From hand-crafted details to custom facade finishing techniques, taking your architectural works to the next level is becoming more and more popular in Australia.
But, what do we mean by hand finishing techniques?Â
What are architectural facades?Â
And how can you incorporate this popular aesthetic trend in your new build?Â
If you want the answers to these questions, you are in the right place.
What Are Hand-Finishing Techniques for Architectural Facades?
1. What do we mean by architectural facade?
The architectural facade of a building refers to the outer surface or exterior components of a building.Â
It general, the architectural facade fulfills two main purposes:
- Provides protection; and
- Creates a visual identity
The term architectural facade can encompass a variety of components including:
- Walls
- Windows
- Doors
- Decorative features
As with buildings in general, facades are made from a variety of materials. However, the most common materials include natural stone, glass, metal and brick.
2. What do we mean by hand-finishing?
The term hand-finishing refers to the act of adding meticulous detail, texture or decorative aspects to the outer surface of the building.
This is done manually and with careful techniques that ensure the material being worked on, whether it is stone, metal or something else, enjoys an elevated visual aesthetic.
Hand-finishing enhances the facade’s visual appeal as well as introduces a tactile quality.
These decorations are applied by artisans who are experienced and skilled in all sorts of bespoke facade detail hand-finishing.
What is so Unique About Hand-Finished Natural Stone Facade Details?
Hand-finished facades stand out and are becoming more and more popular for a number of reasons:
- The intricate details on each panel or stone slab makes for a jaw-dropping aesthetic
- Your stone facade can be made heritage- or character appropriate for your building
- You can incorporate durable weather-resistant finishes as well as stylistic details
With the right artisans behind you, the hand finishing work enables architects and designers to control every aspect of both your building facade’s appearance as well as performance and longevity.​
What Is Involved in Bespoke Facade Detail Hand Finishing?
Custom hand finishing and facade finishing can include a variety of steps to ensure end to end service, such as:
- Site visits to understand the context, application and building
- Stone slab selection for the perfect material
- Carving completed to order
- Onsite adjustments to ensure perfection in aesthetic and functionality
- Use of both traditional and modern hand finishing techniques and tools
As a result, your building will enjoy a uniquely personalised facade that reflects both your artisan’s vision, your architect’s intent and your preferences.​
How Are Traditional Facade Hand-Carving Methods Used in Australia?
Most commonly, stonemasons in Australia are preserving and continuing to advance the art of traditional hand-carving.
Architectural stone hand finishing details are becoming popular with marble facades in particular, with classic techniques becoming more and more common, such as:
- Sparrow-pecked – this textured look initiates the aesthetic and texture of small bird pecks
- Boasted – this finish includes the carving of parallel lines into the stone for a linear texture
- Chiselled – this detail aims to achieve a clean and crisp line through precise chiselling
Why are Traditional Stonemasonry Hand-Finishing Techniques Preserved?
Whilst technology across construction is improving each and every year, when it comes to art of this nature, nothing beats the traditional facade hand carving methods.
Artisan facade finishing services in Sydney continue to rely on tools such as hammers, chisels, and bolsters to achieve timeless, authentic and unique designs.
To continue this unmatched traditional, skilled practitioners and experienced artisans pass down their methods of punchwork, boasting chiselling, and margin scoring.
New artisans patiently invest time, effort and discipline to perfect their traditional facade hand carving methods over time, and theory by Sydney’s stonemasons keep the cultural and architectural legacy alive.​
What are popular Hand-Finished Details for Architectural Stone Facades?
If you are considering commissioning some hand-crafted architectural facade elements for your facade, you may be wondering where to start.
Nowadays, some of the most popular hand-finish details include:
- Custom edge profiling
- Intricate relief carving (such as stone lettering or emblem work)
- Depth-inducing chiselled and pecked textures
- Ornamental stop-ends and draft margins for seamless transitions
With the right artisan, your bespoke facade detail hand finishing can be tailored to suit a modern aesthetic, traditional style or heritage restoration.
What Custom Facade Finishing Techniques Are Offered in Australia?
At Euro Marble, we advise our customers on a range of different custom finishing techniques for their stone facades.
These include:
- Bespoke texturing such as ageing, brushing, and etching
- Patinas and layered surface applications
- Hand-joined stone panels with concealed fixes for clean, seamless looks​
- Individually carved elements to your personal specification
How Should You Approach Projects with Architectural Facade Restoration Hand Finishing?
Because every hand-crafted facade element is unique and tailored to your specific application and preference, it is important to consider a number of aspects in your artisan’s brief.
- What sort of design are you looking for?
- What sort of functionality do you need?
- What sort of climate adaptation are you after?
- What safety standards do you need to uphold?
- What eco-friendly methods and materials do you want?
If you are not sure where to begin with these questions, that’s okay! It’s why the Euro Marble team is here to help. Just give us a call today (02) 8585 2999 and we’ll guide you in the right direction.
How Do Hand-Finished vs. Machine-Finished Facade Compare?
Hand finishing techniques architectural facades differ from machine-finished in a number of important ways.
We’ve summarised the differences between mass-produced and bespoke facade detail hand finishing in the table below.
Feature | Hand-finished | Machine-finished |
Customisation | Each slab of stone is hand-finished individually | Your facade is finished using uniform or repetitive processes for uniformity |
Authenticity | Increased ability to match historic textures and authentic design | Far more limited ability to achieve the historic authenticity in design |
Craftsmanship | Extensive artisan input due to manual finishing techniques | Minimal craftsmanship as machine finishing is standardised |
Long-term value | Adds more value and ensures longer-lasting facade finishes | Limited blendability and long-term value for your building |
Cost | Significantly higher cost due to the labour required | Significantly cheaper due to the mass-produced nature of machine-finishing |
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How To Find the Right Artisan Facade Finishing Services in Sydney?
High quality, reputed and professional artisan facade finishing services in Sydney are easier to find than ever.
Here at Euro Marble, we ensure our customers are provided with artisan services that guarantee craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to facade perfection. We work side-by-side with architects and hand-in-hand with customers to ensure our artisans combine their decades of stonemasonry and years of experience in hand crafted architectural facade elements to achieve the perfect vision for your needs.
If you have more questions about anything from traditional stonemasonry hand finishing techniques to getting started with your custom facade finishing, make sure to reach out to our team today.
