Did you know that over 15% of industrial buildings in the U.S. were built using tilt up construction? Over the century since its introduction, tilt-up construction has evolved significantly. Today, its advantages outweigh those of cast-in walls and other types of construction in many ways.
Tilt up construction buildings are created by precasting walls in a wall panel and then mounting them in position. The vertical slabs are then connected to the foundation, roof, and other support structures of the building.
Here’s why concrete tilt-up construction is growing increasingly popular:
7 Advantages Of Choosing Concrete Tilt Up Construction
1. Maximizes Savings And Manageability
Concrete tilt-up construction comes with many cost advantages. For starters, it requires a relatively smaller crew on site. Massive buildings can be constructed with only just a few hands – though these would have to be highly skilled professionals. You also need less equipment to build tilt-up structures.
Doing away with scaffolds, forms, rebars, and a long rooster makes your project more manageable, saving not only money but time and energy as well.
Post-construction, you’ll also save money from the energy-efficiency and ease of maintenance. The superior fire and weather resistance of tilt-up constructions leads to lower insurance premiums and heating/cooling costs.
2. Builds For The Next Century And Beyond
On average, tilt-up construction buildings can last for over 100 years without losing any attribute or requiring any maintenance. In fact, some of the first tilt-up buildings in the world are still standing tall today.
In comparison, the lifespan of most other types of constructions is about 50 – 80 years on average, with some maintenance needed in between.
Tilt-up constructions are highly resistant to the forces of nature, from weaker forces like the weather, corrosion, and pests, to destructive forces like hurricanes, earthquakes, and fire outbreaks.
3. Gets Your Building Up And Running Quickly
The concrete tilt-up method is one of the best types of construction for businesses looking to quickly set up a base in a new location.
Tilt-up construction sources materials locally, from sand to lime rock and base rock. This eliminates a whole lot of logistical issues.
The precasting process also combines many construction steps into just one or a few. As a result, it frees up more time and energy for workers to focus on other aspects of the construction.
4. Tailors Your Building To Perfection
While precast concrete is primarily ideal for “big-box” constructions or large rectilinear buildings, it also supports a wide range of design options.
From curved walls to different types of exterior finishes, window and door styles, as well as functional add-ons, you can explore many different customization components to make your building unique.
That means that you can raise buildings that match your needs perfectly, all within the shortest possible time.
5. Minimizes Environmental Footprint While Maximizing Sustainability
With a highly streamlined construction process, concrete tilt-up buildings leave a relatively small footprint on the environment.
It requires a smaller range of materials and generates far less waste. This leaves the worksite with fewer hazards and less cleaning up to do.
What’s more, tilt-up concrete from demolished buildings can easily be recycled. That means a much lower environmental impact from the beginning to the end of its lifecycle.
6. Protects Against Disasters And The Unknown
Concrete tilt-up is one of the most recommended types of construction for areas prone to natural disasters, including areas with soft soil or seismic faults. But it wasn’t always so from the beginning.
The 1971 Sylmar earthquake in California and subsequent earthquakes around the U.S. exposed the design flaws of tilt-up buildings. As a result, local building codes were updated requiring stronger attachments between the different components of the tilt-up walls.
This proved to be a game changer for the tilt-up industry, making tilt-ups highly fortified against natural disasters.
After the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, for instance, nearly every tilt-up construction remained intact, sustaining little or no structural damage.
In addition, concrete tilt-ups are more resistant to fire than other construction types. Unlike other building materials, concrete does not catch fire. It has a fire-resistance rating of four hours and doesn’t produce toxic fumes or molten particles when burnt.
7. Simplifies Maintenance Needs
The easier maintenance requirements for tilt-up construction buildings make them more financially attractive than other construction types.
Without any major accidents or disasters, they can remain intact for over a century without any maintenance.
When there is an incident, any damage can easily be repaired, from cracks to leaks and disfiguring.
You can also easily retrofit them to fortify them further against damages, even while they’re still occupied.
Conclusion
The concrete tilt-up method of construction lets you enjoy a streamlined and cost-efficient building process. Not only is this type of construction faster than other methods, but you can easily customize the building design to suit your needs.
So, roll up your sleeves and reach out to experienced professionals at Chad Fisher Construction.
It’s time to build a strong foundation for your business and transform your vision into a concrete reality.