Tag: precast concrete walls

Considering precast concrete walls for your concrete construction project? It may be time to make a call to AFTEC and experience the advantage of working with a worldwide leader in precast concrete wall products. As a supervisor, project manager or planner, choosing between precast concrete wall manufacturers can be tough. They all offer seemingly similar products, but you have a deadline to meet. At AFTEC, we completely understand the pressure.

In this article, we’re going to share the eight advantages of choosing precast concrete wall products from AFTEC. What you’ll learn is how the AFTEC experience is unlike any other company you’ve ever worked with, and why you should go with precast concrete products, no matter who you choose to work with.

8 Precast Concrete Wall Product Advantages:

For most, precast concrete may be a mystery in how it works. Precast concrete is poured into molds and then cured in a controlled climate. Once cured, the wall panels are rigorously tested to ensure quality and strength. Then, those panels are shipped out to the construction site, ready for installation. Here are eight other advantages:

#1. Save Time

A deadline is always on the horizon for concrete construction projects. Working past a deadline means losing money. The faster a project can be completed with high quality work, the more money that can be made. Precast concrete wall products allow you to save time in labor intensive activities and installation. Concrete panels arrive when you need them, and they can be installed with minimal labor involvement and maximum lift/crane operation. For most projects, all you have to do is dig holes, and the precast concrete wall company does the rest for you.

#2. Quick Turnarounds

When you need a quick turnaround, precast concrete wall products are paramount in achieving deadline goals. Get your order in as soon as possible, and the panels can be delivered to your site within 48 hours of you needing them. A great advantage to this is that you can keep your tight schedule (or even get ahead of schedule) during your wall installation process.

#3. Ready When You Are

Your precast concrete wall is ready when you are. You’re never waiting on the wall to get started on the concrete construction project. You can schedule when to have your concrete wall panels delivered so that you stay on or ahead of schedule.

#4. Weather Independent

Precast concrete wall products are engineered, designed, and formed in a controlled environment. No longer do you need to wait for the “perfect day” to pour your concrete. You can have your panels ready to go whenever you are.

#5. Excavation Expedition

On construction projects where there is lots of machinery and foot traffic, safety is a major concern. This means that the excavation of the area where the concrete wall will be erected can be a safety hazard. Precast concrete walls reduce the time that the area must be excavated. This decreases the chances of safety hazards for your crews.

#6. Custom Engineering and Design

When it comes to your precast concrete wall project, you will need unique specifications. Precast concrete wall panels can be engineered and designed to fit your needs exactly. While you can do this with on-site poured concrete, precast concrete products save you time, decrease installation time, and improve safety for your crew. It’s a major benefit for the entire project to choose precast over on-site pour.

#7. Last Minute Changes

Up until your concrete is poured into molds, you can adjust specifications of what you need. Engineers are available to satisfy any of your needs and make sure you get the wall that you want and need. A great way to avoid last minute changes is to work early and often with the precast concrete company to determine specifications.

#8. Correct When Delivered

It’s rare that a precast concrete wall product is incorrect upon delivery. The communication between client, company, and engineer is consistent, which means that when the truck arrives with your panels, you’re ready to go. What’s more, the various confirmation and quality assurance checks makes it nearly impossible to deliver incorrect concrete wall panels.

AFTEC: Your Worldwide Leader in Precast Concrete Wall Products and Systems

It’s a tough responsibility managing large scale concrete construction projects. That’s why AFTEC makes your life easier when you choose them for your precast concrete wall needs. Contact AFTEC today to get a quote for your concrete construction needs.

When it comes time to choose whether you ought to utilize a precast concrete wall product or an on-site cast wall pour, you want to know all the advantages and disadvantages of both. You want to make the best decision possible for your project, but how are you supposed to do that with so many options?

Both precast and on-site concrete wall options are great choices; however, you will find that, depending on your project needs, you may want to reconsider your initial choice between the two.

In this article, AFTEC will explain the advantages and disadvantages of both precast and on-site concrete products so that you can make an informed decision. If you’re ready to discuss precast concrete walls for your residential, commercial, industrial, or public works project, it’s time you contact AFTEC for a quote.

What Does Your Project Need?

