The post What Are The Construction Benefits Of Precast Concrete? appeared first on UK Construction Blog.

According to the history books, precast concrete has been around since 1905. It was invented by a Liverpudlian engineer by the name of John Alexander Brodie, and despite its success, it didn’t make groundbreaking changes in the UK construction industry. 

Around the world, however, precast concrete began to flourish, and more and more people realised the advantages over their traditional, site-cast concrete.

Today, it’s a popular alternative to concrete that is moulded and cured on-site. In the UK, especially, the benefits have finally been recognised, and precast concrete has now established itself as the preferred option for construction companies.

What Is Precast Concrete?

For those who aren’t aware, precast concrete refers to the pouring of concrete into a pre-shaped mould. For instance, rather than moulding, setting, and then installing a wall on site, a precast retaining wall can be matched to the specific design of the project, created in the factory, and then allowed to cure in a controlled environment. Once moulded, the precast concrete is shipped to the site and installed by crane.

What Are The Benefits?

As mentioned before, precast concrete is now exceedingly popular in 2023, mainly due to the number of advantages that it has over concrete moulded on-site. These benefits include:

• Better Quality

When you’re mixing, pouring, and setting concrete on a construction site, it becomes very hard to quality control. Precast concrete is fully inspected and then mixed in a controlled, appropriate environment. This means that there is less risk of the concrete failing and more chance of the structure fully matching the design. It is also tested before being released.

• More Sustainable

There’s an ongoing effort in the construction industry to prioritise sustainability and lessen the carbon footprint for our planet. Precast concrete – because it is made in a factory with little to no waste – is more sustainable than concrete created on-site. As well as this, there’s no risk of toxic byproducts infecting the soil and water supplies.

• More Durable

According to recent statistics, precast concrete will last longer than traditional concrete. Because of the lab-tested components, precast concrete has a higher density and is more resistant to corrosion and moisture. Precast concrete is also made perfect in the factory, which means it doesn’t need as much maintenance.

• Designers Dream

For the designers during a construction project, precast concrete is far more preferable, seeing as it can be moulded into any size and shape. This ensures a better “replicaâ€� of the architect’s plans, and architects are now more versatile and creative with their concepts.

• Less Money, Less Time

Lastly – and perhaps most importantly – precast concrete can save a construction project time and money. Because it is made in a factory, there is no project delay, which means that the workers can set their minds to surveying the site and other jobs that would otherwise have to be prolonged. Engineering work can also be carried out without any hindrance, which ultimately saves costs for the project.

Precast Concrete In 2023

There are many other reasons why precast concrete is getting more popular, and over time, it is likely that we’ll be seeing more and more constructions utilising it. For now, if you’re planning a construction project and are looking for optimum efficiency, we suggest doing a little more research and keeping it firmly in mind.