GFRC in Interiors

Glass fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) in interiors means thin-walled panels, columns, portals, fireplaces, stair cladding and decoration cast from a cement mix with glass fibre. The material looks like concrete or natural stone but weighs noticeably less, does not burn and can reproduce almost any shape and texture.

The main selection criterion for interiors is weight and the fixing method for the specific substrate: partition walls, plasterboard and framed walls carry less than solid concrete. The second criterion is texture and protecting the surface from stains.

The solution is chosen by designers and architects of public interiors — lobbies, halls, restaurants, hotels — as well as private homeowners. More about the material in GFRC: material and technology.

Inside buildings, GFRC is used where a massive look is needed without the mass:

• wall cladding in lobbies, halls, lift areas and living rooms of private houses;

• columns, pilasters, door portals;

• fireplace surrounds and cladding;

• treads, risers, stair cladding;

• ceiling elements, cornices, coffers;

• furniture and objects: worktops, benches, basins, planters.

A separate request is travertine in interiors. In living room photos, travertine usually appears as a warm beige wall with characteristic pores and banding. This effect can be achieved with natural stone, which the company supplies, or with GFRC panels whose texture is cast into the mould from real stone. Concrete décor in interiors gives the same look with less weight and the option of a large seamless element or a curved surface.

In public interiors, GFRC is valued for being non-combustible (Russian class NG, according to the manufacturer): fire safety requirements for finishes on escape routes, halls and stairwells are stricter than for living rooms, and a non-combustible material simplifies approval. In private houses, the decisive factors are more often the ability to make an element to a custom sketch and the warm "stone" texture.

Wall panels are the most common interior format. They are made smooth in a "concrete" look, with a stone texture, in relief (3D pattern) or perforated. The skin is thin — around 10–20 mm; final values depend on the format and are stated in the product data sheet.

Travertine-look GFRC wall panels are the right choice when weight matters or a repeating pattern is needed; natural stone when natural uniqueness is what is valued.

When laying out wall panels, decide in advance how the joints will look: an emphasised shadow joint, a narrow colour-matched joint or a filled and rubbed-down joint that creates the effect of a monolithic wall. The last option requires more work on site but gives the most "stone-like" result. Sockets, switches and concealed doors are taken into account in the layout before fabrication so that cut-outs do not fall on a panel edge.

Lighting is another tool: grazing light from above or below enhances the travertine texture and the relief of 3D panels, so luminaire positions are agreed with the designer at the same time as the surface is chosen.

Columns and portals are a classic interior application of GFRC. A column is made as a hollow shell in two or three parts that is assembled around a load-bearing column or post and conceals it. The base, shaft and capital are cast separately; joints are filled and sanded.

Door portals, arches, lift and fireplace surrounds are made to individual drawings. The company makes moulds and master models in its own mould shops, so a profile can be reproduced from a designer's sketch or a survey of a historical original. In a classical interior, column and portal proportions are coordinated with the ceiling height and other divisions.

GFRC's advantage over plaster for columns and portals is resistance to impact and moisture: in halls, at entrances and in high-traffic areas, plaster décor quickly gets chipped, while GFRC withstands accidental knocks from trolleys and furniture. Its advantage over marble and granite is low weight and the ability to make a complex profile without milling from a solid block.

A GFRC element is lighter than solid stone or ordinary concrete of the same shape because its wall is thin and strength comes from the glass fibre. A skin weight of around 20–40 kg/m² is a guideline; the exact weight of each element is calculated from its geometry.

The fixing method depends on the substrate:

• solid concrete, brick — mechanical fixing with anchors via cast-in inserts; light panels can be bonded with adhesive;

• plasterboard and framed walls — a reinforced frame or separate support system is needed to transfer the weight to the floor slab;

• column shells — fixed to the load-bearing element and supported on the floor.

For large elements at height and ceiling décor, mechanical fixing is mandatory.

Installation follows marked-out axes, starting from the bottom row or a base element. Joints are filled with a colour-matched repair compound or left open as designed. If shelves, TVs or lights are to be hung on the panels, insert positions are planned at the design stage: drilling a finished thin skin at random is not recommended.

Indoors, GFRC is not exposed to frost or precipitation, but it does get dirty. The cement surface is porous and absorbs grease, coffee and wine, so interior elements are protected with sealers or protective lacquers — matt or with a wet-stone effect.

Routine care is dry or damp cleaning with a soft cloth and a neutral detergent. Acidic cleaners (which dissolve cement stone) and abrasives must not be used. Re-sealing is done according to the condition of the surface and the sealer manufacturer's recommendations.

Particular attention is needed for elements in kitchens, bathrooms and near fireplaces. In kitchens and bathrooms the surface is protected with products resistant to water and household chemicals; near fireplaces heat is taken into account — the material itself is non-combustible, but the protective coating must be rated for the temperature. Small chips are restored with colour-matched repair mixes.

The company does not describe interior projects separately on its website. For interiors, TECHNOFORMA can offer GFRC elements made to individual drawings and natural stone — travertine, marble, onyx, limestone, sandstone and other stones from stock or to order — as well as design, 3D visualisation, layout, measurements and installation.

Completed facade projects are in the TECHNOFORMA projects section. For outdoor and landscaping uses of GFRC, see GFRC street furniture and small architectural forms.

If you need a quote for interior elements, send drawings, a designer's sketch or photos of the room with dimensions — our designers will assess the element composition and fixing method.