Various places in the UK are prone to flooding and torrential weather. But even if your location isn’t prone to such extreme weather fluctuations and the threat of floods or landslides, your property could still be at risk if you are near a slope or hillside where water could accumulate. Fortunately, there is one solution that has proven to be highly effective at preventing soil erosion, and we’re referring to retaining walls. You can use various kinds of retaining wall materials, but there is one material that has become the go-to material of many property owners. Here’s why precast concrete is a premium choice as a retaining wall: your absolute guide.
- It offers quick and easy construction
The difference between precast concrete and concrete poured in place or on-site is that they make precast concrete in a temperature-controlled production facility, and manufacturers make it with the most stringent quality control processes. Once they finish all the components of the precast concrete wall, the manufacturer and supplier can ship them straight to your site for assembly.
What’s more, the assembly process of a precast concrete retaining wall is relatively easy and hassle-free. There is minimal labour involved, although the process of construction may require a forklift or crane. You can then have the area levelled and prepped and install the support posts and lift the wall panels over the posts so they can slide in place. Afterwards, you can place concrete caps over the posts to cover the opening.
But with concrete cast on-site or in-place, you have to go through an arduous step-by-step process. The construction of a precast concrete wall allows you to cast several parts simultaneously whilst performing other tasks.
- It is durable and has a long lifespan
Another factor that distinguishes precast concrete walls from other materials is that it is durable and has a long lifespan. In addition, the quality of precast concrete walls is undoubtedly better than those poured on-site since inclement weather can affect the strength and quality of concrete whilst it is curing. Precast concrete is also cast with the use of mesh and steel reinforcements, and whilst these two options are also used with concrete cast on-site, there is a greater likelihood of mistakes during the casting on-site pouring process, which can result in gaps or voids that affect the strength of the reinforcement.
Every part and component of a precast concrete wall is carefully examined before it leaves the facility. If there is even the slightest of defects or imperfections, they will remove that part and replace it. Of course, you wouldn’t want to be concerned about your precast concrete wall’s strength and durability if a storm or bad weather hits, and this is why manufacturers take great pains to ensure that each part is perfect.
- It is cost-effective
All projects will have a budget, and we do our best to stick to that budget. But one of the main drawbacks of concrete cast on-site is that you have to pay to construct and remove the concrete wall forms. It’s not the same with precast concrete because manufacturers reuse the moulds even up to 50 times, and this can help cut down on your expenses as they will pass on their savings to you.
Image attributed to Pixabay.com
