Limestone Balustrade versus Synthetic Balustrade

Builders and homeowners, in the past, have not had many options if they wanted the look and feel of stone. They, either, had to use concrete or real limestone balustrade. With our synthetic balustrade you now have the option that has not been available in the past. Now you may have the look and feel of real stone at a fraction of the cost.

Limestone: The weight of a 7" limestone balustrade is approximately 200 lbs. per foot, meaning that a 12' sections weighs about 2,400 lbs.
Synthetic: Because our top and bottom rails are hollow we eliminate most of the weight of our 7" balustrade system. Our system weighs about 80lbs per foot, meaning a 12' section weighs about 960 lbs.

Limestone: It is a stone cut from the earth, stone is very porous, and this allows water to penetrate into the balustrade, promoting the growth of mold.
Synthetic: Our balustrade system is not porous; therefore, water will not penetrate into our system, eliminating the growth of mold.

Limestone: Once limestone balustrade starts to become weathered nothing can be done to make it look like it did when it was installed.
Synthetic: Our synthetic balustrade is the same color throughout the product, so if years later the product starts to become weathered, you can simply hire a local company that strips paint from old buildings. By using a portable sandblaster they can make your synthetic stone look virtually new again. Sandblasting removes the top 32nd of an inch of grime, leaving you with a brand new looking system.

Limestone: Because of the weight of limestone balustrade, it is normally sent to the jobsite in 10' sections, you have to drill steel pins into the rail joints and use epoxy to bond the pins, then the installers fill that joint with mortar, that could eventually crack and possibly fall out.
Synthetic: We can send our balustrade in 18' lengths; this eliminates the need for any mortar joints, leaving you with a seamless and beautiful balustrade.

Limestone: When building a deck that will have limestone balustrade installed you have to reinforce the deck with steel beams and steel columns along with footings to support the weight of the system, this is a very expensive process.
Synthetic: The weight of our synthetic stone balustrade is approximately 1/3 the weight of limestone balustrade, therefore, eliminating the need for steel. Our system can be placed on conventional framing.

Limestone: Limestone balustrade must be installed by masons using masonry tools to cut the balusters and rails. This is very time consuming & costly to the homeowner.
Synthetic: Trim carpenters can install our balustrade with traditional wood working tools, saving the homeowner time and money, no mason needed. They can install our product in a fraction of the time saving the homeowner time and money.