How Much Does GFRC Decoration Cost and What Affects the Price

The price of glass fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) makes no sense apart from the product: a square metre of flat panel and a linear metre of profiled cornice projecting half a metre differ many times over. The cost of GFRC decoration is made up of shape complexity, the repeat count of identical elements, texture and colour, product size and thickness, embedded parts and fixings, and installation.

The main factor is the number of unique moulds. Each new mould requires a master model and tooling, and if an element repeats hundreds of times on the facade, that cost is spread across the whole run. That is why facades of the same area can cost very different amounts.

The manufacturer calculates the exact price from the design or sketches with an element schedule. Below is what the price consists of and how to prepare a request to get a quote faster. Related questions are covered in the section Facade Design and Selection.

The cost of a GFRC product is shaped by several groups of costs. They are easiest to present as a table:

The thickness of flat GFRC decorative products for facade finishing is often set at 10–20 mm; for large profiled decoration it may be greater. The exact value is determined by calculation for wind load and self-weight and stated in the product documentation.

Shape complexity determines the labour involved in the model, tooling and casting. From simple to complex, GFRC decoration ranks as follows:

• Flat panels and rusticated slabs — simple shape, fast cycle.

• Linear profiled elements: cornices, bands, string courses, window sills — complexity grows with projection and the number of profiles in the cross-section.

• Three-dimensional elements: columns, pilasters with capitals, balusters, brackets, keystones.

• Curved and sculptural decoration: radius cornices, bas-reliefs, ornament — require an individual model and hand finishing.

Undercuts also affect the price — parts of the shape that prevent the product from being released from the mould. They have to be handled with split tooling or by dividing the element into parts. Sensible division, built into the design, simplifies both casting and installation. At TECHNOFORMA Group, models and moulds are made in the company's own mould-making workshops, so element complexity is assessed straight away when pricing.

Repeat count is the number of identical elements cast from one mould. The cost of the model and tooling is fixed, while the cost of casting each subsequent product is relatively small. So the unit price of an element falls as the run grows:

• a one-off element carries the full cost of the model and mould;

• an element repeated dozens of times shares that cost among all copies;

• an element repeated hundreds of times on a multi-section residential complex carries almost no tooling cost per piece.

A mould has a service life: after a certain number of casts it is restored or replaced, and this is also taken into account. For large projects, several identical moulds are made to produce the series in parallel and keep to the schedule. The takeaway for the architect: reducing the number of unique types and sizes can noticeably cut the budget without changing the appearance. A separate article is devoted to this, linked below.

Texture and colour are the second most important factor after shape. Possible surface finishes:

• Smooth surface reproduces the mould; requires high-quality tooling.

• Stone-look texture — travertine, sandstone, limestone — achieved with a mould liner or treatment after demoulding.

• Integral colour: pigment is added to the mix and the product is coloured through its thickness; chips do not stand out.

• Painted product: the surface is coated with facade paint or a sealer; any palette is possible, but the coating needs renewing over time.

• Water-repellent and anti-graffiti treatment — additional protection.

A factory-painted GFRC product is usually more expensive than an unpainted one but avoids painting from scaffolding on site. The texture and colour reference is approved before series production: this protects against colour variation and disputes at acceptance.

Installation of GFRC decoration is often a separate line item, and its price depends on more than area:

• Weight and size of elements: light elements are installed by hand, large ones with lifting equipment.

• Fixing method: onto a ventilated facade substructure, with anchors to the load-bearing wall, onto embedded parts.

• Height and access: scaffolding, facade hoists, aerial platforms.

• Complexity of details: junctions with windows, corners, curved sections.

• Joint sealing and final finishing after installation.

When production and installation are done by one company, fixing details are designed for its own products and crews, and less rework is needed on site. At TECHNOFORMA, the company's own installation team of 100+ specialists installs the substructure, insulation and panels. The company determines the cost of construction and installation works after inspecting the site.

To get a quote for GFRC decoration without lengthy correspondence, prepare:

1. Architectural facade drawings (PDF or DWG) with levels and dimensions — or a sketch with the main dimensions for a private house.

2. An element schedule or list — if you do not have one, the manufacturer will prepare it, but this adds time.

3. Texture and colour requirements: references, colour codes.

4. Site address — to calculate logistics and climatic conditions.

5. Scope of work: products only, products with fixing design, or turnkey with installation.

6. Desired start date for installation.

You can send your data to sales@technoforma.ru or call 8 (800) 550-51-98. The company's design department produces the concept, 3D visualisation and working documentation, so pricing can start at the sketch stage.

How decisions on shape and repeat count affect volumes can be seen on residential complexes where the same set of elements is repeated across many buildings. The Dubai Houses residential complex in Grozny — 30 buildings, 70,000 m² of GFRC cladding, design and installation by TECHNOFORMA Group in 01.2025–07.2025.

The Alye Parusa residential complex in Manas (Republic of Dagestan) — 4 buildings of 12 storeys, 20,000 m² of GFRC, design and installation supervision, 02.2018–10.2021. Other projects are in the section TECHNOFORMA projects. Ways to cut the budget without changing the appearance are collected in the article How to Cut the Facade Budget Without Compromising the Design.