Precast concrete as the name suggests,
is a construction material that is made by pouring concrete in
reusable mould, cured as per procedure in a controlled environment
and then transported to the construction site and lifted into place
as per the plans. The curing is closely monitored by the employees at
the plant.
Precast concrete is said to have a
number of advantages over on- site casting makes it a better choice
for most of the people
.
Reasons why precast concrete is
better than on-site casting
Precast concrete
offers a better control of quality and material as well as
workmanship. The moulds that are used can be reused thousands of
times offering economy of scale like never before and hence lowering
the costs considerably from the on-site casting. It also offers
durability as one of its major qualities – especially with
effective design detailing. It is also considered healthy and
ecologically safe since the raw material are natural and available
easily everywhere.
It is also very versatile. Since
precast concrete is manufactured at a plant, it is possible to give a
lot of choice in terms of surface finishing, specific shapes and
colours.
It is also considered safer since
concrete does not burn and is sufficiently strong to bear the brunt
of mild natural calamities effectively.
It is also more affordable since it has
a low cost in manufacturing as well as maintenance and repair.
What are precast concrete products?
Precast concrete products are essentially those that are manufactured or made using precast
concrete. These are either used as construction material or to create
products for a very specific use.
The most common use must be the
concrete slabs and pavers that simplify the laying process and also
offer a great finish. There are ripple slabs which are used for
plumbing mainly for hot water units.
The wheel stops are great for parking
lots or sidewalks making sure that no vehicles scrape the buildings
or park in the restricted areas.
The garden edging strips keep the lawn
edges clean by separating the lawn from plant bed.
It is also used to make Bollards which
are essentially short vertical posts that are now used to direct
traffic / disallow vehicular traffic in certain areas etc.
You can also get bench and table tops
made with precast concrete. Apart from all this, there is a lot of
customization that can be done as well.
All in all, precast concrete products
are strong, durable and versatile and can be used in many different
ways – practical and aesthetic.