Designing school seating, but haven’t considered precast? This might be the article to sway you.

Here we’ll discuss the many benefits of why you should choose precast seating for school and university environments, and where to go for quality products you can rely on.

Advantages of Choosing Precast Seating for Schools 

Opting for precast seating when designing a school or university campus is fast becoming popular, and there are innumerable reasons for this. In this section, we’ll break down some of the reasons why this is a reliable solution.

Durable 

One of the biggest advantages of precast concrete – and precast seating in particular – is its durability. Wooden and steel benches corrode over time, making your campus look shabby and run down.

Precast seating is known to be a long lasting material that will not corrode, regardless of weather and other conditions, like having children climb all over it.

Difficult to Vandalise 

Traditional seating options are fairly easy to vandalise, and can be difficult to repair when vandalism does occur. Precast seating, on the other hand, is resistant to such damage. And, when cleaned and maintained correctly, can easily return to its original state should vandalism occur.

Intensive Design Process 

Designing precast seating is an intensive process, usually during one-on-one consultations where you can discuss custom specifications. This is not something you can do with traditional seating solutions.

Manufactured Off Site with Reduced WHS Risk

When you choose seating that is made from in-situ concrete, it needs to be manufactured on site. This takes time, as the area needs to be cordoned off, which can be tricky in a school or university environment.

But precast seating can be manufactured off-site, and delivered ready to go so there is no construction site on campus that you, your teachers and students have to worry about. This reduces your workplace health and safety risk, which is always a positive.

No Prepping or Formwork 

Continuing on from our previous point about precast seating being manufactured off site, there is also no need for additional preparation or scaffolding the way you may need for other school seating solutions.

Quality Control

At Specialty Precast, quality control is one of the most important things we can do. Each and every mould or seating model is inspected by our professionals, and does not leave our manufacturer’s premises until it’s perfect. This isn’t something you can guarantee with other options on the market.

Heights of Up to 80 Storeys

Precast seating is adaptable to any number of applications and can be built up to 80 storeys high. This makes it a great solution for campuses with stadiums or larger precincts that need to seat more people.

Sustainable 

These days, educational precincts are looking for more ways to be environmentally friendly, which is something you can achieve with precast seating. This is a very sustainable and eco-friendly product, with little to no waste due to its recyclability.

Where to Go for Quality Precast Seating 

If you need precast seating for your schools or university campuses, you can’t go past our team at Specialty Precast. We have over 40 years experience in the industry and specialise in custom precast products and seating you can rely on.

Get started on your precast seating design today by contacting our experts at Specialty Precast.

Can you paint precast concrete? In this article, our experts answer a question we’re asked often.

Whether or not you can paint precast concrete is a question that comes up fairly regularly. Here, we’ll provide you with the answers you need, including advice on how to go about painting precast concrete, how many coats are needed and where to go for advice on maintaining your precast concrete.

Can You Paint Precast Concrete 

At Specialty Precast, we aim to provide our clients with precast concrete that is ready to go – regardless of how you intend to use it. But if you ultimately want to paint your precast product, it certainly is possible to do so.

How to Paint Precast Concrete 

As specialists in precast concrete, we would recommend getting experts to paint your precast concrete. However, there are a couple of steps you can take to attempt it yourself.

– choose an appropriate (outdoor) paint
– clean your concrete
– examine for cracks and arrange for a professional repair if any are found
– check for moisture – using a plastic sheet and leaving it for 24 hours (if moisture is found, reseal your concrete before beginning)
-apply concrete primer and allow to dry overnight – you may need to apply again if it’s still see-through and leave to dry
-roll, spray or brush on paint, ensuring it’s not streaky and leave to dry for 24 hours

-seal your concrete

How Many Coats Do You Need to Apply When Painting Precast Concrete? 

Generally speaking, you will need to apply at least three coats of paint to your precast concrete. This is in addition to your primer and any other preparation sealers you need to apply.

It may take some time, but if you want to do the job properly, this is what you need to do.

Where to Go for Quality, Sustainable Precast Concrete 

In our opinion, if you want to be certain your precast concrete is quality as well as sustainable and paintable, there’s only one thing to do: contact Specialty Precast.

