Cement / GRC sculpture
Cement and GRC sculpture - outdoor durability at a moderate cost.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
Cement-based sculpture is cast or built up over an armature and finished to look like stone, bronze or plain concrete as required. It is the most cost-effective option for exterior pieces that must survive weather without ongoing care.
Commissioned work in cement / grc sculpture normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 7–16 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 0+ per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Sculpture Fabrication capability, alongside 13 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When cement / grc sculpture is the right answer - and when it is not
Cement and GRC sculpture is chosen where a piece should have the mass and weathered character of concrete, at a weight and cost that the structure can accept. It suits landscape pieces, planters, seating elements and exterior art in settings where concrete reads as appropriate rather than merely cheap. It is the wrong answer where the client expects the refinement of cast bronze or stone, because it will not reach that finish.
How the work is actually carried out
The piece is designed with a shell thickness and internal reinforcement agreed from the start, so the weight stays within what the site can carry. Moulds are produced from the master, and the mix is batched to a recorded recipe for consistent colour and strength across a run. Units are cured under cover, because concrete cured in the open varies visibly piece to piece. Surface treatment - acid etching, washing, or a pigmented finish - is applied to achieve the intended texture, and the piece is detailed for drainage and for the freeze-thaw conditions it will meet.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Construction | Steel armature, mesh, layered cement or GRC shell |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | 30-80 mm depending on size |
| Finish | Pigmented, stone-look, metal-effect or painted |
| Sizes | From 0.5 m to 10 m+ |
| Capability | Sculpture Fabrication |
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 14 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Cement / GRC sculpture
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for cement / grc sculpture. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Pricing basis | Priced per piece or per project rather than per square metre |
|---|---|
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| How we quote | Itemised: material, labour, finishing, packing and freight shown as separate lines |
Build tiers for cement / grc sculpture
Cement / GRC sculpture is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 30–60 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 30–60 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 7–14 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 7–14 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 7 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Concept sketches and a scaled maquette for sign-off
- Structural calculation and internal armature where required
- Fabrication, welding, surface finishing and protective coating
- Delivery, on-site assembly and foundation coordination
Faults we see most often in cement / grc sculpture
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Designing solid rather than shell sections, producing a piece too heavy to move or install economically.
- Curing in the open air, which produces colour variation across a set that no amount of finishing will hide.
- Ignoring freeze-thaw detailing; trapped water is what actually breaks concrete sculpture, not age.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Weight and foundation | Tell us the site's weight allowance and the foundation design. It shapes the shell specification more than the appearance does. |
|---|---|
| Colour and texture | Send a reference sample. Concrete colour varies with mix and curing, so an approved physical sample is essential. |
| Climate | Freeze-thaw climate requires air entrainment and drainage detailing. Tell us the location so it is specified in, not bolted on. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Cement / GRC sculpture |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Cement and GRC sculpture - outdoor durability at a moderate cost. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 7–16 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Sculpture Fabrication projects photographed on completion.
Sculpture Fabrication — Cast bronze sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Mirror-polished stainless sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Animal & mascot sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Stone sculptureCommon questions
Does cement sculpture crack outdoors?
How does the cost compare with stone?
How long does a large sculpture take end to end?
Discuss cement / grc sculpture
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.
Other techniques in this capability
- Mirror-polished stainless sculpture
- Brushed stainless sculpture
- Coloured stainless sculpture
- Perforated stainless sculpture
- Cast bronze sculpture
- Forged copper sculpture
- Stone sculpture
- FRP & resin sculpture
- Figure sculpture
- Animal & mascot sculpture
- Abstract sculpture
- Landmark sculpture
- Garden & landscape sculpture