Discovering the EQUITONE Range: From Texture to Application

Discovering the EQUITONE Range: From Texture to Application

At Creative Plastering & Building Supplies, we are proud to be the sole distributor in the region of the EQUITONE façade range. But what exactly are the different EQUITONE products, and how do they perform on real projects? Let’s explore the major variants, their strengths, and where architects and builders put them to work.

What Makes EQUITONE Stand Out

Before diving into individual products, it helps to understand the common backbone that unites them:

  • EQUITONE panels are through-coloured fibre cement — the surface hue is integral, not just a coating.

  • They are engineered for longevity (50+ years) with minimal maintenance, and are non-combustible — important for façade compliance and safety. 

  • Design flexibility is built in: panels can be cut, milled, perforated or printed to suit striking architectural shapes and features. 

  • Sustainability is central — EQUITONE has earned Cradle to Cradle™ Bronze certification and supports circular design, disassembly, reuse, and lower embodied carbon.

Because of these fundamentals, each variant becomes a tool in the architect’s palette — chosen based not only on appearance, but performance and context.

EQUITONE [natura]

What it is: A sleek, refined surface that shows visible fibres distributed randomly across the panel. It leans toward a “natural”, honest fibre cement aesthetic. 

Where it's used:

  • Large façade areas: When you want a calm, monolithic look that still conveys texture, [natura] often serves as the “base canvas” for buildings.

  • Backdrops for contrast elements: It pairs well with more expressive elements (vertical fins, perforated accents, or bold colour blocks), allowing those features to stand out.

  • Public buildings, schools or institutional architecture: Its understated elegance lends itself to projects that benefit from durable, low-maintenance finishes.

EQUITONE [tectiva]

What it is: A lightly sanded surface with natural mineral hues, evoking a concrete-like finish. It has slightly more uniform tone than [natura].

Where it's used:

  • Mid-tone façades: For buildings where full raw texture is too rustic, tectiva offers a more controlled yet material-forward look.

  • Office towers, commercial buildings: It’s often selected in commercial envelopes where a refined “concrete” impression is desired.

  • Feature transitions: Use tectiva on lower volumes or entrances, with smoother or more expressive panels above.

EQUITONE [lunara]

What it is: A heavily textured, random finish - described as reminiscent of a lunar surface. Its rugged character is unique and eye-catching. 

Where it's used:

  • Accent facades: On bold projections, entry walls, or show faces where texture is part of the identity.

  • Contrast zones: Use lunara adjacent to smoother panel types (like tectiva or pictura) to create visual relief and depth.

  • Areas needing differentiation: In a building that’s mostly “quiet” material, lunara zones draw the eye and enrich the composition.

EQUITONE [lines] (3D ridged)

What it is: A ridged, three-dimensional texture that plays dynamically with light and shadow. As the sun moves, façade appearance subtly changes. 

Where it's used:

  • Vertical feature bands or columns: The ridges emphasize verticality and movement.

  • Entrance façades or towers: The shifting light effect can give life to “static” surfaces.

  • Accent layers: Use lines on secondary volumes to contrast against flat surfaces.

EQUITONE [pictura]

What it is: Fully coated and matt in appearance, [pictura] hides the fibre texture and offers a clean, uniform surface in a broad palette of colour choices. 

Where it's used:

  • Colour statements: Where a strong colour block is part of branding or identity.

  • Lower façades / splash zones: Coated surfaces are advantageous where graffiti, dirt or wear might be more aggressive.

  • Feature panels: Against raw panels or textured ranges, pictura can be a crisp counterpoint.

EQUITONE [textura]

What it is: Through-coloured panels with a grainy surface that resists water and soiling - a mid-texture option between raw and coated. 

Where it's used:

  • Balconies, parapets, overhead soffits: Places where texture helps disguise staining or water marks.

  • Mixed façades: Acts as a middle ground texture when blending between raw and coated zones.

  • Projects in more exposed climates: The grain helps mask dirt accumulation.

EQUITONE [inspira]

What it is: A newer, more expressive variant that allows digital printing, patterns, motifs or artistic imagery on fibre cement substrates.

Where it's used:

  • Signature façades: Large murals, branding panels, or thematic graphic façades.

  • Civic or cultural buildings: Where narrative, symbolism, or storytelling form part of the architecture.

  • Mixed media compositions: Combine inspīra panels with raw or textured panels for contrast in both form and content.

How the Ranges Get Specified: Real Use Cases & Design Strategy

Understanding where each range fits is one thing. In real architecture, designers mix and match to yield layered façades, visual hierarchy, and structural expression. Here’s how the ranges often get deployed:

  1. Base Façade + Feature Elements
    A building’s main volumes might use [natura] or [tectiva], while focal walls, vertical shafts, or entrance zones adopt [lines] or [lunara]. The contrast creates visual interest without clutter.

  2. Color Hierarchy
    The coated [pictura] and printed [inspira] panels often get reserved for signature surfaces - corporate logos, gallery walls, or façades meant to catch attention.

  3. Function-Driven Deployment
    In lower levels where environmental stress (splash, pollution, graffiti) is greater, designers lean on [textura] or [pictura]. Higher levels or secondary faces might use raw finishes purely for aesthetic consistency.

  4. Shadow & Light Dynamics
    The ridged geometry of [lines] is oriented to capture sun angles. In east-west façades, the direction of ridges matters - shadows shift throughout the day, lending kinetic life to otherwise static planes.

  5. Sustainability & Compliance Layers
    Because all variants share core performance (non-combustible, durable, recyclable), choices are more about texture and appearance than fundamental safety. This enables freedom in grading the façade composition.

Need EQUITONE for your next project? Reach out to our sales team to chat further about products and pricing. 

Email us: admin@creativeplasterers.com.au
Call us: 02 6046 9222

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