Precast Concrete Walls Are A Good Option
Builders have been using precast concrete walls for a long time in larger commercial projects. Recently, there has been more use of these walls for residential projects with excellent results. The advantage of these walls are that they can be installed in far less time.
When a builder uses poured concert walls, the biggest challenge is creating a level surface, and pouring even, square walls. When walls are precast, they are made in a factory, and delivered to the building site already square and level. The house structure can then be put together almost as with building blocks. The building time is drastically cut in half by this process.
Inside many precast concrete walls is a core containing insulation, which makes the walls more energy efficient for your home or other structure. Additional insulation can be introduced through holes in the wall after the wiring, pipes and other needs are filled, which will lead to longterm saving for the owner and less harm to the planet.
The rods of steel used to reinforce concrete walls is another difference between poured and precast concrete walls. A poured wall can only have horizontal rods, but precast walls can have vertical rods as well. While horizontal rods are good for stabilizing a structure against shifting ground, vertical rods can also help stabilize a wall against pressure from the sides of the wall. Most residential homes have basements, with soil against the walls of those basements, which greatly increases the need for vertical rods to keep the wall strong- thus favoring precast walls with vertical rods.
Another option for homeowners is to use pre-cast concrete for their fencing needs. Unlike wooden fences, a concrete fence is resistant to termites, does not show any effects of weathering, and will not rot or warp. Pre-cast concrete fencing also is easy to install, and can be cast in a variety of textures and finishing.
Precast and poured concrete do share some features. Importantly, cracks in precast concrete walls need to be attended to. Cracks in the walls can allow moisture through, which can lead to moisture getting into the home. Be sure to seek help if this occurs.
Menlo (aka The Fence Guy) has worked with the leader in concrete fence walls and high quality fences to assure the on-time execution of your landscape project. Since 1982, a variety of fence brands - Woodcrete®, Brickcrete®, Fencestone®, Cedarcrete® and Woodcrete® Rail,- have become very popularly accepted by architects, landscape designers, engineers, residential, commercial and industrial developers, utility companies, government agencies, and others in the construction industry.
Published August 24th, 2007
Filed in Gardening, Home, Real Estate
