Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world. It is a mixture of cement, aggregates (rock, sand, gravel, or crushed slag), water, and admixtures. Concrete’s ability to shape different forms makes it very versatile for many applications, including precast concrete products. Pre-casting gives architects more control over design by incorporating curves, curves, and other ornate details, which are difficult to achieve with cast-in-place concrete.
Precast Concrete Products can be used in residential, commercial, industrial, and highway construction. Other uses include structural support for tunnels or bridges built using large sections or pre-made girders that are to their installation site, reenforced columns, beams, and girders used to build foundations for high-rise buildings or even entire house/apartment complexes.
Precast concrete box culverts can be produced using either formwork or falsework. The type of building material depends on the requirements of the project as well as available resources. Precast concrete products are usually made in a factory setting before being brought to the site where they are installed. A crane is needed to move large pieces into place once onsite. Formwork uses wooden or steel frames with forms that are filled with loose-fill (sand, gravel, etc.) under pressure to produce wall panels, piers, and other parts requiring shape for additional support before being removed, leaving behind the final product. Falsework allows for easy transportation to the site while being made of wood or steel framing erected with temporary supports. The area where falsework is placed is then filled with sand, gravel, or other fill material under pressure before being removed, leaving behind the final product.
Precast concrete products can be produced using Erection Set Coating (ESC), which provides excellent coverage on rough surfaces. Pre-manufactured metal deck forms are often installed over ESC for additional protection and less water penetration into underlying layers of concrete during processing. Metal deck forms are framed structures built from galvanized steel plates to create a robust and solid footing for decks, roofs, and various parts of buildings to secure precast concrete in place until it cures and strengthens enough to support itself without added structure. Metal decks can also be used to support precast concrete products in the manufacturing phase.
Precast Concrete Products are widely used in various applications worldwide because of their strength, durability, longevity, and high-quality aesthetic appearance suitable for many different types of buildings. It can be used in commercial facilities like office spaces or shopping centers, residential homes, warehouses, and even parking garages used for all kinds of traffic, including heavy-duty trucks.
Precast Concrete Products are available with different finishes, including polished concrete, which has a glass-like sheen on the surface, giving it a modern look along with other traditional types of concrete such as exposed aggregate or stippled finishes, to name just two examples. Precast Concrete Products can also be colored to coordinate with the decor of the building it will be used in. Precast Concrete Products are available in different shapes and sizes, allowing them to fit almost any architectural design, including curves, angles, domes, and even bolt circles for pre-assembled structural connections, saving time on site.