Why Choose Tilt-Up Concrete Construction?
Tilt-up construction (also called tiltwall or tilt-wall construction) has a long history, but its widespread use is a relatively new phenomenon. In spite of this, tilt-up construction is fast becoming the method of choice for constructing modern warehouses, call centers, distribution centers, retail stores, office and storage buildings and other types of industrial and commercial facilities.
Over the years, industry experts have continued to refine and enhance the tilt-up process, allowing general contractors and design-build construction managers to drive greater capabilities and creativity in its use. In 1986 the Tilt-up Concrete Association (TCA) was created to establish processes and standards to ensure continued growth in quality and acceptance for this method of construction.
Tilt-up construction is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. At least 10,000 buildings enclosing more than 650 million square feet are constructed annually. This is due, in part, to the economics of tilt-up, which combine reasonable cost with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction, and minimal capital investment. Nationwide, over 15% of all industrial buildings are tilt-up, ranging in size from 5,000 to over 1.5 million square feet. They are typified by their attractiveness, efficiency and longevity.
Along with the continued growth and innovation of tilt-up construction, we have also seen the architectural aesthetics of tilt-up blossom. An unlimited array of colorings that can be added to the concrete mix or textured paints of any color may be used. Textures and patterns produced with form liners, blockouts and improvised techniques are becoming more and more popular in exposed tilt-up construction. Exposed aggregate and mechanically tooled surface treatments are very common in today’s tilt-up construction.
Tilt-up concrete construction has since been used in buildings as large as 1.7 million square feet, with individual panels reaching as high as 91 feet and weighing 150 tons. The TCA reports that 15% of all industrial buildings in the U.S. were created using tilt-up construction. It is growing at an annual rate of almost 20% and is used in over 650 million square feet of new building construction each year. In Texas and other sunbelt states, tilt-up accounts for as much as 75% of new one-story commercial building construction. General contractors, design build contractors and builders in Mexico, Canada and Australia are also using tilt-up concrete construction on an increasingly frequent basis.
The following pages discuss more detailed advantages and benefits of why you should choose tilt-up construction:
