Artisan Precast was featured in the Business section of the November 3, 2008 issue of the Los Angeles Times.  The article featured a photograph of the WoodCrete product and discussed the various aspects of the concrete fence business and the advantages of using concrete fencing.  One expert spoke to the inefficiencies in construction that are inherent to the business.  Precast concrete fencing is one product that mitigates some of the factors that impact construction schedules.  By definition, the fence materials are made at a precast plant and shipped to the jobsite for assembly.  Although precast fencing does not eliminate all modifications at the project, changes to product at the job are few and far between.

Concrete fencing has distinct advantages in terms of longevity when compared to other fence materials.  This durability speaks to a sustainability aspect of precast concrete not often discussed.  Although critics would argue that substantial energy is consumed in the production of concrete - specifically the cement component - the end product lasts for decades.  This means less landfill and an overall lower use of resources since the need to replace the fence has been stretched to a life of decades rather than years.  For more information on concrete fences, visit Artisan Precast.

It may be a surprise to some people but precast concrete fencing like FenceStone is a cost effective way to enclose residential and commercial properties.  This type of fencing has been successfully used for large residential projects, large commercial projects including warehouses and shopping centers, and for large infrastructure projects.  It goes up fast, product quality is excellent, and it looks great. Best of all, maintenance on precast concrete is minimal.  This is a fast growing segment in construction as project managers and architects look for ways to reduce costs while providing an aesthetically attractive wall alternative.

Many fence companies are coming to realize the tremendous benefits of concrete fencing. Concrete fencing is a greener alternative to most other materials and is available in a variety of colors and designs.  The leading supplier of concrete fencing is Artisan Precast.  Artisan offers concrete fencing which resembles wood, stone and brick and is available in a variety of colors.  Concrete fencing is highly flexible and can be used for a broad variety of projects and soil conditions. Walls can be constructed to a variety of heights and assembly is much faster than traditional masonry walls.  On top of all this, these precast concrete walls and fences will last a long time and never need painting as the color is infused during the manufacturing process. Cost effective, flexible, low maintenance - these are just a few of the reasons concrete fencing is among the fastest growing categories in fencing.

Technorati Tags: Concrete Walls

Precast concrete fences have a significant advantage over traditional concrete block walls. Whereas traditional concrete block walls require a continuous foundation, precast concrete fences such as FenceStone (made by Artisan Precast) do not.  Rather, piers or columns are drilled into the ground every so many feet on center depending on the product, the post and rebar cage is then placed in the pier, and then the pier in filled with concrete. After the concrete sets, the precast concrete panels are inserted between the posts to form the fence.  Using concrete fencing enables fast installation and less use of concrete and rebar in the foundation while providing the user a beautiful and durable fence. For most projects, the cost savings can be very substantial.

Technorati Tags: concrete fencing, precast concrete fences

Perhaps the fires are responsible or maybe just growing awareness of how ‘green’ concrete really is. People don’t tend to think of precast concrete as a green building material but its long life and durability are a significant contributing factor. Artisan Precast concrete fences also replace a portion of the portland cement with fly ash - a material that would otherwise end up in landfills. Whatever the reason, cities, parks and recreation departments, homeowners, ranchers, and developers are turning to us for our high quality, authentic-looking ranch woodcrete rail fencing. This product comes in 2 and 3 rail versions and our proprietary molding system imparts a grain pattern and unique look that is unmatched. Our WoodCrete brand rail fencing can be integrally colored to match any project and never needs painting.

Precast concrete fences - especially post-and-panel systems - are finally getting the attention they deserve for industrial projects.  The traditional and default concrete block wall solution is giving way to precast concrete fences that deliver a superior looking product at a great price.  An important consideration in any project is time - will this subcontractor and this product shorten my project timeframe?  In many cases, the walling is the last part of the project and the ability to get it done quickly is especially important.

Look for companies that provide materials and installation and who do precast as their only focus.  The more business they do the more experience they have.  Artisan Precast is a top tier provider of precast fencing and operates nationwide. Artisan is a specialist in precast concrete fencing and they also design and build their own molds - a rarity in this space.

Look for products like WoodCrete (resembles board on board shiplap style wood fences), FenceStone (looks like hand-laid ledge stone) and BrickCrete (looks like aged brick) and make sure to have it integrally colored to match your project.   It is a little more expensive but worth it - you won’t have to paint it….ever!. The dramatic effect these products have on industrial projects is impressive. It’s a great way to provide a substantial upgrade in the appearance of a plant or distribution center at a great price.

WoodCrete
Precast Concrete
Concrete Fences
Fencing
BrickCrete/


Technorati Tags: brickcrete, concrete block, concrete fences, fencestone, industrial project, post-and-panel, WoodCrete

There seems to be a general lack of education about precast concrete fencing.  The truth is that precast concrete walls and fences are ideal for delineating between a commercial and residential project.  In a recent example, an eight foot high WoodCrete wall was erected between a “big box” commercial project and a condominium project. 

