If you go to any formal gardens, park, stately home or other historic property and spot a balustrade there is every possibility you are seeing something manufactured and custom made under the watchful eye of a cast stone specialist such as Haddonstone; offering all the style and elegance of classic architectural eras, while delivering practical as well as budgetary benefits.
And why is it specifiers are turning to cast stone suppliers rather than opting for the traditional option? For a start, cast is much more straightforward to source and is a lower cost solution. By contrast, many stonemasons struggle to find useful granite, even in Devon or Scotland, quarried limestone in the Cotswolds, or soft hues of sandstone in Derbyshire. In addition, Haddonstone takes the sustainable use of natural resources very seriously as part of its ESG commitment: sourcing the bulk of its raw materials from a responibly run UK quarry company, while working to optimise energy efficiency at its Northampton production premises. For instance, the company has installed a large PV array and switched to electric fork-lift trucks, along with other sustainability measures.
Haddonstone's cast stone balustrade lines a stairway at Coworth Park, Ascot
Balustrades, feature a succession of pillars supporting a stair rail, terrace or parapet coping, often curved in section and elegant in outline. Traditionally used for safety and support to create dramatic staircases and statement balconies, as well as for separating external spaces, they have evolved to become a tool for artistic landscaping and architectural expression. Framing the natural surroundings, they offer both beauty and function.
Refurbishment and ‘one-off' balustrades are specialities that Haddonstone is particularly involved in as, although it stocks standard product ranges, around 70-80% of orders are for bespoke castings, which means very accurate and individual moulds are fabricated by its artisan craftsmen. Prior to this, though, specifications from the architect/designer are received as 3D images and STL files before the timber, fibreglass or rubber mould are created, from which the castings are produced. Haddonstone keeps these bespoke moulds for at least three months after the product is made - just in case further runs are required.
A curved balustrade creates a viewing platform at Seaham Hall
Toby Marlow, Building & Construction Director from Haddonstone, comments: "Particularly for restoration projects, we're able to produce replica balustrading that blends seamlessly with the existing property to provide that flawless finishing touch. We use a mixture of traditional skills and closely controlled batching technology, to offer a wide choice of colours and, of course, textures and finishes; all enabling us to create the final products that will match both old and new. We will even, if required for refurb projects, analyse how the material used changes under natural weather conditions over time."
Haddonstone's attractive balustrading is ideally suited for garden and larger scale landscaping projects of any scale, with sizes ranging from 575mm to 1100mm. As well as aiding safety, balustrades can be used to delineate both hard and soft landscaping: defining ‘rooms' such as patios, play areas and parking or the surrounds to swimming pools. In fact, whatever the imagination can dream up, Haddonstone can supply the substance, with the range including final touches like finials, cast stone balls and planters to complement the balustrade. For further information, call 01604 770711 or visit www.haddonstone.com
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