Construction onsite, also known as cast-in-situ, entails preparing concrete on the construction site, pouring in formwork, and curing. This method is labor-intensive and poses a danger to the environment. Alternatively, there is precast concrete. This construction method has the following benefits:
Cost-effective
It’s cost-effective when constructing precast concrete since the manufacture of precast runs concurrently with the early site work. There is reduced scaffoldings and propping in construction where concrete structures like precast headwalls are used, resulting in low onsite spending. This construction also takes a short time.
Save construction time
Precast concrete’s efficiency comes from the controlled environment where its made. Specialists can produce these precasts throughout without being affected by factors like weather. This production efficiency in large quantities means that a construction project can’t stall. The client can buy the already-made blocks and store them when builders need them.
Onsite safety
When precasts are produced elsewhere, it reduces labor onsite, resulting in fewer workers on the construction site, hence fewer accidents. By building most of the structures from the site, there is no need for machines that might cause injuries. Other than that, these precast concretes are trafficable, providing safe access in each step of construction.
Durable
If you compare in situ construction to precast concrete, you will find precast durable. With precast, there is increased accuracy and uniform reinforcing. Precast also uses mature concrete that can carry design loads, and this ability comes from precast concrete being exposed to aggressive load when it’s at its best. On the other hand, in situ matures in aggressive surroundings and can’t carry the design load until later.
Reduced impact on the environment
Constructors make precast concrete using the environmentally friendly method. For a start, the water used is usually recycled. Other than that, the materials used, such as fly ash, silica fume, and blast furnace slag, are all recycled. The molds used in making the precast are also reusable.
Easy installation
Precast concrete is usually built to fit the construction on another site elsewhere. When ready, all constructors must fix them to the right place. The easy installation saves time and significantly reduces the construction cost.
Aesthetic
Precast concrete is made in a controlled environment where it’s easy to tweak the designs. This construction method is the to go to way if the building in question needs an aesthetically pleasing look.
Versatile
Precast concrete molds that can be designed in any way an engineer wants. This feature enables these concrete structures to take any shape and size depending on the project. Its versatility also comes in recycling them after deconstruction or reuse.
Quality and precision
The plant-manufactured precast concretes are made with the highest precision and uniform quality. These concrete structures, like precast headwalls that require precision to work efficiently, are made using this construction method. The structures are also high quality, owing to the attention given when each one is created. Construction projects usually leave a lot of damages behind from landfills and dust, and these effects lead to environmental degradation, which shouldn’t be the case. When constructors use precast concrete, it minimizes the construction cost and less negatively impacts the environment.
