Wet Cast Stone and Dry Cast Limestone: There is a Difference!

After looking around the showroom, many customers have asked the same question: “What is the difference between concrete and dry cast limestone?”

After looking around the showroom, many customers have asked the same question:

“What is the difference between concrete and dry cast limestone?”

So I thought that it would be helpful to write a paragraph or two explaining the difference as both are wonderful materials and each has its place in the garden.

Dry cast limestone ornaments are handmade using crushed limestone. A slight bit of water is added – just enough to hold the composite together (this is the reason for calling the process “dry cast”). The mixture is then hand packed into a mold and left in a humid room to cure. Curing usually takes 3 weeks, during which time the piece hardens and can be removed from the mold. The dry cast limestone is porous and looks remarkably like carved limestone. The rough surface and minerals of limestone also promote weathering and help create a beautiful patina with lichen and moss settling on the surfaces in a relatively short amount of time.

The first picture shows a piece of new dry cast limestone and the second picture shows a weathered piece of dry cast limestone used for edging.

Concrete, in contrast, is made using a wet cast process; that is, water is added to the aggregate and then the mixture is poured into a mould. The mould is shaken so that the concrete can cover all the details of the mould. A slurry comes to the outer edges of the mould which creates the smooth surface of concrete. At the same time, air bubbles also come to the surface which are often visible. Once the piece has hardened, it is removed from the mould. A smooth surface is much less hospitable to moss and lichen which lengthens the time needed to create a beautiful patina by several years.

This picture shows concrete’s smooth surface. If you look closely, you might see an air bubble or two!