Stone-look cement relief
Cement worked to read as natural stone at a fraction of the weight.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
Stone-look cement reproduces the colour, veining and tooling marks of limestone, sandstone or granite without the transport and structural cost of real stone. It is applied or cast, then worked and sealed.
Commissioned work in stone-look cement relief normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 3–8 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 600–1800 per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Cement Relief & GRC capability, alongside 7 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When stone-look cement relief is the right answer - and when it is not
Simulated stone relief gives the appearance and permanence of carved stone at a fraction of the weight and cost, and with far shorter lead times than quarrying. It is chosen for facades, entrances and interiors where the stone aesthetic matters but the budget or the structure cannot carry real stone. It is not a substitute where the client genuinely needs stone's specific properties, and it should not be presented as if it were.
How the work is actually carried out
The texture and profile are taken from the stone being referenced, either by casting an existing element or by modelling from photographs and samples. Colour is built in layers - base tone, then washes and dry-brushing - because a single flat colour reads as fake the moment anyone looks closely. Weathering is reproduced deliberately at the edges and in the recesses. The material is then sealed against the exposure it will face, with a finish appropriate to whether rain sheets or sits on the surface.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Typical size | From 2 m2 panels to full elevations |
|---|---|
| Lead time | 3-6 weeks |
| Finishes | Limestone, sandstone, granite and travertine effects |
| Sealing | Water-repellent sealer standard on exterior work |
| Capability | Cement Relief & GRC |
| Reference range | CNY 600–1800 per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 8 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Stone-look cement relief
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for stone-look cement relief. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Scope | Typical area | Reference total | Unit rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small area | 6–15 m² | CNY 3,600 – CNY 27,000 | approx. CNY 1800/m² |
| Standard area | 15–36 m² | CNY 9,000 – CNY 64,800 | approx. CNY 1200/m² |
| Large area | 36 m² and above | CNY 21,600+ | approx. CNY 600/m² |
Build tiers for stone-look cement relief
Stone-look cement relief is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 3–8 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Site-sculpted work and precast panels, chosen per project
- Rebar, mesh fixing and multi-layer build-up for durability
- Stone-look, bronze-effect and rust-effect finishes
- Water-repellent sealer as standard on exterior work
Faults we see most often in stone-look cement relief
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Using one flat colour across a whole run, which is the giveaway that the surface is simulated rather than quarried.
- Applying the same weathering pattern repeatedly, so the wall reads as a tiled repeat rather than as natural variation.
- Sealing for the wrong exposure - a sealer that beads water on a sheltered wall will streak on a wind-driven one.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Reference sample | Send a photograph of the stone, or better a physical sample. Texture and colour are reproduced from the sample, not from a description. |
|---|---|
| Exposure and cleaning | How the surface gets wet and how it is cleaned decides the sealer and the surface profile. Tell us both. |
| Honesty of specification | If the client must have real stone, say so. Simulated stone is excellent at what it does, and poor at pretending to be something it is not. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Stone-look cement relief |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Cement worked to read as natural stone at a fraction of the weight. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 3–8 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Cement Relief & GRC projects photographed on completion.
Cement Relief & GRC — GRC components (columns / cornices / balustrades)
Cement Relief & GRC — Water-feature & rockery cement forms
Cement Relief & GRC — Stone-look cement relief
Cement Relief & GRC — Water-feature & rockery cement formsCommon questions
How convincing is the stone effect?
Does it weather like stone?
Will cement relief crack?
Discuss stone-look cement relief
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.