A Brief History of Precast Concrete
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Although precast concrete was not widely used until the early 1950s, it got its start in architecture long before that. Today it is one of the most widely used materials in construction worldwide.
Often knowing more about the development of a material or building method can give you the information you need to make a more informed decision.
Today, let’s take a little walk down memory lane and see how far precast has come.
Precast History
The earliest method of constructing walls is called wattle and daub which consists of wooden stakes, or wattles, which are woven together with twigs and branches and then coated with a sticky material made up of a combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung, and straw. This has been used for thousands of years and is still an important construction method seen around the world.
The simple design disguises the labor-intensive construction process involved in building it, everything from assembling the wattle panels to the drying of the daub (i.e. plaster, clay, or another substance used for coating a surface, especially when mixed with straw and applied to wattles to form a wall) as well as taking into account the climate and humidity, can take a long time. Wattle and daub is notable for providing high thermal and sound insulation, very much like precast concrete.
Precast concrete has been around just about as long as concrete itself. From wattle and daub, Ancient Egyptians discovered a way to make what would be later called “concrete” at around 2500 BC. They started creating hard and sturdy blocks to make the pyramids, which are still standing today.
At around 1300 BC, builders in the Middle East discovered how to make a hard cement-like coating by covering their clay homes with burned limestone – the precursor to modern cement.
Just a few centuries later, the Romans had begun to mix crushed limestone and other soft rocks with sand and water to create an early form of concrete. Ancient Roman builders were known for their massive innovative architecture.
They were the first to pour concrete into molds to create a wide variety of buildings and technologies. Pouring this concrete into molds or wooden forms helped form the intricate aqueduct systems and catacombs that required precision of measurement and durability of construction. They utilized concrete to build networks of aqueducts, culverts, and tunnels. Many ancient Roman concrete structures are still standing today, including the famous Pantheon and Colosseum.
Without the ability to pre-mold concrete and install multiple slabs at once despite inclement weather or other environmental obstacles, it’s unlikely the ancient Romans would have been able to construct the extensive underground tunnels that still exist today.
In this respect, the earliest versions of precast concrete were instrumental in inspiring the expansion of many large cities in Europe and Asia. It’s also a testament to how truly durable concrete is as a building structure.
Precast Concrete Today
In 1824, Joseph Aspdin, a bricklayer from England, came up with the beginnings of Portland cement, which is named after Portland stone, from the Isle of Portland in the United Kingdom. Despite its early uses, precast concrete didn’t become common or popular in much of Western Europe and North America until the early 1900s.
Just prior to World War I, British city engineer (and soccer net inventor) John Alexander Brodie patented the process of constructing precast paneled buildings, which was then a ground-breaking innovation in construction. He ended up paving the way for future construction innovations.
On June 18th, 1954, the Precast Concrete Institute (PCI) was formed to serve as the technical sounding board for all information and practices related to precast/prestressed concrete. Since its founding, PCI has developed, maintained, and disseminated the body of knowledge for the precast and prestressed concrete structures industry.
Precast in the Philippines
With the dawn of the modern age, precast technologies evolved from being lightweight to load-bearing panels without the need for columns and beams such as the “waffle-crete” technology that we have today. The technology is named so because it looks similar to a waffle.
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In 1994, the first waffle-crete building was erected in the Philippines, and from 1995 onwards Greenlink Solutions continues to produce the same waffle-crete technology while expanding towards other precast concrete products.
Today, precast concrete is one of the most widely used materials in construction worldwide. And due to its versatility in shape, texture, and color, it’s often used as architectural cladding designed to mimic the appearance of more costly materials such as limestone, granite, or stone.
But perhaps the greatest benefit of precast concrete is that it can serve as both the structural and architectural element at the same time, providing a total precast concrete building.
Start Using Precast Today!
Here at Greenlink Solutions, we offer structural and architectural precast elements that are made to match your specific needs with products ranging from load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls to other customizable products such as stairs, roofs, box culverts, septic tanks, etc.
Want to learn more about how you can apply precast to your existing and future projects? Consult with us today by emailing us at info@greenlinksolutions.net.
Take a quick peek at what more we offer by clicking this link: https://www.greenlinksolutions.ph/products
Sources:
https://delzottoproducts.com/2014/12/10/precast-concrete-history-lesson/ https://www.metromont.com/precast-concrete-history/#:~:text=Precast%20History,the%20precursor%20to%20modern%20cement.
In the early 1900s, an English engineer named John Alexander Brody discovered that concrete could be precast and then moved to wherever it needed to be installed. He was the first person to have a patent for the process of creating precast concrete products.
Then, in the middle of the century, the Walnut Lane Memorial Bridge was built in Philadelphia, the first significant precast concrete piece of construction in the U.S. After that, the precast industry took off. And ever since, precast concrete has been a major part of the modern building industry.
So, what exactly is precast concrete?
Simply put, precast concrete is concrete that has been cast somewhere other than the location where it will eventually be situated. An item might be precast for any number of reasons. For example, some concrete lawn décor, such as benches or large flowerpots, is cast in a factory where thousands of pieces can be made at the same time. Then, they are transferred to a retail store where they can be sold.
However, these aren’t the only places where you can find precast concrete. It’s also used in bridge beams, culverts, foundation walls, steps, fencing, septic tanks, and more. And when you start to look, you’ll discover that precast concrete can be a small as a parking curb or as large as an apartment’s structural column.
So, precast concrete can come in any shape or size that you could possibly imagine. This makes it a versatile and affordable option for those who need to create uniform concrete products or structures.
Precast concrete is created by pouring concrete into a wooden or steel cast, often with wire mesh or rebar inside. Then, it’s secured in a stable environment. For smaller pieces, this will likely be a plant or factory. Once the curing process is over, the precast concrete will be transported to the construction site or a retail store where it can be sold.
Precast concrete has many different benefits. Rather than worrying with pouring concrete on site and waiting for it to cure, you can bring in precast concrete to meet your needs immediately.
In addition, the flexibility of being able to shape your concrete anyway you need, and of finishing it with the appropriate colors and texture make it an unbeatable option when you need multiple, similar concrete items created.
And since precast concrete is produced in a stable, controlled environment, there is little chance that outside variables will wreak havoc on the quality of your final product. You can be sure that every one of your items will be cured uniformly.
If you choose to go with precast concrete, you’ll need to choose a manufacturer that can produce the concrete item that you need. If you don’t choose a reputable business, you may lose some of the valuable benefits of precast concrete. So, make sure to do your due diligence when searching for the perfect precast concrete manufacturer for you.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Magnetic Steel Triangle Chamfer Factory. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.