When you get a quote from a precast concrete company, you might be tempted to try to do the job yourself. After all, how hard could it be? We don’t recommend DIY precast concrete. Here’s why you shouldn’t attempt pouring your own precast concrete.
1. It will probably end up costing you – in more ways than one.
Professionals have the equipment and experience to do the job right the first time. When you add up all the hours it will take you to learn how to do the job, plus the hours to do the job, the cost really starts to go up.
When you are doing something for the first time, you naturally will be a lot slower than someone who has done it hundreds of times. Remember that your time is money.
Don’t forget you need to buy all the tools to do the job right. Some of the tools you will need are:
- Concrete mixer
- Bull float or darby
- Magnesium float
- Heavy-duty concrete groover
Imagine you do something wrong, and the whole precast concrete job has to be redone. Ouch, it’s really starting to cost you.
Even if you don’t need to immediately redo the job, installing or curing precast concrete incorrectly will damage the lifespan of the concrete. What should have lasted 50 or more years will only last a fraction of that.
Endless repairs and replacements to poorly installed and cured concrete will really add up in the long run. When you account for the true cost, it’s cheaper to let professionals take over.
2. You will end up with a lower-quality product.
One of the most important parts of creating high-quality precast concrete is the curing period. This is after you have poured the concrete, and it starts to harden. The right temperature and moisture level are vital to getting the best precast concrete product possible.
When we make precast concrete, we do so with a very set climate and way of doing things. We are out of the rain, snow, heat, and cold. This allows for the best curing environment possible. You cannot easily replicate this in your garage or backyard.
We also inspect every part before it leaves the warehouse. Our inspectors are highly trained to know what to look for and stop faulty parts from ending up on your job site.
What are the consequences of a lower quality product? A shorter lifespan, costly maintenance, and an ugly product that is cracking and crumbling.
3. It’s safer to let professionals do the job.
Because professionals pour precast concrete all day, every day, we know the process like the back of our hands. We know how to handle the materials and what to look out for. Our warehouse has regular meetings about safety to keep employees from getting hurt.
When you are installing precast concrete for the first time, you don’t have that same awareness. You will make mistakes, and those mistakes could get you hurt.
Whether it’s slipping on wet concrete or tripping over the forms, you could get hurt enough to go to the hospital or be stuck in bed for weeks. It just isn’t worth it.
American Precast Concrete
If you want to learn more about precast concrete, contact our specialists at American Precast Concrete Inc for a free consultation today. We look forward to assisting you with your fencing needs!