It can be tough to determine what you actually need for a concrete wall product. Every wall project needs strength, reliability, durability, and longevity, which a majority of concrete products offer. However, the crux of the decision comes down to cost, efficiency of installation, and quality of the concrete. You will find the advantages and disadvantages of precast and on-site poured concrete products below.

On-Site Concrete Poured Walls

If you choose to go with an on-site concrete wall pour, you are going to benefit from learning about a few advantages, as well as a few disadvantages. However, the choice to go with an on-site pour is a good one.

Disadvantages

On-site concrete wall pouring has a few concerns you want to be aware of before choosing it. The main disadvantage is that on-site pour tends to lead to compromised quality. The climate, concrete mixture, and skill of the pour technicians all play a role in the quality of the wall. Without a controlled climate, you are risking quality for a potentially lower price tag.

The second disadvantage is that on-site concrete wall pours typically don’t include reinforced steel rebar. In some cases, it is included, but this slows the process greatly. During a cold-weather pour, this process can result in “cold seams” which typically cause cracks in the wall, lowering the durability and structural integrity.

The third disadvantage is that on-site concrete poured walls require more time to complete. You must schedule for the cast to be placed. Inclement weather can delay the project days or even weeks at a time. Heat or cold can disrupt the curing process of the concrete, which relates back to disadvantage number two.

If you want a quality, reliable concrete wall via an on-site pour, you will need to have near perfect weather, a skilled crew, and a high-quality pour process.

Advantages

On-site concrete poured walls do have plenty of advantages to consider. The major one is that on average, on-site poured concrete walls have a higher density than precast concrete walls. While the density may be higher, you do need to consider the disadvantages of climate and weather to get the high-density result.

The second advantage is that poured concrete walls do not typically have joints, which increases the structural integrity and fire- and water-resistance.

The final advantage is that due to the higher density of poured concrete walls, they have higher compressive strength. While a wall may not need to support large amounts of compression, it’s still a great benefit to consider.

Precast Concrete Walls

Precast is a great wall product. The advantages heavily outweigh the minor disadvantages, but you still want to consider all your options before deciding.

Disadvantages

Little to no maintenance is required to maintain most any type of concrete wall. However, precast concrete walls that require a sealant may need it to be reapplied every five to 20 years. Keep in mind that this isn’t every precast concrete wall. It’s best to talk to a precast concrete wall company to determine this need.

The second disadvantage is that precast concrete walls are placed in sections with vertical columns holding the panels in place. For some, this may seem like a disadvantage, but with the advancement of technology and the vertical installation, a precast concrete wall is reliable, durable, and will last for decades.

Advantages

When it comes to precast concrete walls, the main advantage is quality assurance. Precast concrete walls are engineered, designed, and built in a controlled climate. They undergo a rigorous quality control process, unlike any other precast concrete product.

The second advantage is that precast concrete wall products require less labor to install. The concrete panels are delivered to the job site and placed by crane. This requires less labor, cuts costs, and reduces installation time substantially.

The third advantage is that precast concrete walls offer flexibility in engineering and design. Not only can you engineer and design a wall to fit your exact project needs, but you can also decorate it with textures, colors, and shapes to enhance aesthetics.

Professional Advice: Go With Precast Concrete Walls

We’ll preface our professional recommendation with this: your wall project ought to determine which type of concrete product you choose to purchase. However, in most cases, a residential, commercial, industrial, or public works concrete wall project benefits ten-fold by choosing a precast product. Not only does it save time, but the cost of completing the job quicker is a great positive return on investment.

You ultimately must make the choice, but at AFTEC, we’re 100 percent confident in serving you and your precast concrete wall needs.

AFTEC: Your Worldwide Leader in Precast Concrete Walls

Whether you choose to go with an on-site concrete poured wall or a precast concrete wall, it’s important you know what you’re dealing with. At AFTEC, we believe in precast concrete walls to be the ultimate solution to any major residential, commercial, industrial, or public works project.

For years, we’ve served the entire nation with precast concrete wall products, as well as helping manufacturers offer our licensed precast concrete wall systems around the world. Want to get a quote for a precast concrete wall? Contact AFTEC today for a quote!

It can be tough to choose between all the materials offered for perimeter walls. There are pros and cons to each type of material. One big benefit to choosing precast concrete is its durability and strength. For millennia throughout antiquity, concrete was used to build walls that would last hundreds of years. What’s more, AFTEC provides textures that you can customize the aesthetic of your wall products so that you don’t have to worry about staring at a flat slab.

