What GFRC is
Cement, fine sand, polymer and alkali-resistant glass fibre, sprayed into a mould in layers.
Instead of steel rebar, millions of short AR-glass fibres carry the tensile load. That allows 12–25 mm walls where cast concrete needs 50 mm or more, which is why a 90 cm table top weighs 30 kg instead of 50 and survives a 1 m drop in its packing.
- Face coat 3–4 mm for colour and surface, backing coats with 3.5% fibre by weight
- Acrylic polymer replaces wet curing: no cracks from drying, consistent colour
- Compressive strength 55–70 MPa, flexural strength 18–25 MPa (lab test reports on request)
- Fire: non-combustible, A1 class material
Mould · silicone / fibreglass
Backing coats · AR glass fibre
Face coat · pigment
Sealer · matte or honed
GFRC vs cast concrete vs terrazzo
Pick the material by what the piece has to survive, not by the catalogue photo.
| Property | GFRC (our standard) | Cast concrete | Terrazzo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall thickness | 12–25 mm | 50–80 mm | 20–30 mm |
| 90 cm coffee table top | ≈ 30 kg | ≈ 50 kg | ≈ 38 kg |
| Flexural strength | 18–25 MPa | 4–6 MPa | 8–12 MPa |
| Outdoor, freeze-thaw | Very good with sealer | Good, heavy | Good, needs sealing |
| Surface | Stone-like, consistent batch to batch | Raw, variable | Exposed aggregate, decorative |
| Thin edges, undercuts | Yes | No | Limited |
| Freight per 40HQ (coffee tables) | ≈ 230 pcs | ≈ 140 pcs (weight limit) | ≈ 190 pcs |
| Unit cost | Medium | Low | Medium–high |
| Best for | Furniture, basins, planters, hospitality | Fixed benches, heavy landscape | Statement tops, flooring-matched pieces |
Values are typical for our mixes and standard sizes; lab reports available per order.
Colour library
Twelve stocked colours. Chips cast from the production mix.
Pantone or RAL matches are cast as a trial batch, approved on a physical chip and locked as a formula for every future order.
Natural greyNG-01
Mid greyMG-02
CharcoalCH-03
SandSD-04
BoneBN-05
SageSG-06
Deep sageDS-07
TravertineTR-08
Terracotta washTW-09
OxbloodOX-10
NavyNV-11
BlackBK-12
Surface finishes
Four finishes, one sealer system.
All finishes use a penetrating, breathable sealer; the outdoor version adds UV and salt resistance. Recoat intervals are on the care card that ships with every order.
| Finish | Look | Where | Price | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sealed matte | Soft, uniform, hides fingerprints | Indoor retail, hospitality interiors | Standard | Recoat 3–5 years |
| Honed | Light sheen, fine aggregate visible | Statement tables, photography-led brands | +10% | Recoat 3 years |
| Polished | Terrazzo-like, exposed aggregate | Lobbies, bars | +15% | Recoat 2–3 years |
| Textured (board-form, fluted) | Relief from the mould surface | Basins, planters, feature pieces | +5% + mould | Recoat 3 years |
| Outdoor sealer system | Same look as matte | Terraces, pool decks, landscape | +3–5% | Recoat 3 years |
Testing
Load, drop, water, sun. Every new model, before it goes in the catalogue.
- Static load: 150 kg centre load on tables, 200 kg on stools and benches, 24 h
- Drop: 1 m onto concrete floor in export packing, three orientations
- Water absorption after sealing under 3% (basins under 1%)
- UV cabinet 500 h for outdoor colours, delta-E recorded
- Colour consistency: chip comparison on every batch, kept for two years
Finishing · hand sanding before sealingSpecifying GFRC?