Precast concrete allows designers to create a wide range of aesthetic effects and integrate a diverse array of facade elements into a single precast concrete pane.
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.
Photos by gate precast
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 by gate precast
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.
Photo by gate precast
Color Variations
Concrete contains natural materials, and it is these materials’ inherent beauty that is most often expressed in architectural concrete. The limitations of these natural materials with respect to uniformity must be considered.
Photo by pci midwest
Gallery of Precast Products
Below are samples of the versatility of precast and its different colors, patterns, and styles from our PCI Certified producers Gate Precast and Forterra.
