Concrete Wall Panels Virtually Impervious to Water Penetration
When a series of recent hurricanes caused water damage to thousands of homes and buildings located in the Southeastern United States, several building officials, trade representatives, and engineers stepped in to investigate the cause of the damage. They found significant problems with moisture and infiltration of water into masonry block structures. After surveying the damage, and performing water pressure tests, it was determined that the dry-cast, porous nature of concrete block facilitated the infiltration of the water. The hurricane force winds were so strong, that they blew the rain through the stucco, through the concrete block, and into the homes and buildings. The water penetration was only the beginning, as owners ultimately had to deal with mold and rot as well.
The problem of water infiltration caused by wind-driven rain is virtually eliminated through the use of precast concrete wall panels. Unlike concrete block, the precast concrete wall panels are so dense that normal moisture absorption does not occur. The wall panels are poured using 6,000 psi concrete, which results in an impermeable concrete barrier against water penetration, even without paint. In fact, our precast concrete wall panels passed a 4-day permeation test. Three separate wall samples were submitted to 4 days of constant water pressure and the results showed zero water penetration! Consequently, the concrete tilt wall system has proven to be water tight, even under the most challenging weather conditions.