If you don’t know all that much about concrete, then chances are that precast concrete doesn’t ring any bells and you may assume that it’s the same thing as normal concrete. However, they are two very different products and they have very different uses. Precast concrete comes with a lot of advantages too.

So, what exactly is precast concrete?

Precast concrete, in contrast to normal concrete (insitu concrete), is not poured into its mould on site. Precast concrete is designed and manufactured in a controlled factory environment using state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques.

Moulds for precast concrete are reusable, reinforceable and adjustable and they are set up per design specifications before the concrete is poured in. Once poured, the concrete is then vibrated and cured before undergoing any last finishes such as architectural like polishing and staining before the product is transported to site and craned into the right spot.

Precast concrete has many benefits over insitu concrete, and can be used in a broad range of industries.

Why you should use precast concrete in your next building project

Advanced quality control

You have advanced control over the quality of precast concrete when it is manufactured in the warehouse or factory, as you are able to do all the pre-checks before they are noticed on site. Dimensional accuracy, properties of the hardened concrete and position of reinforcement can all be checked before being sent to site.

It’s versatile

The great thing about precast concrete is that it can be used in a number of different industries and sites – it comes in different shapes and sizes and can be designed specifically to a number of different requirements. A huge number of finished architectural designs, colours and shapes can be used to make precast concrete fit any environment. For example, precast concrete can be used to make septic tanks for domestic use but also for rainwater tanks in the agricultural industry.

It’s safe for indoor use

Precast concrete is safe for indoor use, as it doesn’t require any chemical treatment. This means that there are no nasty chemicals being released into the interior of your business or household.

It’s fast

Any good concrete company will agree that using precast concrete is also a great way to speed up the building process. Blocks and other essential parts are manufactured in the factory and can be hoisted right up by crane into their correct position. This eliminates the need to take time and wait for the concrete to dry on site before work can proceed.

It’s affordable

Concrete is an incredibly affordable material and precast concrete combines this with cheap manufacture methods. However, this affordability doesn’t mean that the material is of low quality. In fact, precast concrete is of extremely high quality and takes little to no cost to keep it maintained.

It’s sustainable and ecological

The concrete is made of raw materials and despite reinforcing; it can almost always be broken down and reused or recycled. The moulding is also reusable and can be adjusted to produce different sizes and designs of precast concrete time and time again. This limits the amount of waste that comes from the whole process of precast concrete from design to manufacturing, transport and implementation.

Contact Carlow Tanks today