Tilt-up construction is a great way for general contractors to build a wide range of commercial buildings more quickly and with lower construction costs than the traditional methods. So, if you are planning business expansion or even you are starting up something that requires a building, i.e. restaurant, warehouse, retail store etc. you might consider Tilt-up construction.
Tilt-up construction has been with us for quite some time and remains to be one of the most advantageous construction strategies for business buildings. Invented by a Californian architect Irving Gill in the early 1920s, who utilized it to express smooth, undecorated aesthetic and was inspired with the method’s engineering efficacy.
As time passed, tilt-up construction method became the favourite option for warehouses, big-box and low-cost housing projects because of its speed of erection, ease of use, and high durability. Such construction also has the capability to bring creatively shaped, multi-storey complex buildings that attracted the attention of many a unique architect over the past decades.
Tilt-up construction offers various advantages over traditional construction and steel buildings for call or distribution centres, warehouses, office properties, retail stores and other kinds of industrial and commercial building construction projects.
Read on to discover the various benefits of the tilt-up construction method.
1- Fast construction
Tilt-up building provides multiple opportunities to “compress” the time of construction and deliver buildings fast. Although the casting process of the panels requires certain time, the overall process of installing a tilt-up wall is one of the quickest. When the panels are ready, only a crane is needed to tilt them up for installation.
Wall erection is quicker than when building a wall using traditional construction methods. The trades can start working earlier in the process on a tilt-up construction project, which offers bigger overlapping of project phases.
While panels are cast, crews that perform other worksite operations can still complete this side of the project as well. Such things increase worker safety while also reducing worksite congestion.
As the building is made from ready-mix concrete from local sources, the project will probably be less affected by transportation delays as well. Such factors create a quicker, more predictable schedule with a lower number of chances for delays and associated cost overruns.
2- Cheaper construction expenses
Tilt-up construction method offers various construction cost reductions. Its transportation processes are the most controllable and fastest options available on the market. Again, its ability to compress the schedule and the availability of locally made raw materials that aren’t shipped in both contribute to lowering the overall construction costs. In other words, raw material costs are lower; the material is available when needed and less prone to price fluctuations.
For these reasons, many companies adopted this style of construction. Some of them even went further with cost reduction, like tilt panel construction Brisbane businesses which have mastered the style completely.
This style of construction also minimizes the need for perimeter steel and footing, thus making its load bearing attractive. Ultimately, its process of completing multiple operations all at once makes it a favourable economic choice. Smaller crews are needed for the traditional construction, which again reduces labour expenses.
3- Sound, heat and fire insulation
Concrete comes with its own effective insulation, reducing overhead costs for the tenants and businesses alike. Such insulation envelops sound protection as well as temperature protection.
There are also other viable solutions regarding your insulation needs, such as good insulation for metal buildings that can be as efficient as concrete insulation.
Employees in tilt-up office buildings that are located in noisy areas are less affected by such environments. In the same regard, a manufacturing company that creates a lot of noise will have less effect on its close proximity neighbours and will discover it is much easier to adhere to local noise ordinances.
The concrete utilized in tilt-up panels meets the fire-resistance standards of even the most demanding building rules. For instance, a 5.5’’ concrete panel wall offers a fire resistance rating of 4 hours.
Tilp-up panels are also usually utilized in the property’s interior as fire walls. In other words, tilt-up panels offer real fire security to their tenants, workers or for ongoing work operations.
Facilities that need bigger security and management of the interior environment, like classified manufacturing workplaces, prisons or research facilities that require sterile conditions, will also appreciate the control and strength created by concrete tilt-up buildings.
The Bottom Line:
After this improved understanding of these advantages, it is obvious why many building contractors, construction managers, and savvy real estate owners are opting for tilt-up panels over steel properties or traditional construction projects.
Having considered the improved value, quickness and responsiveness, quality and durability, and reduced operating and ongoing costs savings, we can vouch that tilt-up construction is here to stay for a broad range of commercial or even housing construction projects.