Since it first became popular in the 1950s, precast concrete has been a major player in the construction world. But where are you most likely to find precast concrete, and what construction projects can benefit the most from using it? Here are just a few of the most common places you’ll find precast concrete — it’s commonplace in modern infrastructure, both commercial and residential.
Walls and Barriers
Whether they’re retaining walls, sound absorbing noise barriers, or entirely decorative, precast concrete is a popular choice for building walls. Because the concrete sets offsite, you can dramatically speed up the construction of your wall. Another common use of precast concrete is the bane of every commuter’s existence: the humble Jersey barrier. These barriers are critical to keep the public from intruding on your construction site, and modern safety barriers have saved hundreds of lives compared to their older counterparts.
Culverts and Pipes
The less time your workers spend underground, the less danger they are in. Collapses are an eternal hazard in the world of construction, and using precast concrete for pipes and culverts reduces the amount of time you have to turn the surface of the earth upside down. In nearly all cases, it’s also cheaper to move a custom pipe or culvert into place than it is to pour the concrete inside the ditch.
Commercial Buildings
When you think of precast concrete, it has a wide variety of applications that you find all over cities. Precast offers a lot of advantages over cast-in-place concrete when you’re building large warehouses, distribution centers, equipment storage buildings, etc. It doesn’t need protection from inclement weather, it’s more durable, and most importantly, it saves your company time and money.
Septic Tanks and Grease Traps
Whether your home needs a new septic tank or your restaurant needs an industrial-sized grease trap, it’s a good idea to create it out of precast concrete. With precast concrete, you avoid the problems of cast-in-place concrete mentioned earlier in this post. Meanwhile, concrete tanks and traps allow your business or home to store large amounts of waste (up to 20,000 pounds) without the risk of seepage posed by fiberglass or plastic.
Storm Shelters & Residential Applications
Del Zotto’s home state of Texas is a major part of Tornado Alley, so we’ve made creating high-quality storm shelters one of our top priorities. Both above-ground and underground storm shelters can be installed quickly and easily using precast concrete and steel for reinforcement. Unlike many other storm shelters, which are made of steel, concrete shelters never rust. They can easily last for decades worth of storms.
If your next project (large or small) requires precast concrete, Del Zotto should be the first place you go for it. For more than 50 years, we have been an industry leader in precast concrete, and we’re proud to serve Texas and areas across the nation. If something can be manufactured from precast concrete, we can handle the project. Give us a call or fill out our contact form today to find out what Del Zotto can do for you.