We’ve been in the business for decades and have developed a product you can trust, with staff who know the industry backwards and forwards.

Talk to our design team today about options for a sustainable, quality precast concrete solution.

How long does precast concrete last? When does it start to deteriorate and what can you do to protect it?

These are questions we’ll answer in this article, as well as where to go to ensure you get a quality finished product.

Typically How Long Does Precast Concrete Last? 

Precast concrete is considered to be one of the most durable construction materials, which is why it’s used in a variety of ways – regardless of whether they are primarily in the construction industry or not.

When manufactured correctly with the appropriate quality control measures (such as that we have at Specialty Precast), precast concrete can last anywhere between 50 and 100 years.

When Does Precast Concrete Deteriorate? 

Generally, precast concrete may start to show signs of deterioration at around the 50 year mark.  However if your concrete has been properly treated and maintained, you mightn’t see wear until much later.

Signs of Concrete Deterioration 

There are several signs you can be on the lookout for as evidence your concrete is starting to show its age. Some of the most common are:

– cracks
– thermal cracking
– scaling
– spalling
– abrasion or erosion

What to Do if You Recognise these Symptoms in Precast Concrete 

If these symptoms are familiar to you, it’s probably best to consult a precast concrete professional (such as those we have on staff) for advice and solutions for fixing the issue.

How to Protect Your Precast Concrete 

As with anything, you can potentially increase the lifespan of your precast concrete by ensuring it is well-maintained, and cleaned on a regular basis.

We have more tips and tricks on how to do this here, but the general rule of thumb is that you should try to clean your precast concrete at least once a year. This is also the time at which you should re-apply your sealant, to prevent any potential damage to the precast concrete product.

It is also recommended that you try to prevent external factors such as graffiti to protect your precast concrete.

Taking care of your precast concrete also includes things like making sure you choose an installation location where it’s less likely to be damaged or chipped accidentally, and ensuring you re-apply the sealant as per the manufacturer’s specifications.

How to Be Sure You Have Quality, Durable Precast Concrete 

In our opinion, there is only really one way to ensure you have the best precast concrete. Choose Specialty Precast.

We’ve been manufacturing quality, durable precast concrete for decades, in a variety of shapes and forms. 

We know exactly how to meet our clients’ requirements, no matter how out-of-the-box they may be, always delivering on time and to the highest standard possible.

To order your long-lasting precast concrete – or find out more about our solutions – contact our expert team today.  

As a manufactured product, does precast concrete have the capability to withstand natural disasters better than in-situ concrete? Here we’ll tell you all you need to know.

When working in any form of construction, you want to be certain the product you choose – be it natural or man-made – will be durable under the required conditions. But can precast concrete – as durable as it is – withstand severe weather or natural disasters? In this article, you’ll find out.

Can Precast Concrete Withstand Natural Disasters?

One of the biggest benefits of precast concrete is the fact that it is impervious to severe weather, and high winds. It is also resistant to other natural disasters such as floods or fire.

This makes it the ideal building solution when constructing in disaster prone areas, not only in Queensland, but throughout Australia and beyond. 

What Other Types of Weather Events Can Precast Concrete Endure? 

Precast concrete (especially that made with Specialty Precast and our team of professionals)  has been known to endure all kinds of different weather events. This includes:
– high winds and cyclonic conditions
– fire
– flood

What Sort of Fire Resistance Do Precast Concrete Walls or Panels Have?

Precast concrete walls or panels are particularly good for fire resistance due to their thickness of 170mm. This gives it a 4 hour fire resistance (AS 3600 – 2001 Section 5 design for fire resistance). It is presumably for this reason that precast concrete walls and panels are a good option for those building in rural or fire-prone areas.

Is Precast Concrete Watertight? 

Despite its porous nature, precast concrete is watertight. This means it is resistant to water. In fact, research suggests that it will take over 40, 000 years for water to penetrate 6 inch thick precast concrete.

While this doesn’t exactly make it completely resistant to damage during floods, it is much preferred over poured concrete. Remember that, after any natural disaster of this type, you should always check your concrete product for flaws and, where possible, have them repaired or replaced as soon as you can.

So it is Possible to Damage Precast Concrete in Natural Disasters.

