DEC Associates offers an unlimited range of textures that are cast into our custom fiberglass parts. In addition to the texture, we can fabricate the part in various finishes depending upon the project requirements. With our fiberglass product (FRP), we offer the product in a range of finishes such as integral stone finishes, woodgrain finish, a gelcoat finish or a standard gelcoat finish. Each of these products has their advantages and costs involved in fabricating them, but we try to match the finish with the application and the product application.
Our standard gelcoat finish FRP is a primer gelcoat finish for projects that are going to be field painted when they are installed. This is our least expensive finish that allows for any field modifications or patching to be concealed with a final paint finish. It is also the easiest finish to touch-up or re-paint as time goes on.
A gelcoat finish FRP is a ‘factory finished gelcoat” that allows the material to be put up with the final finish on the part. We only use the highest quality gelcoat material with the best UV inhibitors for a finish that will last for many years of service. This is very cost effective finish, but is not recommended if the material is going to require field modification or cannot be handled carefully during installation. Like any finished material, care must be used in handling it during installation so that the finish is not scuffed and require extensive touch-up after installation.
Our woodgrain finishes FRP are really a combination of a cast-in woodgrain and either a wood color or a base for field applied staining. Since the parts have a texture, a stain or glaze can be applied that lodges into the grain while the rest is wiped off. This gives the part a natural two-tone look of real wood. Woodgrains, of course, can also be cast in white or other colors, if a painted wood look is desired.
Our integral stone finish FRP known as Cornicestone, is an integrally colored, natural aggregate finish used to match natural or cast stone. We offer many standard stone finishes or we will custom to match your pre-cast or stone samples. This is a highly durable finish that can be cast into very detailed, very complex and very large shapes that would be cost prohibitive in anything but a composite material. This is our most popular finish, although not our least expensive finish.
One of the disturbing trends we see in the market lately is a classic “bait and switch” pricing scheme. An architect selects an integral stone finish, for example, and a competing fabricator may submit a proposal with a standard gel coat finish or primer finish or a different interpretation of an integral stone finish that is less expensive to produce. Often at bid time, the included finish is not clear in each proposal and if the number is low or if it is a hyper competitive project, the GC will use and rely on the low number. All parties only learn later that they are going to have to “sell” the downgraded finish or they will have to absorb the cost difference.
This deceptive scenario will do nothing but alienate contractors, owners and architects from using architectural fiberglass products. All parties need to be abundantly clear about what is specified and the fabricators need to supply a representative sample, not necessarily the exact color, but a representative sample of what they are supplying at bid time to ensure that prices are “apples to apples”. We can be competitive with all our finishes, but we want to compete and represent to our customers, the same finish so they can make a fair decision.
No matter what your choice, a standard primer gelcoat for field paint, a gelcoat color finish, a woodgrain finish or our integral stone finish FRP, we can fabricate them all in cornices, columns, rafter tails, false beams or any custom shape for all types of architecture for your application. Let DEC provide the solutions to your architectural vision.
http://www.decassociates.com/finishes/index.aspx
FRP cornice, GFRC cornice, Cornicestone and Echo-Stone.