In this article, you will discover the reasoning behind choosing precast concrete walls for your perimeter fence over wood. There are a variety of reasons to choose concrete over wood, but the choice is still yours to make. At AFTEC, we want you to have a durable, strong, beautiful fence wall that can meet all your needs.

Concrete vs. Wood

Maintenance: Concrete vs. Wood

Wood requires much more maintenance to keep in operational condition than concrete. Depending on the climate in your area, wood may be at risk for rot and quickened deterioration due to pests and water. A wood fence requires that you paint it every few years to stall this deterioration.

Precast concrete walls require little to no maintenance. Once they are installed and secured, you can virtually forget about them. The only time that you’ll need to maintain your wall is if you want to clean it off or if you have to repair it from damage. Fortunately, concrete walls rarely sustain damage except in the most extreme of cases.

Total cost of maintenance between the two materials is in favor of choosing concrete. Wood costs much more to maintain while concrete requires a slightly higher up-front cost, but it will last you for decades with little to no maintenance.

Deterioration: Concrete V.S. Wood

As mentioned above, wood deteriorates quickly. When compared to concrete, wood lasts a few years while concrete lasts decades. You can take a look at antiquity and see concrete-based walls that have lasted nearly 2,000 years.

When it comes to deterioration, wood is obviously more prone to it. A common problem for wood is rot or fungal “infection” that eats the wood from the inside out. Moisture is a main factor in speeding up in the deterioration process, destroying the structural integrity of the wood.

Compared to wood, concrete is the superior option to prevent deterioration. While concrete can deteriorate due to water or other potential chemical reactions, it takes decades for this to have any effect on the integrity of the structure. Again, antiquity shows that concrete is a strong, durable material. The advancement of concrete over the last few hundred years has made it the superior solution to long lasting concrete walls.

Strength: Concrete vs. Wood

Wood, in certain uses, is extremely strong. Consider the trees that grow over 100 feet tall in the forests around the world. When it comes to strength against breach or attack, wood can only last for so long. While beautiful and majestic, wood is not stronger than concrete.

Concrete walls have been used for thousands of years to protect cities and people. They are much more durable when it comes to deterring criminal advances. Finally, it takes significantly more effort to cut or break through a concrete wall.

Beauty: Concrete vs. Wood

Wood can be found, shaped, and modified to make beautiful fences. What’s more, wood is a naturally beautiful material. It radiates the beauty of nature and offers unique aesthetics. For most, wood is absolutely stunning.

When compared to concrete, wood is typically the winner in the beauty category. However, AFTEC offers texturing to their precast concrete walls that can rival the beauty of wood. When you choose precast concrete products from AFTEC, you’re not just getting a slab of concrete. You can customize it’s aesthetics to fit your needs. This makes precast concrete walls a viable option when they need to function great and look even better.

AFTEC: The Worldwide Leader in Precast Concrete Walls and Systems

Do you need a perimeter wall or fence for your residential, commercial, industrial, or public works project? There’s no need to look any further. AFTEC provides the ultimate solution to concrete wall products and systems around the world. Whether you’re a customer in need of a wall or someone looking to become a precast concrete wall manufacturer, AFTEC can help you achieve your goals. Contact us today for a quote!

When it comes to security, you want a durable, reliable wall or fence that gets the job done — one that won’t let you down in times of need. What’s more, a wall or fence that can withstand the elements is always a plus.

Here at AFTEC, we offer the ultimate solution in precast concrete wall products and systems. Our mission is to help you get the wall or fence you need that will last for years to come. In fact, some concrete-based walls found in antiquity are said to have lasted nearly 2,000 years before crumbling. Imagine all the wars and battles surrounding walls. A precast concrete wall is a great option over a chain link fence when your concern is security for many reasons. In this article, we hope to share enough of those reasons to show you how great precast concrete walls can be for your project.

Precast Concrete Walls and Security

Imagine a residential suburb. There are two or three entrances by road. If there is no community wall or fence, the entire suburb is open to potential security threats. For most, a security fence is no more than six feet in height and can be easily climbed over. You could argue that adding barbed wire to the top of the fence is effective. This is an effective strategy; however, your community isn’t going to want to feel like they’re in a prison. What’s more, a chain link fence can be cut through relatively easily. This means that even with barbed wire at the top, you must use even more security measures to keep criminals out.

