05-11-2015, 10:20 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-11-2015, 10:20 AM by BuildingScout.)
(05-11-2015, 06:44 AM)Spokes Wrote: Obviously faster, but what are other benefits?
(1) Concrete is rather sensitive to curing conditions. While nothing unsafe happens outdoors, properly temperature and humidity controlled cured concrete shows increased strength and lower permeability.
(2) There are decreases in quality when the concrete sits too long in the mixing truck. This is regulated so there is an expiry time for a load of concrete. If you use the load just within the time limit this is still safe, but nonetheless weaker concrete.
(3) The rebar placement shows less errors. My numbers are rather old, but I recall studies during demolition showing that a non negligible amount of rebar was out of place or improperly secured at cross members. ICF has guides that make sure rebar is where it is supposed to be, precast concrete is done at eye level in an enclosed facility usually with standard forms, so the probability of error is even lower.
(4) Less errors of alignment. You'd be surprised the number of walls which aren't true to the vertical.
(5) ICF: higher insulation factor.