Welcome to my new blog! My name is Connor and this my concrete blog. Concrete may seem like a pretty boring subject. But it is only boring if you do not understand the incredible possibilities. When the interior designer I was working with suggested that I install some concrete inside my home I thought he was crazy. I thought concrete was only used for the floor of your garage, your carport or for a patio area. However, when I saw the possibilities that polished concrete offered me in terms of looks and functionality, I was sold! I hope you like my blog.
Reduce Waste by Using Precast Concrete in Your Projects
Though precast concrete technology has been around for over a century, it's only recently that engineers and contractors have started to use more than other methods of construction. The technique has been developed and improved to such levels that it can be used to build any structure including bridges, massive buildings, roads and even sewerage systems. The main advantages of precast concrete include time and cost saving, quality control and allowing flexibility and creativity. However, it is the environmental advantages that make this method of building as desirable as there is very little wastage. Here are some of the ways building with precast concrete reduces wastage:
Safe Storage
Unlike on-site construction, materials are kept in secure conditions hence reducing the chances of theft, pollution and degradation. The terms of the manufacturing plant are such that no content can get damaged or misused and there is a strict record of everything that comes in and gets used. Much of the work is done in a controlled environment where standards and precautions are taken to ensure there are minimal or zero defects, mistakes or wastage of products.
Recycling
There are many ways that companies who use precast concrete recycle their products to minimize wastage. First of all, 65% of the water used on site is recycled instead of letting it just go to waste on the ground like they do on-site. Secondly, every material that is left after the process of making concrete panels is then recycled. The panels are also 100% recyclable at the end of their lifecycle meaning there is almost zero wastage.
Fewer Raw Materials
Precast uses very few materials compared to other methods of construction. This technique uses pre-stressed reinforcement steel bars meaning you will only require a few bars per slab. Precast also uses various technologies such as SCMs to reduce the consumption of cement and or to use hardening accelerators and carbon-fiber reinforcements instead of steel.
Durability
Thanks to the versatility and durability of precast concrete, you will never have to redo a slab. The structures built using this method are very beautiful and look complete from the factory, so you don't have to plaster or paint if you don't want to. If for some reasons, there is something wrong with the slab or the wall, it can be used somewhere else or reassembled and recycled.
Building with precast concrete is a method that is fast catching on for good reasons. The panels arrive ready for installation, so there is no curing time required and idle laborers.