Yes, precast concrete is resistant to damage in natural disasters, however it’s not completely infallible.  You may experience some damage to precast concrete if a natural disaster occurs. It all comes down to how bad the natural disaster was. 

But, the fact of the matter is that, if you’re weighing up your options between poured/in-situ concrete and that of precast concrete, products like those made at Specialty Precast are always more likely to withstand adverse weather conditions or natural disasters.

When to Contact Specialty Precast

If your precast concrete walls have been through a natural disaster, or you simply want to find out more about the benefits of choosing precast concrete in such circumstances, contact the team at Specialty Precast.

We are always working hard to make sure our products are some of the best in the business, and it’s this commitment to excellence that has earnt us a reputation you can rely on over the last forty years or so.

For precast concrete that will keep you safe in natural disasters, contact us today.

Considering precast concrete as flooring in your latest construction project? This is where you need to be before you start.

In this article, we’ll discuss the things you need to consider when choosing precast concrete as your go-to flooring option, and when to contact the team at Specialty Precast.

So What Do You Need to Consider When Choosing Precast Concrete as Flooring? 

There are, in fact, several things you need to consider when opting for precast concrete flooring in your construction project. Here, we’ll discuss some of the most common:

Type of Permanent Support

Precast concrete comes to your site pre-moulded, so it can’t be shaped once it’s in place, the way poured concrete can. As such, you need to consider the type of permanent supports you’ll need in place to make way for the precast concrete.

Type of Temporary Support 

When you’re installing precast concrete flooring, you will need temporary support solutions as your project is pieced together. Make sure they are the right size, capacity and weight before you start bringing in your precast concrete.

Maximum Span

Most precast concrete slabs for flooring have a span of 15m. If you need something customised, you will need to contact your manufacturer and discuss your specific dimensions before it shows up to site, only to find it doesn’t fit where you need it. 

Thickness & Weight 

Precast concrete flooring is generally between 125 to 150mm in thickness, and fairly sturdy in terms of the weight capacity it can hold.

However, if you don’t check this before you start building (especially if you intend on using flooring in something like a multi-storey complex), you need to make sure it can withstand it without causing structural issues in the future.

Thermal Insulation 

Thermal insulation is one of the key reasons many architects and construction companies choose precast concrete for flooring. Its energy efficiency properties make it great for sustainable projects, but if you’re looking for a particular rating, you should check with your manufacturer.

Fire Resistance 

Fire resistance is another main reason why precast concrete makes an optimal flooring material, so it’s important to consider this (and the specific rating you’re looking for) when choosing the right mould or design for you.

When to Contact Specialty Precast

If you want quality precast concrete for flooring in your next construction project, contact Specialty Precast.

We are always working hard to make sure our products are some of the best in the business, and it’s this commitment to excellence that has earnt us a reputation you can rely on over the last forty years or so.

To find out more about your options for precast concrete flooring, contact us today.

Are you planning on installing a water tank on your property, but haven’t considered the benefits of a precast concrete option? If so, this is the article for you.

Here we’ll focus on the advantages of installing a precast concrete water tank – both in comparison to plastic water tanks and poured concrete water tanks. We’ll also discuss when you should contact our expert team at Specialty Precast for assistance.

Advantages of a Precast Concrete Water Tank 

The benefits of precast concrete water tanks for your home or office are almost innumerable. In this section, we’ll break down some of the most common reasons people opt for this solution.

Durable 

As a man-made manufactured concrete, precast concrete water tanks are a lot more durable than those made with poured concrete. And they are especially more durable than plastic or PVC versions.

Long-Lasting 

Even water tanks made from poured concrete will deteriorate sooner than those constructed with precast materials. 

This is because the construction quality isn’t quite as high and there will often be unavoidable gaps in the poured concrete. Of course, this doesn’t happen with the precast concrete options we have available, and what’s more, it’s less likely to rust or deteriorate in other ways.

Cost Effective

Even with the recent fluctuation in the construction industry, precast concrete is still thought to be a much more cost-effective option than its plastic or poured concrete counterparts. This is especially the case when you consider the amount you’ll be saving on reduced maintenance costs.

