Precast concrete offers many benefits for multifamily, commercial, industrial, and municipal structures. Here are four reasons to use precast concrete for your next building project.
As one of the strongest building materials around, precast concrete offers the structural integrity commercial buildings require. Precast concrete has a compressive strength of more than 6,500 PSI, and it can be reinforced with wire strands or rebar or manufactured with a specialty mix design if specified.
Precast concrete components are manufactured off-site in a climate-controlled environment, resulting in a finished product that meets strict dimensional tolerances. We test every batch of concrete that we pour in a CMEC certified destructive testing laboratory onsite. We also conduct a comprehensive pre-pour inspection and post-pour inspection of every element we produce in our facility.
Precast concrete withstands harsh weather conditions and is fire resilient. Precast concrete resists water damage and strong winds, and is made from non-combustible materials. With the ability to achieve up to 3-hour fire ratings, many designers specify precast concrete components for structural elements that are required to meet rigorous fire codes.
Using precast concrete building components can lead to significant time savings when compared to pour-in-place or traditional masonry construction methods. Pouring concrete on-site requires that the site first be prepared with a large staging area. Traditional masonry construction requires the erection of scaffolding. Both processes are highly susceptible to weather delays. In contrast, precast concrete building materials are manufactured off-site in a climate-controlled facility and delivered to the jobsite ready to install. Production can continue in any weather and can occur while the construction site is being prepared. Installation of precast building components is fast and efficient. Small crews can install components such as precast elevator shafts in one to two days, depending on the size of the shaft, as compared to an average of four weeks for a traditional masonry shaft.
Precast concrete building components offer unmatched durability, requiring minimal maintenance over a long service life. Additionally, the time savings afforded by using precast components during the construction process can lead to significant savings in overall labor costs and construction carrying costs.
Inspiring Results from County Prestress & Precast
County Prestress & Precast manufactures precast elevator shafts, stair shafts, and many other precast concrete components to your exact specifications. We perform quality control testing throughout the manufacturing process to ensure our products meet industry standards.
Contact a sales representative to learn more about precast concrete building materials.