Process
The mould is where the travertine is designed.
Pores, banding and the direction of the vein are all set before any material is mixed. Everything after that is repetition.
A cast travertine panel is made by texturing a mould to the required pore pattern, casting a pigmented quartz-cement mix into it, curing in the mould, then calibrating thickness and face. The pattern comes from the mould and the body colour, not from a surface print.
Six steps
| Step | What happens | What it fixes |
|---|---|---|
| Mould texturing | Pore pattern and banding cut into the mould face | The travertine character |
| Mix | Quartz, cement, inorganic pigment, water | Body colour and strength |
| Cast | Compaction against the textured face | Pore sharpness, density |
| Cure | Controlled curing before demoulding | Shrinkage and strength |
| Calibrate | Thickness and flatness to tolerance | Setting to line on site |
| Inspect | Face, dimension, tone against reference | Batch consistency |
Why pigment is in the body
A surface-printed panel shows a different core at every cut and chip. Pigment mixed through the body means a cut edge, a drilled anchor pocket or a chip reveals the same stone. On a facade, where edges are visible at every joint, that is the difference between a convincing detail and an obvious fake.
Where consistency comes from
The mould gives geometric repeatability; the retained colour sample gives tonal repeatability. A project delivered in phases can be held to the first delivery by keeping a physical standard at the plant, which is the practical answer to the complaint that affects most stone-look cladding.
Questions buyers ask
- Is the pattern printed on?
- No. The pore and banding pattern is in the mould, and the colour is pigmented through the body, so a cut or chip shows the same material.
- Can the vein direction be specified?
- Yes. The mould can be made with the vein running in a chosen direction, and panels can be laid out book-matched where the design calls for it.
- How long does a bespoke mould take?
- It depends on the pattern and the panel size. A standard travertine face from the existing range needs no new tooling; a bespoke pattern is quoted with the mould cost and lead time.
Send the drawing. We will return a joint layout.
Panel layout, area, substrate and required delivery date are enough to start. Quotation within 24 hours.