Cast-In-Place Concrete | Cast in Situ Concrete Vs Precast Concrete Cost

Cast-In-Place Concrete | Cast in Situ Concrete Vs Precast Concrete Cost

Cast-In-Place Concrete

What Is Cast-In-Place Concrete(Cast in Situ)?

Cast-in-place Concrete, often known as poured-in-place or cast in situ, is a method of concreting that is carried out in situ, or in the finished location of the concrete component.  It is a method of constructing in which the walls and slabs of the buildings are cast on-site in formwork.

This is in contrast to precast concrete technique, in which slabs are cast off-site and then transported and installed on-site.

For concrete slabs and foundations, as well as structural components such as beams, columns, walls, and roofs, cast-in-place concrete is the preferred method.

Typically, the concrete is transported to the job site in an unhardened state, frequently through a ready mixed concrete truck. A chute extends from the truck’s rear to deposit the concrete in the desired spot or into a dumper or pump.

Precast concrete is an alternate method of concrete construction that is prepared, cast, and cured off-site, typically in a controlled manufacturing setting, using reusable molds. More information is available at Precast concrete.

While cast-in-place concrete provides greater flexibility and adaptability, it can be challenging to regulate the mix, especially in inclement weather.

Additionally, cast-in-place concrete requires a strength test and curing time, making it more time consuming to produce than precast concrete. However, because the structural system contains fewer joints, less handling equipment is required.

The advantages of this technology include the building’s strength, insulation, and adaptability to a variety of building styles. Disadvantages include a higher labor need and increased costs.

Formwork is needed to design the shape of cast-in-place concrete as it cures. Plywood and milled lumber are the most often used materials for formwork, which contribute to construction waste and the environmental impact of timber harvesting and processing.

Wooden formwork can be constructed from salvaged wood and is frequently removed and repurposed.

Cast-In-Place Concrete/ Cast in Situ Concrete Vs. Precast Concrete

What is the difference between cast-in-place concrete and precast concrete?

Precast concrete is designed and produced in a factory and then transported to a construction site in individual units. Each precast unit is similar to a standalone block that is linked to make a structure.

Precast units are frequently employed in low- to mid-rise structures such as apartments or offices due to their reduced lead times and greater durability.

On the other hand, cast-in-place concrete is mixed and poured directly into a mold on-site. Consider this the more “conventional” method of concrete construction, in which cement trucks come on-site and workers pour the mix into a designated location.

 It is mostly utilized in the construction of foundations and load-bearing structures such as beams and columns.

Is Cast in Situ Concrete or Precast Concrete Better?

Precast concrete products are typically more durable than on-site poured concrete goods. Because they are manufactured in a controlled environment that adheres to tight rules and regulations, the mixing, placement, and curing of the concrete are simplified. Product quality is improved through increased efficiency.

Also using precast concrete maximizes material efficiency. Material waste is eliminated with precast concrete’s precision. This is far more difficult to accomplish on-site, as the inefficiency of concrete preparation encourages contractors to mix more concrete than necessary.

Is Precast Cheaper Than Cast in Place/ Cast in Situ Concrete?

Precast concrete has a number of advantages, including reduced site labor, reduced waste, reduced volume of building materials, and improved environmental and construction site cleanliness.

Along with the benefits of quality control, factory cast concrete is more effectively created, lowering costs.

Previous surveys have shown that precast concrete slabs were on average 20% cheaper than the cast-in-place concrete elements and precast columns were averagely 21.4% less than cast-in-place concrete columns.

Because precast concrete can be manufactured on an assembly line, each cast needs significantly less labor and hence costs less in labor.

Additionally, the usage of precast goods increases safety on the construction site and lowers construction time.

 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Cast-In-Place / Cast in Situ Concrete

The Advantages of Cast-in-Place/ Cast in Situ Concrete

Cast In Place Is Very Versatility

Because cast-in-place concrete is so versatile, it may be used to construct a wide variety of different types of homes and buildings. Builders can create highly exact, customisable forms using computer modeling applications.

Builders can also utilize standard forms for cast-in-place concrete basement walls in some instances.

This adaptability makes cast-in-place concrete suitable for both small-scale residential construction and large-scale, architecturally ambitious projects.

Cast-In-Place Concrete Strength

Cast-in-place concrete is particularly strong. This strength derives from the fact that concrete is a material that is extremely resistant to cracking and cracking does not occur in cast-in-place concrete.

 Instead, when the form freezes, it holds all of its form components together by means of small ice crystals that are trapped within the aggregate material.

This strength and durability make cast in place concrete ideal for use in construction that involves heavy objects like bridges or buildings and for situations where a building or bridge may be exposed to extreme weather conditions.

Cast-In-Place Concrete Is Resistant to Structural Damage

Cast-in-place concrete walls are extremely resistant to damage. This is because they are made from a material that remains solid until it freezes.

