A tilt-up design for a building can simplify the process for a construction contractor. The workers can build a mold and then pour the concrete mix for a tilt-up wall in less time than would be required for building a concrete block wall. The construction process is much simpler because the tilt-up walls are easy to make, and there are lower labor costs for the tilt-up walls. The projects have four significant advantages:
Convenient Techniques
The process is convenient for the workers because a mold is used to shape the tilt-up walls. The workers build a mold that is adjacent to the final spot for the tilt-up wall. A crane is used to lift the wall into an upright position. The construction process for a concrete block wall is not as easy as the construction process for a tilt-up wall because a contractor would need to haul concrete blocks to the construction site for the concrete block walls.
Easy Tasks
The tasks for building a concrete block wall are more difficult than the tasks for making a tilt-up wall. The workers must lift the concrete blocks, carefully position the concrete blocks, and also apply mortar to each of the concrete blocks in the wall. A tilt-up wall is a slab of concrete, and the workers build a mold and then pour concrete mix into the mold. When the concrete is hard, the wall is tilted up and then held upright by braces.
Lower Costs
The largest costs for a project are usually the labor costs such as for the construction workers, and the labor costs for a concrete block wall are higher than the labor costs for a tilt-up wall. The transportation costs are also usually higher for concrete block walls because the projects require more truckloads of materials. “The tilt-up walls require an additional cost for the crane that is used to lift the tilt-up walls, but the total costs for tilt-up walls are usually lower than the total costs for concrete block walls,” according to Ace/Avant.
Short Construction Schedules
The construction schedules are shorter for tilt-up walls because molds are used to make the walls. The workers would need more time to carefully build a concrete block wall, and if contractors have shorter construction schedules, then the contractors can complete more projects during a year. The projects that have tilt-up walls are completed with more convenient techniques, have easier tasks, have lower labor costs, and have shorter construction schedules than the projects that have concrete block walls. The tilt-up walls are not suitable for all buildings but are a practical option for a contractor who wants a simple construction process.