Precast Concrete
Specialised Concrete Products in Nelson offers a diverse range of precast and prestressed concrete solutions. Our robust and dependable structures are ideal for both commercial and residential projects. Trust us to deliver durable and aesthetically pleasing results, tailored to your specific needs.
Precast concrete
Precast concrete is poured into a reusable mould or ‘form’, cured in a controlled environment, and lifted into place. Precast concrete offers durable, flexible solutions for floors, walls and even roofs in every type of domestic construction from individual houses to multistorey apartments. Precast concrete’s high initial embodied energy can be offset by its long lifespan and high potential for reuse and relocation.
Common production methods include tilt-up (poured on site) and precast (poured off site and transported to site).
Key points
- Precast concrete is poured into a reusable mould or ‘form’, cured in a controlled environment, then lifted into place.
- Precast concrete can be poured on site and then lifted, or poured off site and transported to site before lifting.
- Precast concrete can be used for floors, walls, or roofs of any building. As with other concrete products, it has high embodied energy and can be used to provide thermal mass in passive design.
- Precast concrete is durable and requires minimal maintenance.
- Precasting can provide a fast building process. However, careful design and planning is needed to ensure the openings and other details meet the design needs.
Advantages of precast concrete
- Fast construction times
- Reliable supply — typically manufactured in purpose-built factories and not affected by weather conditions
- High performance in thermal comfort, durability, acoustic separation, and resistance to fire and flooding
- Inherent strength and structural capacity that meets New Zealand engineering design standards for housing
- High flexibility in form, shape, and available finishes
- Ability to integrate services such as electrical and plumbing within precast elements
- Minimal waste — low wastage rates on-site, with most factory waste recycled
- Safer construction sites due to reduced clutter
- Opportunity to incorporate waste materials such as fly ash
- Easy to deconstruct, reuse, or recycle