WoodCrete is a precast concrete fence that creates the appearance of a board-on-board shiplap design.   It looks like wood but has the strength, durability and sound attenuation (sound reduction) properties of concrete.  The other added benefit is that it won’t rot, warp or fade like wood can so that means little or no maintenance.  Now that’s a great value.  Other products like BrickCrete or FenceStone from Artisan Precast provide an authentic look but at a great price.  Combined with a terrific and simple component and installation process this is a tough product to beat. 

In the project mentioned above, the homeowners were happy because it enhanced the look of their properties while providing sound reduction benefits and the commercial developer ended up with a great looking project.  If you are considering any type of perimeter wall, view barrier, or security wall then you need to take a serious look at precast concrete fencing.

WoodCrete
Precast Concrete
Concrete
Fencing
Fence


You wouldn’t know the economy is having a problem if you attended the concrete show this week. It was packed and many of the exhibitors were reporting good sales – especially some of the larger equipment makers. Now, it might be they were putting me on a bit but one of the vendors shared their unit sales with me and they were impressive. We didn’t exhibit at World of Concrete and probably won’t next year. We find it a great show for learning more about concrete technologies and ways for us to provide a better experience for our customers. One of the things that struck me at the show was that there were fence companies, mold companies, material suppliers and so forth - but none of those things alone make a great concrete fence company or guarantee a good product and experience for the customer.
Anyone can buy precast concrete forms (some awfully bad ones and some terribly expensive ones!), and anyone can call themselves a fence company but it takes a lot more than that to be the kind of company that customers ultimately desire. We’re specialists in designer concrete fencing and walls that look like wood, brick, and stone. We make the molds, we make the product at a National Precast Concrete Association Certified plant and we ship that to installers or we also do the installation.
To make all that happen requires a level of sophistication, professionalism, expertise and service orientation that few can deliver. That is what sets us apart. I think that is why major national brands and large national and regional construction firms are coming to us more and more. They trust us and they like working with us. At the end of the day, they want to know that they can count on us and if we meet or exceed that expectation then we become an invaluable partner for years to come.

Walls
Precast Concrete
Concrete
Fencing
Fence


It is hard to match the warm look of wood for a fencing project. That’s what most people think. But it’s not true. The fact is that there are beautiful concrete fence products that give you the warm feel of wood but in a durable concrete material. Artisan Precast designs and manufactures molds that are used to cast concrete in a variety of colors to match your project in several designs. “Split Rail”, vertical board on board or horizontal ship lap patterns provide architects a great choice of designs to meet their specific project needs. The WoodCrete product from Artisan Precast is a beautiful solution that is available in a variety of heights including up to 10 feet or more. You just can’t been concrete for durability, price, and overall performance…in addition to looking great. It doesn’t make sense to build fences with wood and to have to worry about rotting, warping, termites, etc. More and more people are using products such as WoodCrete Rail to construct split rail fences instead of using wood. It will last for decades and you never have to paint it if you order it with integral color. So, if you are considering using wood to construct your fence, you really need to take some time to look into products like WoodCrete, WoodCrete Rail and CedarCrete.

WoodCrete
Precast
Concrete
Fencing
Concrete Fences


The fact is we are both.  Artisan Precast is primarily a concrete fence company but we are more than that.  Yes, we do have a terrific reputation for installing beautiful concrete walls and fences.  But we also sell our material to others - fence companies, contractors, cities, homeowners and others who install the product themselves.  But, we also design and manufacture our own concrete molding systems which sets us apart from others.  In our facility we design, develop and manufacture concrete molding systems for our own use to make our beautiful precast walls and fences.  In certain cases, we sell those molds to companies in other countries who want to replicate our concrete fence product in their markets.  We think that making our own molds gives us a better understanding of the product and makes us better at what we do as a fence company.  It also means we always have the latest and best molds to produce a superior looking product.  It also means that selling molds is not primarily what we do - our primary focus is providing a superior concrete fence product to the market.  So, if someone wants to buy molds from us, it’s not a hard sell.  We think the concrete forms we make are the best in the market and offer the user the most flexible concrete fencing system available at a fair price.  So, if that is important to the buyer then we have what they need.  But our mold business is not driven by sales of molds but rather by creating and making molds that work for us as a fence company.  Because at the end of the day we want to be known by our friends and clients as having the best looking, most cost effective, fastest-to-assemble fencing system in the market.

Walls
Precast Concrete
Concrete
Fencing
Fence


Technorati Tags: concrete fence, concrete fence product, concrete fencing system, concrete molding systems, concrete walls, precast walls