Procter Cast Stone’s new range of high-quality, cost-effective cast stone porticos will be exhibited for the first time at Ecobuild 2013. As well as standard designs in a choice of styles, the company can produce customised versions and bespoke designs, all in either standard or customer-specified colours.
Porticos transform the appearance of properties, and the advantage of the Procter porticos is that these high-quality products are far more affordable than quarried stone porticos. To the untrained eye, cast stone is indistinguishable from quarried stone.
Customers can choose standard porticos in Classic, Elegant or Ornate styles, and select from Square U-shaped, Square L-shaped and Semi-Circular formats. Nine standard colours are listed, or special colours can be created to order. If desired, customised variants of standard designs can be manufactured, or bespoke porticos can be produced to architects’ designs or for restoration projects where design details must match those on existing stonework.
Following a site survey, Procter Cast Stone can provide a guide price and a visualisation showing the selected portico superimposed on a photograph of the property. Once the specification has been finalised, a firm quotation is prepared. Design advice is provided free of charge at all stages and, if a customer makes contact sufficiently early, the company can assist in obtaining planning approvals and building regulations approvals.
Procter Cast Stone standard porticos use a reinforced concrete ring beam for structural integrity and to eliminate the need for costly steelwork. Installation advice is provided or, alternatively, Procter Cast Stone offers an installation service using its own skilled team. This new service is particularly beneficial when the main contractor has little or no experience of working with cast stone, and it helps to reduce project risk because the portico remains the responsibility of Procter Cast Stone until installation is complete.
Standard and bespoke porticos are manufactured in accordance with BS 1217: 2008, the British Standard specification for cast stone, as well as the more stringent UK Cast Stone Association (UKCSA) Specification for Cast Stone.
Procter Cast Stone has published a number of detailed guides that explain more about cast stone and its benefits. These, as well as a gallery, case studies, brochures and CAD drawings, are available free of charge from the website at www.caststoneuk.co.uk or on request by telephoning 0113 286 3329 or emailing news@proctergarforth.co.uk.