Modern tilt-up construction consists of lifting concrete panels that have been cast on the building's floor slab or on nearby casting slabs. Although tilt-up panels can be made much bigger than precast panels that are to be transported to the site, the larger and more complex panels are more challenging to lift and place.

Good planning is essential for all successful construction, but it is especially critical in tilt-up work if the many potential economies of the technique are to be realized. SMOOTH CASTING SURFACE IS NEEDED The concrete floor slab of the building is usually the place chosen for efficient casting of tilt-up panels. Its surface must be level and smoothly troweled. The base slab requires good subgrade support and adequate strength and thickness to carry the heavy mobile cranes that set the panels. More.

Tilt-Up--a method which involves casting concrete wall panels horizontally on top of an already cast floor slab and tilting them into position--is helping concrete make significant inroads against competing materials in the United States and Canada. Concrete contractors not now doing tilt-up work should take a serious look at the opportunities open to them. This article examines some of the markets, explains the basics of the method, and shows you where you can get help in starting and building a tilt-up business.

TCA can make that happen if you have some good jobsite photos to share. Although we have a wide variety of finished building photographs from our annual Achievement Award competition (though more photos are always welcome), TCA has a real shortage of good jobsite photos.

The advent and subsequent explosion of digital photography has had a large impact on our photo archives. Obviously, digital technology provides for quick and easy manipulation and development of photographs for website and email purposes. However, most of these images are not suitable for print publications since all most magazines require digital photos to be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) and 4 x 6 in size - usually in TIF format. And, for cover photographs, a slide, transparency or 8.5 x 11 inch photograph is necessary. With only small digital files to choose from in our archives, the TCA is losing valuable opportunities in the media to showcase tilt-up.

If you have photos you are willing to share, please send them to TCA today. Your company will benefit from exposure as well since the photo caption and cutline will highlight your company and the project. Thank you for helping "build" the tilt-up industry.

For more information on marketing efforts being undertaken by the TCA, contact Ed Sauter, Executive Director for the TCA at (319) 895-6911.