It can match terra-cotta or brick and makes a perfect substitute for brick shapes. Precast Concrete is best used in none visible areas, where the appearance of air voids and surface irregularities is not an important consideration. Precast concrete is ordinarily made combination of sand, dark color gravel, pebbles, rock, and cement. All of which is poured into a mold where gradation of aggregates is not so important.
After several years of weathering, the dark aggregates will begin to show. Architectural Precast Concrete is best suited for projects where the appearance is not important and is usually used in the form of large curtain wall panel units or large spandrel members.
Large aggregates of various colors mixed with a wet slurry of sand and cement is use then poured into the mold. The surface has exposed the aggregates, resulting in a pebbly-with-voids type of finish. Precast concrete is less costly to manufacture because aggregates cost less and no surface finishing is required. Cast Stone, on the other hand, solves both of these problems. Cast Stone can be stronger than precast concrete, and is easily cast to produce identical pieces.
It's also more weather resistant than natural stone, and can be cast in numerous colors. That makes Cast Stone an excellent replacement for natural cut limestone, sandstone, brownstone, bluestone, slate, granite, travertine, and other natural building stones.
Specialized reinforcement: Finally, just as specialized insulation can be added to precast concrete, specialized structural reinforcements can be added as well.
By decreasing the amount of material needed to make a building structurally sound, you are saving money while being less taxing on the resources available. Furthermore, specialized high strength concrete requires exacting conditions for both mixing and curing.
These conditions cannot be controlled on site. However, because factory construction allows for heightened environmental control, you can use specialty high strength concrete for your construction. Again, this allows you to create architectural designs that cannot be achieved any other way. There were two main concerns when constructing this building using precast concrete: design and safety.
As an art school, design was important. The building had to speak to modern aesthetics and create a learning environment conducive to exploring the possibilities of visual art. But as a school, student safety was paramount.
This type of system has a superior fire resistance rating. Because this building was being added to a pre-existing campus, its design had to blend in with other buildings on the campus.
While precasting was still used throughout, it did involve a custom concrete blend. Furthermore, because Hershey Medical Center is a rapidly growing invaluable medical resource for the surrounding area yet, building schedules were quick, and the construction was completed in 4 months.
New retail constructions are often completed as part of large scale development in which land is plentiful. However, urban retail constructions, like this new Target Retail Center, require working within constrained areas with limited available land. However, as a representative of a national brand, the building also had to reflect the architectural branding of its parent company.
Thus, parking was placed below the store, which required precast elements with superior strength. Simultaneously, the building had to be done quickly, as construction was disruptive to the surrounding neighborhood. Again, the efficiency of precast was essential for getting this job done on time. As you can see, the advantages of precast concrete make it the preferred choice of commercial construction all over the world.
However, if you are building in the mid-Atlantic, look no further than Nitterhouse Concrete Products. Since , we have been providing superior concrete products to the region, partnering with architects and construction companies larger and small to help bring their visions to life.
While you may still need to turn to site cast concrete on occasion, as you move forward, precast concrete provides superior versatility, functionality, affordability and labor efficiency.
And even if are already familiar with the value, you may want to consider whether you are getting the attention you need from your manufacturing partner. Contact Nitterhouse Concrete Today. Here are some key aspects between the two methods placed side-by-side Quality control: Because precast concrete is mixed, poured and cured in a factory, ideal conditions and exacting measurements can be maintained throughout the process. It can also be used as a substitute for both architectural precast concrete and limestone.
Despite all these benefits, cast stone comes with its limitations. While it can be substituted in for precast concrete in situations where it is specified as minimally load-bearing and non-structural, that is not the case when precast concrete is structural. Also, cast stone is a division 4 masonry material. Cast stone will also never appear as realistic as natural stone and the color will always be subject to change over time.
Despite being relatively new in the market, GFRC has several clear benefits. Its inherent strength also brings the added advantage of making it more flexible. It also does not require any additional accommodations. Not only does this make handling easier, but it also makes the material suitable for structures such as tubs, wall panels, floating vanities, floor tiles, and countertops. GFRC also promises excellent color consistency, even over multiple products.
By using the sprayed face coat method, you can coat the surface of a large area from just one mix. As a result, there will be no errors from one mixer to the other. GFRC then can be used for floor tiles and wall panels over a bigger space or in a place where there are multiple precast components. In addition, GFRC has early high strength curing. In other words, it can be handled and placed through both finishing and sealing phases safely and sooner.
Therefore, with GFRC, you can enjoy short lead time, freeing up your time to improve the project further.
It is also quite expensive. The fiberglass used along with the acrylic copolymer and additives makes the price go up drastically. Moreover, depending on the kind of fiber used, the resulting concrete can be quite heavy. Lastly, fibers are added to concrete to increase both stiffness and tensile strength and make it perform better. However, corrosion can bring down the performance. Typically, cast stone is used for decorative purposes. Since it is similar to granite, marble, and natural limestone in detail, it is used as an item for decorative exterior veneers.
0コメント