Articles provided by RE-Reston.com

Precast concrete walls have been used for decades in commercial building. They are now becoming increasingly popular for use in residential projects. They offer a range of advantages over traditional poured concrete walls. Precast concrete walls offer greater construction design flexibility and offer shorter construction times than poured walls.

One of the biggest problems builders are presented with when constructing concrete walls is creating a level surface and pouring even, square walls. An easy solution to this is buying precast walls, which are poured in a factory and then delivered to the construction site to be assembled, which severely reduces the build time normally required.

Almost all precast concrete walls have a insulated core. This makes it so homes are much more energy efficient. More insulations can also be pumped into the walls cavities after insulation as well. This translates into long term savings for the home owner and a reduced impact on the environment too.

The rods of steel used to reinforce concrete walls is another difference between poured and precast concrete walls. A poured wall can only have horizontal rods, but precast walls can have vertical rods as well. While horizontal rods are good for stabilizing a structure against shifting ground, vertical rods can also help stabilize a wall against pressure from the sides of the wall. Most residential homes have basements, with soil against the walls of those basements, which greatly increases the need for vertical rods to keep the wall strong- thus favoring precast walls with vertical rods.

Many homeowners are also using precast concrete for their fencing needs. A concrete fence will not rot or warp like a wood fence will. Termites cannot effect concrete, and neither can the weather. Precast concrete fencing requires little work to install. Walls can be cast in a variety of textures and finishes, creating a stunning fence for any area.

Precast and poured concrete do share some features. Importantly, cracks in precast concrete walls need to be attended to. Cracks in the walls can allow moisture through, which can lead to moisture getting into the home. Be sure to seek help if this occurs.