portland Cement, additives and color pigments Consists of larger aggregates from 1″ to fine sands, additives and Portland cement. Mix design same as precast with the addition of glass fiber for strength and face material visually the same as cast stone or precast.
Production
Method		 Usually produced by dry cast method with very little moisture; compacting mix densely into molds. Wet Method used; mix is poured into molds. Product sets up in mold overnight. The product has a hollowunderside; strength through glass fibers. A wet pour method.
Structural /
Non structural		 This product is self supporting but is not structural. This product can be conventionally reinforced or pre-stressed to be structural. Product is not structural but is self supporting through attachments.
Weight 132 pounds per cubic foot 150 pounds per cubic foot Approximately 50% or less weight for same area covered than cast stone or precast.
Specification Defined under Masonry Division – Section 4720 of the uniform building code. Defined under Concrete Division – Specification 3450 of the uniform building codes. Defined under Concrete Division – Specification 3490 of the uniform building codes.
Speed of Manufacture Multiple pieces per day from mold; higher production output. Usually 1 piece per day per mold; limiting daily production output. Usually 1 piece per day; limiting daily production output.
Size Usually less than 4′ in length; depends on depth or cubic value. Can be larger pieces up to 20′ and can be structural. Sizes can approximate both cast stone & precast.
Cost Usually the most cost effective. More expensive due to finishing to create close visual to cast stone and daily production limitation. Most expensive to produce; higher cost offset by less installation costs.

PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

PRODUCT REINFORCED ANCHORAGE FINISH APPLICATION
Cast Stone (Dry) Yes Rebar Can have dowel holes; anchor slots, embedded hardware Fine grain texture simulates Limestone Architectural Trim, Facing, Ornamentation, columns
Architectural Precast Yes Various methods Cast in weld plates, Threaded inserts, Slots & Dowel holes Exposed Aggregate, Form liners, Sandblasted , Visual bug holes unless finished to look close to cast stone. Architectural panels, columns, Spandrels, Structural
GFRC Yes Glass Fiber Anchor bolts and steel frame attached to product at plant. Fine grain texture or precast finish Architectural, trim, facing, columns, spandrels; where lighter weight is helpful.
Limestone
Grade II		 No Cut in dowel holes and slots Fine grain texture Architectural trim, Facing, Ornamentation; long lead time
Calcium Silicate No Cut in dowel holes and slots Smooth, Rocked, Press Hammered, Dressed Architectural veneer, facing, and standard sizes only.

PHYSICAL STANDARDS

PRODUCT ASTM PSI (MINIMUM) AIR CONTENT RANGE ABSORBTION (MAXIMUM) FREEZE-THAW (DURABILITY)
Cast Stone (Dry) ASTM C 1364 6,500 N/A 6% 5% Loss of mass or less @ 300 cycles
Cast Stone (Wet) 6,500 4% – 6% 6% 5% Loss of mass or less @ 300 cycles
Architectural Precast CSI 3450 5,000 4% – 6% 6% Not required
GFRC CSI 3490 1,200 (flexgard module of rupture) 8% – 10% Similar to Cast Stone / Precast Similar to Cast Stone / Precast
Limestone Grade II ASTM C 568 4,000 N/A 7.50% Not available
Calcium Silicate ASTM C 73-99A Grade: NW 3,500 SW 5,500 N/A NW 18% SW 15% Not available

AAS team is able to combine different product materials as well to meet the design, structural and installation needs. AAS has experience with creating seamless design effects and uniform design appeal while combining different product materials on a same project.

 

Product Info/Reference Links

 

  1. AAS Product Materials
  2. Cast Stone
  3. Architectural Precast
  4. Architectural GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
  5. GFRG (Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum)

 

VIDEO: COLOR LAB, QUALITY CONTROL FOR ARCHITECTURAL STONE PRODUCTS

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How do you create high-end design and aesthetics using architectural stone?

The key to this is ability to manufacture the stone products using variety of product materials such as cast stone, architectural GFRC, architectural precast as well as GFRG. These products can create looks of natural lime stone or any other desired color as well as finish. With technology and manufacturing abilities, these products can be consistently accurate and reliable in aesthetics as well structural properties.

Custom mold making that create stone panels of any complex shape with stringent tolerance requirements makes it possible to realize virtually any exterior or interior architectural design vision.

 

How can you be sure of quality and consistency of architectural stone products?

  1. AAS has computerized batch plant that is able to monitor consistency and quality of raw materials throughout the project life cycle.
  2. AAS has a sophisticated internal color lab. AAS team uses computerized density system for regular color sampling, material consistency, strength and moisture absorption testing.
  3. AAS has experienced quality control supervisors. They are trained to spot defects.

 

Watch this video to see AAS lab and quality control in action.

 

 

> PROJECTS GALLERY: MATCH ANY CUSTOM COLOR WITH A CONTROL SAMPLE

 

> HOW DO YOU GET THE COLOR YOU NEED FOR YOUR PROJECT?

 

 

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