Improved Hygiene

Research suggests that rainwater stored in tanks made of precast concrete – as opposed to plastic or poured concrete – is more hygienic. This is because precast concrete tanks are better at keeping out pollution, which means the water is cleaner for you to drink.

Improved Temperature Control

Concrete is great for maintaining temperature control. So the water that is stored in a precast concrete water tank is a lot cooler than plastic (or poured concrete, for that matter).

Easy Installation & Quick Delivery 

One of the biggest benefits of precast concrete is its ease of installation, and our water tanks are no exception to that. And because they’re made in moulds, the project is complete from start to finish a lot sooner than other options on the market.

Customisable, Aesthetically Pleasing Designs

Plastic or even poured concrete water tanks usually only come in a range of sizes and capacity levels. This is not the case when you choose a precast concrete water tank, because your dimensions, capacity level, colour and so much more is completely customisable to your specific needs.

When to Contact Specialty Precast 

While we don’t manufacture water tanks for in-ground installation, you’re more than welcome to contact us about your above-ground requirements, and other options you have available for your project.

We are always working hard to make sure our products are some of the best in the business, and it’s this commitment to excellence that has earnt us a reputation you can rely on over the last forty years or so.

To discuss your precast concrete needs with experts in the industry, contact us today.

So you’re in the market for a precast boat ramp, but don’t know how to go about it? This is the article for you.

Here we’ll discuss some of the most important things you need to consider when designing boat ramps made from precast concrete, whether installation is determined by the tides and why we wouldn’t recommend designing your own boat ramp.

Factors to Take Into Account When Designing Precast Boat Ramps

There are several things you need to take into consideration when designing any precast product, but it is especially important to take certain factors into account when designing a precast boat ramp.

Here we’ll discuss some of the things you may not have thought about when designing your precast boat ramp.

Size of Ramp

The size of your precast boat ramp needs to be taken. This includes the width and length of your ramp, and it is important to be aware of your required dimensions.

The facility or harbour at which you store your boat may be able to provide you with guidelines as to the size of your boat ramp, but you may also be able to ask our experts during the design phase.

Size of Your Boat and Car

One thing that will help determine the dimensions of your boat ramp (and is therefore something that influences the design) is the size of your boat. A longer, heavier boat will require a boat ramp that is longer and able to sustain the weight placed upon it, but if your car or boat is smaller and doesn’t weigh so much, it will influence your required measurements.

Slope

The ramp’s slope and how far it can be out of the water is something you will need to consider during the design process. If the slope is too narrow, or too wide it may cause serious issues and damage for people using the ramp.

Distance to Coast

How close your preferred precast boat ramp location is to the coast is something you will also need to take into consideration when it comes to the design of your boat ramp.

Maximum Weight

Just as you need to consider the weight of the boat, car or other vehicle and trailer that may be using the ramp at any given time, you also need to be aware of the maximum weight your ramp is designed to take.

If you exceed this capacity, you may end up causing damage to:
– your vehicle or trailer
– your boat
– your precast boat ramp
– boat ramp infrastructure
– marine environment and the animals inhabiting it

Local Government or Authority Requirements

Of course, if your local government or marine authority has certain requirements about the design of your precast boat ramp, these usually trump any other considerations.

These regulations or restrictions need to be followed to a T and should be verified before you start your design to ensure you will be able to use the precast boat ramp when your project is complete.

Do You Have to Wait Until a Certain Time of Day to Install a Precast Boat Ramp?

Unlike in-situ or poured concrete, you generally do not have to wait until a certain time of day to install your precast boat ramp, as it doesn’t rely on high or low tide as much.

That said, it is something you should check with the relevant authorities and installation should always be completed by a trained professional with the appropriate qualifications to do so.

Why We Wouldn’t Recommend Designing Your Own Precast Boat Ramp

While basic plans and sketches are one thing, we at Specialty Precast would not recommend designing a boat ramp without assistance from a professional designer.

This is because designing boat ramps, the regulations you need to follow and the necessary certifications are not something your average layperson would know (or even know they need to be aware of).

At Specialty Precast, we’ve been in the industry for decades, honing our craft as specialist manufacturers of civil precast concrete and boat ramps that stand the test of time.

To get started on the design of your precast boat ramp, speak to the experienced team at Specialty Precast today.