How Precast Concrete Changed Commercial Construction

Precast concrete has revolutionized commercial construction. Like usual concrete, it’s sturdy, easy to work with and lasts a very long time. However, precast concrete is more efficient to make. You can measure all the concrete you need and send it to a factory that makes it. They will deliver it to you in slabs, ready to assemble.

Commercial Construction Materials Upgraded with Precast Concrete

Before, it was a lot harder to use this process because pre-made concrete was hard to transport and stack. The improvements in the construction industry, such high power cranes, have made it significantly easier to use this type concrete, especially in commercial buildings.

Faster Construction

The normal concrete is made on site. You have to wait for the bottom layers to dry before you stack more on top of them. By getting rid of those steps, the timeline of the constructions is significantly shortened. The slabs can be made and delivered in batches. Once it’s on site, all the crew has to do is assemble it, and that part of the structure is done.

More Cost-Effective

How much money you’re doling out on a project directly affects how much you earn from it. The more time you spend mixing cement, letting it dry and repeating that same process, the more money you’re losing. That’s also less time you’re dedicating to other construction projects. By streamlining the construction through the use of precast concrete, the company is able to lower cost and increase the bottom line.

 

Ambitious High Rise Construction

Precast concrete can be designed to bear loads better, meaning you can reduce the columns that support internal structure of the building without sacrificing how secure it is. It gives you more leeway to lessen the overall foundational depth. This quality allows commercial builders to be more ambitious with their projects.

Withstands the Weather and Other Elements

This type of concrete can withstand the constant exposure to water (like flood damage and rain penetration) and other elements (such as rust). If a panel is unexpectedly damaged, it’s a lot easier to repair or replace without undermining the overall integrity of the structure.

That’s why it has been used for floating walkways that span a river, long bridges, shipping docks, and overpasses. What would have been a more tedious and time-consuming project, precast concrete has made easier and more efficient to construct.

Given these benefits, precast concrete has made commercial construction so much easier, especially in the last decade.