Once the freeze is reached, the form freezes hard and retains its shape until it melts into a liquid state.

Strength Requirement

Cast-in-place concrete can be used in situations where a building or structure needs to be strong and long lasting in order to withstand heavy loads such as snow and rain.

Insulation

Cast-in-place concrete is also a very effective insulator. This property comes from the fact that concrete maintains its shape by creating a spongy network of tiny ice crystals within the material.

Cast-In-Place Concrete Economical

Cast-in-place concrete offers great economic advantages over other forms of construction materials. One of these benefits is that it offers an alternative to costly steel and wood structures, as well as concrete foundations and structures for multi-storey homes.

Durability

Another advantage of using cast-in-place concrete is that it can be produced in a way that does not result in the deterioration of the material.

Concrete retains its shape and size for a longer period of time than other construction materials, which means that buildings, buildings can last for decades without needing to be replaced.

Adaptability

Cast-in-place concrete can be used in very efficient ways without the need to adapt or modify its form and structure. All that is required is to fill in the necessary forms and make sure that they are strong enough to support the weight of the concrete.

Convenience

Concrete can be poured into forms very quickly and without the need for any specialized equipment or tools. The process is also easy and simple to carry out, as all that is required is a wheelbarrow and some formwork to make it easier.

 Can Be Reinforced to Make It Stronger

If the formwork breaks, cast-in-place concrete will still be able to support its own weight. If it is reinforced with steel bars, it can thereby become even stronger than other types of concrete.

Is Resistant to Water and Mold

Cast-in-place concrete is also very well protected against both water and mold because the surface of its forms are quite smooth. That means that they do not allow much to grow bacteria or fungus on them and thereby increasing their durability and resistance to deterioration.

Is Strong and Stable

When cast-in-place concrete is poured into its forms, it becomes much stronger than even the heaviest of poured-in-place concrete. It can be made into very large slabs without the need for any specific reinforcement that would usually be required with other types of concrete.

Is Easy to Repair

The cast-in-place concrete can easily be repaired when broken and needs no special equipment or tools to make this easier, unlike poured in place concrete which does require these specialized tools.

Does Not Require Heavy Machinery

To install cast-in-place concrete you only need basic tools which are already available in any top-notch construction site. All you need is a crane, winch, or bulldozer to lay the rebar and set the forms. It is time consuming but it does not require heavy machinery unlike poured-in-place concrete that does require heavy machinery like cranes, excavators and dozers for setting the forms and placing the concrete.  

Has No Special Machinery

Unlike precast concrete, cast-in-place concrete does not require any special machinery to install which is the reason that it can be used for projects that do not need to be very large. This alone makes it a great choice for smaller home and commercial construction.

Improves The Earthquake Resistant Properties of Buildings

The durability that cast-in-place concrete offers makes it the perfect material for buildings that are built using earthquake resistant design principles to withstand earthquakes. The uniformity of the concrete is necessary to provide the ultimate stability of a building.

 Disadvantages of Cast-in-Place / Cast in Situ Concrete

Labour Intensive

One of the few significant downsides of cast-in-place concrete is the high labor need. Builders must first construct forms for the walls they intend to cast, then install and mix the concrete in the forms.

The Forms

Forms used to cast the concrete must be strong enough to hold the weight of the concrete being poured into it. It isn’t as strong as the concrete that is poured into it and can easily break, despite having steel rods embedded in the formwork.

Costly

Cast-in-place concrete can more costly than precast concrete simply because it requires a high level of labor and materials to produce and install. It also takes more time to install because you have to construct the forms, place the rebar in the forms and mix the concrete with the necessary ingredients.

Difficult To Replace

Another significant disadvantage of cast-in-place concrete is that it cannot be replaced as easily as precast concrete. If the formwork breaks, the cast-in-place concrete will still hold its place but it will not be able to hold any additional weight beyond its own. It cannot be repaired by simply pouring more concrete into the same forms and reinforcing them with more steel rods because this would only result in a heavier slab of concrete that may not even hold up.

Difficult To Remove

Moreover, it is very difficult to remove the cast-in-place concrete, unlike poured in place concrete that can easily be removed when it needs to be repaired or replaced.

Difficult To Reuse

When a structure made with cast-in-place concrete is done with, you cannot simply take it away and reuse it in future projects as you can with other types of building materials such as wood.

Takes More Time To Build

Another disadvantage of cast-in-place concrete is that it takes a longer time to construct because you have to construct more forms, lay rebar in the form and mix the concrete properly. Those taking part in this process must also ensure that they understand how to mix and pour the concrete so as not to waste time.

Takes Longer To Dry

Concrete has a much greater drying time compared with ready-made precast concrete. This is particularly important when building a foundation as this must be properly dried for the best results.