Is Precast Concrete Cheaper for Home Construction?

Precast concrete has been used for many years in the production of commercial premises; it’s not a new thing and is tried and tested. Now, it is starting to be used in some residential builds, leading to the question of whether it is cheaper than the more traditional brick or even timber-framed building methods.

What Is Precast Concrete?

It’s concrete which has been poured into a mold in the factory. Once it has fully set it can be transported on a lorry to any site and then used to build the property. This is not something you can do yourself, you’ll need a specialist in precast concrete to create the walls of your home for you.

The Benefits Of Precast Concrete

The most obvious benefit is time. Precast concrete can be quickly made in the factory and transported to your site. You can then erect a whole wall in minutes, with the right tools. Not only will you save time preparing the product, but the house build will also be much faster and less labor intensive.

Because you’ll need fewer workers to erect the walls, you’ll actually be able to save money on the construction process.

But, perhaps more important, is the fact that concrete mixed and dried in a factory can be carefully controlled; ensuring maximum strength and consistency. This can be difficult to achieve when you create concrete onsite.

A more recent advancement in precast concrete is allowing polystyrene centers to each panel created. The strength is still present but the precast section is lighter and better at insulating your home.

The Cost Factor

Precast concrete is relatively cheap to manufacturer, but there will be a charge for the service that relates to the time and space being used as well as for any unique molds that are necessary.

In addition, the precast concrete needs to be lifted onto a lorry and transported to your site. This is a more costly and cumbersome process than the delivery of bricks or even pre-mixed concrete.

In addition, you’ll need to have cranes and other specialist equipment to handle the precast concrete panels at your site; they cannot be simply carried around the site.

The pay-off comes because you’ll need less staff on site and for less time. Of course, as with any build, the exact savings will depend on the amount of work you’re doing yourself, the size of the building you want to create and the product you are comparing it to.

Is It Cheaper?

There are many factors which come into play which makes it impossible to give a definitive answer to this. However, the general consensus is that home builds under fifty square meters are unlikely to be cheaper with precast concrete; regardless of which building material you choose.

But, if you go over this space size, then precast concrete can often be the cheaper option.

You also need to remember that precast concrete needs no ongoing maintenance and will last for many years, making it cheaper in the long run than most alternatives.