Procter Cast Stone offers standard and bespoke copings for flood defence walls
It is essential that flood defences provide the required protection, yet these functional structures need not have a utilitarian appearance. One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve the aesthetics of a flood-prevention wall is to install cast stone copings. Many standard designs are available or bespoke copings can be manufactured very economically.
Procter Cast Stone’s range of standard coping comes in a choice of styles, sizes and colours. Although not usually required for flood defences, bespoke colours can be mixed to order; this might be appropriate when protecting buildings that already have bespoke cast stone or that have quarried stone features needing to be colour-matched. To complement the copings, Procter Cast Stone also manufactures standard and bespoke products such as pier caps, plinth, gate piers and steps.
To the untrained eye, cast stone is all but identical to quarried stone, and it also performs the same and weathers the same. All products are manufactured in accordance with the stringent UKCSA Specification for Cast Stone, which exceeds the requirements in British Standard BS 1217 by at least 40 per cent. Furthermore, since Procter Cast Stone has invested in a new climate- controlled curing chamber, the strength achieved is even higher. New computer-controlled batching plant also ensures exceptional colour consistency within each batch and from one batch to another.
Thanks to the recent investment of almost £0.75million in new facilities, equipment and staff, Procter Cast Stone can now offer faster deliveries on copings and other products manufactured to order, whether standard or custom. In addition, substantial quantities of copings are held in stock in Garforth, near Leeds, ready for delivery or collection.
Copings for flood defences are suitable for mechanised handling, which minimises the installation time and helps contractors comply with site health and safety requirements. Copings are straightforward to install by competent bricklayers, with no specialist training required. Nevertheless, care should be taken with site storage and handling to ensure that cast stone units are not damaged – though replacement units can be supplied in a timely manner if the need arises. For large projects, deliveries can be scheduled so the cast stone units are not stored on site for longer than is absolutely necessary.
Procter Cast Stone has published a number of free guides and white papers for architects and specifiers who are not familiar with cast stone, explaining the advantages compared with alternative materials, the production process, and providing advice on specification, design Ref: PR 123 Copings for flood defences and installation. These can be downloaded from the website, together with case studies and dimensioned drawings of standard products; the website also has an extensive photographic gallery illustrating the capabilities of cast stone. The company’s technical experts can discuss projects with prospective clients to ensure they maximise the benefits and minimise the costs, but without compromising quality.
For more information about high-quality standard and bespoke cast stone copings and other products go to newlayconcrete.com. Alternatively, contact Procter Cast Stone to discuss specific projects by means of the online chat facility on the website, email info@newlayconcrete.com or telephone us.