At Patterson Whittaker Architectural Profiles, we often compare our products to precast concrete. Our architectural EPS is unlike anything on the market, and we can prove that precast concrete manufacturing does not compare to both the price and the installation quality of our unique designs.
We know that price is not everything. That is why we are able to show you are specifications, and you can see why our architectural EPS products are a better choice for most industries. But cost does matter. So what is it that makes precast concrete so expensive for most projects?
#1 Design Time
It can often take months of engineering and planning to construction a proper custom precast concrete design. While there are many factors that can affect this, precast concrete development often requires fairly substantial engineering and crafting, with added costs for the mold, CAD modeling, and more.
#2 Manpower
Similarly, to create precast concrete designs take a lot of manpower. You need engineers, management time, workers, support staff – a lot of people are involved in creating a custom precast product, all of which add to the cost of the final design.
#3 Materials
Concrete has continued to become more and more expensive in recent years, and not marginally so. This chart from the St. Louis Fed shows just how much pre-cast concrete has begun to cost in the last 10 years alone, with a producer’s price index that in 2023 is now close to double the price it was in 2013.
#4 Shipping
Finally, shipping precast concrete is expensive. Precast is fragile and extremely heavy. There are limited shipping options available, and the further you are from the manufacturing company, the more expensive it becomes. Compare that to a product like our architectural EPS, where the cost to ship is so inexpensive that we send products all the way to places like Japan.
Bonus #5 Installation
Our focus here is only on manufacturing and shipping. But labor and installation is also profoundly expensive for pre-cast concrete, especially when weatherproofing considerations and permitting are added to the cost. Our products do not need to break the weatherproof barrier and are a fraction of the weight, so installation takes only a few moments.
Precast Concrete is Great for Some Projects
This is not to say that precast concrete does not have its uses. But you’ll find that many of your precast projects would actually benefit from our EPS core cement coated alternative, which is not only completely weatherproof, but also high quality and easier to install – all with shorter lead times. Contact our sales team today to learn more.
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