For concrete contractors, staying on top of competition is essential especially with the steady growth that the industry is experiencing currently. Therefore, it is not enough to offer your clients outdated concrete concepts. Notably, property owners are always on the lookout for contractors that can meet their unique tastes and preferences. Keeping abreast with the latest trends in concrete panels design, manufacture and installation is the best way to ensure that you retain and attract new clients. This article highlights some of the significant trends in concrete panels.
Rigid Footing System (RFS)
The conventional way of erecting and installing concrete panels is gradually fading. More contractors are shifting away from grouted cell connections where rebar stick out from the footing of a concrete panel into a column. The reason is that the system requires grouting of each column to support the concrete panels. Therefore, contractors end up spending a lot of time doing the installation, which might cause delays.
With a rigid footing system, however, you embed thick I-beams to form pier-like, solid concrete that acts as the footing. Concrete panels are then installed into the rigid concrete foundations. The best part about RFS is that the footings readily support the weight of concrete panels thereby eliminating the need for rebar. Additionally, RFS removes the need to brace concrete panels as you do the finishing touches on the panels.
Green Concrete Panels
Property owners are increasingly becoming environmentally conscious, and they are making this a requirement when meeting with contractors. Consequently, most contractors are looking for concrete panel suppliers whose products are made from all natural material such as shredded tires and wood waste. Additionally, the green materials used to make concrete panels give the product a reasonably porous and equally absorptive finish. The best part is that your clients will not have to worry about dealing with manufacturing byproducts such as furnace slag.
Decorative Panels
The days when you would put up a concrete wall and decorate it while still wet are slowly drifting away. Property owners today prefer precast panels that feature decorations that meet their taste. Decorative precast concrete panels offer you an opportunity to tap into the dynamic market. The good news is that there is a vast array of decorative features that your clients can choose from. For instance, some textures mimic the look of natural stone such as stucco while others imitate the appearance of wood or even surrounding vegetation. To ensure you have a satisfied clientele base, ensure that the decorative profiles on the concrete panels you order are similar.
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