When a request for proposal on a large construction job is released by a municipality or from the private sector, the bids come flying in. There are a lot of options out there for landowners, project managers, or city officials to choose from. In the past, deciding which bid to accept was a simple proposition: which one is the cheapest?
Cheapest doesn’t necessarily mean the worst of course, but the bottom line shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. Is the general contractor familiar with the area? Does the company have experience with the scope of the work? How long have they been in business?
Over the past couple of decades, an additional aspect of the building industry has been growing in importance, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Sustainability. This means any number of things, but concentrates on how materials are made, the durability of products used, and the overall effect on the environment.
Enter: SMaRT Certification
When Columbia Precast Products started in 2013, we made it a priority to become one of the leading sustainable precast companies in the region. As it turns out, we were the first buried infrastructure precast plant to earn our SMaRT certification.
When we earned our SMaRT certification, it turns out we were the ONLY buried infrastructure precast plant in the nation to have done so. We are proud to be an industry pioneer when it comes to sustainability, but what does that mean to you?
In many public sector projects, cities or counties can only work with companies that have earned eco-friendly status, such as with SMaRT or LEED certification. If you are a contractor looking to secure these kinds of projects, you know Columbia Precast Products checks that box.
Quality Over Everything
Even if you’re a private company, you’ll be getting concrete pieces that have been made using sustainable materials and practices, does not emit any volatile organic compounds, and is safe for all water treatment applications.
In addition to all of the environmental benefits of working with SMaRT-certified precast concrete, our facility is a controlled environment. This means we can assure quality every step of the way, from mixing, setting, and giving the concrete enough time to properly harden. We strength test every piece before it leaves the facility.
Which means a speedy installation process for you. Need a catch basin installed as part of your project? As soon as the excavation is done, our vaults are ready to be placed. Depending on the size of the job, our catch basins can be in place and back-filled the same day. You’re ready to move on to the next phase of construction.
With pour in place concrete, it may take at least a day to put the forms into place. If the weather cooperates, you can then pour the concrete and wait a few more days for it to harden and to test the strength. If it rains (we are in the Pacific Northwest after all), the project may have to wait for more agreeable weather. It could take a week or more for completion.
Ready When You Are
Those are variables you just don’t need to worry about with Columbia Precast Products. When you’re ready, our products are ready. And they’ll stand the test of time. With virtually no needed maintenance, our products won’t warp, rot, or rust. Once a vault, culvert, or wet well is in place, you’ll be good for decade after decade.
That’s one of the reasons we were able to receive our SMaRT certification in the first place. By creating a product that doesn’t have to be replaced or remodeled every 20 years, we actually use less material in the long run. When you do things the right way it all comes together, both for our clients and the environment.
Have a job coming up that needs sustainable buried infrastructure? Contact Columbia Precast Products today. We have more than 140 years of combined experience and we’re always happy to discuss new projects on the horizon.
