Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) provides designers with a lightweight and cost-effective skin choice with almost limitless design options. GFRC is a composite panel that consists of a 3/4″ thick fiber reinforced cementitious skin attached to a steel frame. The overall panel system thickness is determined by both project and GFRC design requirements in combination with the project design intent. This lightweight panel system that is approximately 20 pounds per square foot at flat sections, is also well known for its ability to be produced in very ornate shapes. It’s light weight also means that structural steel costs for high rise buildings can be less expensive. The GFRC frame can also be used to place insulation and attach interior finishes, saving additional costs for interior stud framing. Since the skin is fabricated in a spray process, providing multiple colors in the same panel is an economical design option. Light and Heavy sandblast finishes can also provide a contrasting look within the same panel. Form liners may be used to make GFRC emulate other building materials like wood, limestone, brick, or almost any unique form shape the designer might create for a specific project. Adhering granite or Limestone veneers to the face of GFRC is a design option that takes full advantage of the speed with which this pre-fabricated panel system can be installed and the moisture barrier that GFRC provides. GFRC is produced by first spraying the custom face mix throughout the entire form. The color and final sandblasted finish are chosen by the Architect. The glass fiber reinforced concrete composite is then sprayed over the entire form area to cover the face mix. Multiple passes are used to spray ¾” of GFRC. The structural frame typically consists of structural tube members. L or T Shaped galvanized pins are welded to the structural frame and the frame is set so that the horizontal legs of the pins just touch the back of the GFRC. The same GFRC material is then placed over the horizontal legs of each pin to bond the frame and skin. The following morning each panel is stripped from its form and receives it’s approved sandblast finish. Before finalizing the design of your next project, contact Willis Constructions Design Build team to take full advantage of the many design options and cost savings of GFRC.