Most security fences are utilitarian, which means they aren’t built to look good. AFTEC’s precast concrete wall products are engineered and designed to withstand almost anything, as well as prevent criminals from getting over the wall. What’s more, AFTEC’s product allows for one or both sides of the wall to be textured to create an aesthetically beautiful visual. Residential areas that utilize precast concrete walls will enjoy the feeling of safety and the aesthetic of the wall.

Precast Concrete Walls and Privacy

A chain link fence is effective in marking boundaries to areas; however, the same fence does not offer a great amount of privacy. Residents in the suburbs tend to desire their privacy. Prying eyes can easily see through a chain link fence, which means the feeling of security diminishes, even if the potential threat is on the correct side of the fence.

When you choose to install a precast concrete wall, you remove the ability for someone to simply look through the fence. A concrete wall interrupts line-of-sight, and it can help prevent criminals from spotting a home that looks easily burglarized. Precast concrete walls are a great way to create more privacy for a neighborhood.

Precast Concrete Walls and Appearances

One concern many project managers have with concrete walls is their appearance. How are you supposed to make concrete look good? At AFTEC, we offer our precast concrete walls with texture options so that they aren’t simply concrete panel slabs. You can choose between mason, brick, stone, and other texture options to enjoy an aesthetically pleasing wall.

AFTEC: Your Worldwide Leader in Precast Concrete Walls and Systems

There is a time and a place for chain link fences. However, when it comes to enhancing security measures for residential, commercial, industrial, or public works applications, you want to go with what works best in regards to protecting the building, assets, and people. AFTEC is the ultimate solution in precast concrete walls. Contact us today to get a quote.

After the introduction of precast concrete wall products into residential, commercial, industrial, public work, and community industries, issues involving noise from highways and highly trafficked roads reduced significantly. One way that precast concrete walls protect neighborhoods is by reducing the sound from nearby roadways, highways, or even airports (in some cases). As a highly effective product in blocking and absorbing noise, precast concrete walls are a great way to save time and money for your wall projects.

AFTEC’s Precast Concrete Walls: Built to Last

A noise barrier is an outdoor wall or fence that absorbs and deflects a high percentage of noise pollution that can come from highways, energy stations, railways, and industrial sources. A major complaint from residents who live near any of these sources of noise is that the noise is too loud for them. A precast concrete wall is a great way to put a barrier between the residents and the noise, helping prevent stress and other adverse effects.

The sheer mass of a precast concrete wall is what stops and deflects most of the noise pollution that would otherwise affect people in the area. In most cases, nearly three-quarters of all noise barriers are made out of precast concrete or masonry blocks.

How Does a Noise Barrier Actually Work?

The way a precast concrete wall reduces noise pollution is a simple concept. For most, it can be understood as a barrier blocking, absorbing, and deflecting noise pollution that would otherwise affect the receiver (a person or home).

According to the Federal Highway Administration, a precast concrete noise barrier can achieve a 5 dB noise reduction if it is tall enough to break the line-of-sight between the noise production and the receiver. Once line-of-sight is broken, noise level reduction increases 1.5 dB for every meter above line-of-sight. This simply means the taller a noise barrier is above the receiver’s line-of-sight, the more noise pollution it will block, absorb, or reflect.

Why Choose AFTEC’s Precast Concrete Noise Barrier Walls

When it comes to effective precast concrete wall products to reduce noise pollution along a highway, roadway, railway, industrial complex, or otherwise, you can trust AFTEC. Not only does AFTEC deliver, strong, durable precast concrete wall products, but we also allow you to add decorative texture to one or both sides of your wall. For most other suppliers in the industry, they can only offer one side.

Noise barrier walls are the ideal solution for blocking noise pollution from reaching neighborhoods, schools, or other buildings. Industrial, commercial, and public works all produce a level of noise that can be considered pollution. A precast concrete wall is a great way to block, absorb, and deflect the noise away.

Whether you need a wall for a highway, roadway, industrial complex, neighborhood, or more, we are here to help you get the best precast concrete wall on the market. As a worldwide leader in precast concrete wall products and systems, AFTEC is the ultimate solution to all your wall needs. Contact us today to get your wall quote.