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Precast Concrete online guide
Architectural precast concrete online database and information
for architects, contractors and homeowners.
Downloadable precast concrete catalogs, includes hundreds of CAD files for architects
or browser friendly downloadable catalogs of precast concrete profiles. Articles
includes installation procedures, attachments and materials.
Comparison of cost and quality of cast stone, limestone and precast concrete materials.
 What is precast concrete ?
Description: A wet poured cement based product.
- Precast concrete can be treated to resemble many materials.
- Precast concrete is less uniform in color and texture than cast stone products.
- Made from course sand or sand/pea rock mix, Portland cement and integrated pigment.
- Wet poured into molds and left to cure before removal.
Precast concrete began with the Egyptians around 3000 BC.
The Egyptians used gypsum or lime mortars mixed with straw to bind the material
and hand tamp it into brick forms.
Modern day precast concrete is a highly refined mixture of course and fine
aggregates, Portland cement and additives to give a "high strength" durable
product. Precast concrete is usually made with a three part sand/aggregate to
one part cement mix.
The dry mix is added to a mortar mixer with water to make a wet pourable
mixture, resembling oatmeal or porridge in texture.
Precast concrete can be treated to resemble natural stone in many ways. After
curing, the parts are removed from the molds and are then either left
as is (smooth concrete) which is sometimes painted, or treated with a water/acid
mix, sandwashed, or sandblasted to remove the surface of the cement and thus
expose the aggregates.
Chemical retardants can also be sprayed into the molds before the placement of
the wet precast concrete to retard the cure of the surface of the parts, which
are then removed from the mold and then sprayed with water immediately to remove
the surface and expose the aggregates.
However, the process is not always consistent and most precast concrete products
have a irregular or patchy look and feel as in the sample chips above.
The process of removing the surface of the precast concrete also removes the
clean lines and edges of the parts.
Cast stone does not need to be treated, it resembles natural stone as it comes
out of the mold.
It can be treated with the same processes as precast concrete. Acid
washing, sandblasting and chemical retardation have the effect of aging cast
stone, revealing even more aggregate and giving the surface a weathered texture.
Precast concrete is
usually used in lower end track homes where budget is a concern, cast
stone is usually used in higher end homes where budget is not a major
concern. The difference between
cast stone and precast concrete is easily seen, and even the novice can
appreciate the high quality limestone like finish on a cast stone product.
Fireplace mantels or as some call them fireplace mantles look beautiful
when constructed from cast stone. These fireplace mantels are used in
any situation. The fireplace mantels are both strong and fireproof.
Fireplace mantels are
a thing of beauty when made from cast stone or precast concrete. Fireplace
mantels are also made from wood. Fireplace mantels or fireplace chimneys
are the main feature in any room and a fireplace mantel made from cast
stone or precast concrete is a sight to behold.
Precast concrete in California
Precast concrete installed in California city's such as
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Ventura or Santa Barbara has to be
mechanically fastened to the wood frame of a building usually with
stainless steel or galvanized attachments, this because of earthquake
codes. There are many historical buildings in California with
precast concrete as part of their facade. Precast concrete in
Los Angeles, Beverly hills, Bel Air, Ventura and Santa Barbara was at it's
most popular in the 1900's. In the City
of Ventura, precast concrete was used mainly on churches in the downtown
area. In Los Angeles precast concrete was used in many important buildings including the
famous Los Angeles City hall. In Santa Barbara cast stone, precast
concrete and Santa
Barbara stone were used in conjunction in many historical buildings. Regency
Cast Stone Installation
is a well known Los Angeles installation
company, and have installaed many historical projects in Los Angeles,
Santa Barbara and ventura counties. Precast concrete in Beverly Hills was used in the Beverly Hills
City hall and is now used on many residential buildings.
Precast concrete installers sometimes supply and install granite or
precast concrete by CDI
inc including precast, caststone and concrete design products
such as CDI columns. Ventura Cast
Stone make beautiful cast stone and precast concrete columns and balustrade,
California Precast info@californiaprecast.com make precast moldings, CDI inc manufacture
precast moldings and stairs. Installers also supply CDI precast
granite concrete
window and door trim, CDI GFRC columns, products from concrete design, full weight
precast
and granite or limestone products, California precast columns, CDI precast pool coping, CDI precast
or limestone moldings
and CDI fireplace mantles.
Some of the products exclusively
manufactured by other company's include mantels (some say mantels). Some
well known fireplace mantel manufacturers are
Sierra concrete design, Ventura Cast
Stone and Dura art stone, Stone legends,
Moonlight molds, Fineline precast, Concrete design inc, Studio cast
design, Concrete design inc, CDI, Limestone Architectural products, Haddonstone, include: cast stone
which resembles
limestone, precast concrete which can be painted or etched, precast which
is cast wet into molds, stone, limestone or sandstone in
los angeles areas such as Ventura, Santa Barbara. Los angeles precast
companies such as
Cast Stone Co usually manufacture wet pour precast concrete and not many
manufacture dry pack cast stone.
Los Angeles Precast is one such National precast concrete
manufacturer based in Ventura County and also install their products with
in house installers in the greater Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara
areas. Los Angeles Precast manufacturers make many styles of columns but
are usually made in wet pour precast, los angeles companies are few, once
again, one of these manufacturers is
Cast Stone Co
. Santa
Barbara has many fine precast projects to view, mainly downtown. Santa
Barbara stone is a yellow buff color and is easily replaced with less
expensive cast stone, Santa Barbara stone is found naturally in the Santa
Barbara County area, and is processed and sold in Ventura by Santa Barbara
Sandstone Co. Santa Barbara City and the surrounding areas also boast many
fine Abode columns, especially at the Santa Barbara mission
(see history of cast stone and concrete) . Ventura City
has many fine limestone and sandstone facades in the downtown Main street
area.
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