Precast concrete walls have been used for decades in commercial building. They are now becoming increasingly popular for use in residential projects. They offer a range of advantages over traditional poured concrete walls. Precast concrete walls offer greater construction design flexibility and offer shorter construction times than poured walls.
When a builder uses poured concert walls, the biggest challenge is creating a level surface, and pouring even, square walls. When walls are precast, they are made in a factory, and delivered to the building site already square and level. The house structure can then be put together almost as with building blocks. The building time is drastically cut in half by this process.
Most precast concrete walls also have an insulated core. This makes homes more energy efficient. Further insulations can be pumped into cavities in the wall after all insulation and wiring is complete. This translates into long term savings for the home owner as well as a reduced impact on the environment.
The rods of steel used to reinforce concrete walls is another difference between poured and precast concrete walls. A poured wall can only have horizontal rods, but precast walls can have vertical rods as well. While horizontal rods are good for stabilizing a structure against shifting ground, vertical rods can also help stabilize a wall against pressure from the sides of the wall. Most residential homes have basements, with soil against the walls of those basements, which greatly increases the need for vertical rods to keep the wall strong- thus favoring precast walls with vertical rods.
Precast concrete is also satisfying fencing needs of many homeowners. Unlike wood fence, concrete fence will not rot or warp. Neither termites nor weather can impact concrete. In addition, concrete fencing doesn’t require heavy work for installation. To suite to varied finishes and texture tastes, conrete walls can be used to create stunning fence for any area.
Poured and precast concrete have some similarities. Cracks in precast concrete walls require a thoughtful care. Cracks in walls may allow moisture to enter the wall, and eventually entering your home. Please be assured to look for help if in need.
Menlo (aka The Fence Guy) has worked with the leader in concrete fence walls and high quality fences and installation services to assure the efficient execution of your landscape project. Since 1982, a variety of brands - Woodcrete, Brickcrete, Fencestone, Cedarcrete and Woodcrete Rail,- have become very popularly accepted by architects, landscape designers, engineers, residential, commercial and industrial developers, utility companies, government agencies, and others in the construction industry.
- Menlo Lippowski