The traditional use of applied finishes, after manufacture, has been to unite combined precast and insitu elements. A typical example of this is a Bondi Junction project where an even colour flows through the insitu work and the precast facade.

A more recent example can be seen in the Quay Apartments where the lower levels are for car parking. The front facade is precast (incorporating planter boxes) with an applied finish which effectively unifies the precast and insitu sections of the building.

Another interesting application of applied finishes is to unify extensions to old buildings. While precast concrete can easily handle the job of recreating an existing facade, matching the usually weathered finish is not so easy. A painted finish to both the old building and the new precast work can be an expedient solution as shown in the extensions to Botany Town Hall.

The use of paint finishes to produce economical units, with consistent appearance, can be seen in many shopping centre and industrial applications.

Finishes applied during manufacture include brick biscuits, tiles and dimension stone.

While brick and tiles are not common in Australia, a good example of such an application is the Orange Civic Centre and Library. The 2400 mm wide precast panels had tiles inset into their face and ranged in height from 2600 to 7400 mm.

The use of dimension stone has enjoyed greater application in Australia. An excellent example of this is seen in the 44-storey curved stairflights in the Grosvenor Place project.