Commercial Tilt-Wall Specialists
Expert tilt-up concrete panel systems for Plano warehouses, distribution centers, and commercial buildings. Our crews have erected over 850,000 square feet of tilt-wall panels across North Texas—from casting bed preparation and panel finishing to crane coordination and final connections. Licensed, insured, ACI-certified teams delivering precision panel work that meets structural engineer specifications and passes city inspections on first submission.
850K+
Sq Ft Panels Erected
200+
Panels Per Year
100%
ACI Compliance Rate
Tilt-wall construction (also called tilt-up or tilt-slab) has become the dominant structural system for commercial and industrial buildings in Plano and across North Texas. The method involves casting large concrete wall panels horizontally on the building's floor slab, allowing them to cure, then tilting them into vertical position using a mobile crane. Once erected, panels are braced temporarily, connected to the foundation and each other with structural steel connections, and grouted to create a monolithic building envelope.
This construction method delivers significant advantages for Plano developers: 40-50% faster construction schedules compared to masonry or steel stud systems, superior fire resistance (3-4 hour ratings without additional fireproofing), lower insurance premiums (15-25% savings typical), and minimal long-term maintenance (50+ year service life). The ability to create architectural finishes—from smooth power-troweled surfaces to exposed aggregate or form liner textures—gives architects design flexibility while maintaining the speed and economy of precasting.
Concrete Contractors of Plano has specialized in tilt-wall construction since 2004. Our crews have erected over 850,000 square feet of panels across more than 35 commercial projects in Plano, Frisco, Allen, and Richardson. We self-perform every phase—panel engineering coordination, casting bed construction, rebar installation, concrete placement, crane erection, bracing, connections, and finishing—giving you a single point of accountability from foundation to finished building.
The Plano Tilt-Wall Process
Our systematic approach ensures every tilt-wall panel is engineered for North Texas conditions, cast to precision tolerances, and erected safely. Here's the step-by-step process we follow on every Plano tilt-wall project:
Week 1-2
Panel shop drawings review with structural engineer
Precision casting surface and form construction
Rebar placement and connection hardware
Week 4-5
Panel casting with engineered concrete mix
Crane lifting and temporary bracing
Permanent connections and architectural touches
Total Duration: 6-9 weeks from panel engineering coordination to final building envelope completion (for 80,000-150,000 sq ft warehouse). This represents a 40-50% time savings versus CMU masonry (12-14 weeks) or steel stud framing (14-18 weeks). Accelerated schedules reduce general conditions costs, shorten financing periods, and allow earlier tenant occupancy—typically saving Plano developers $80,000-$150,000 in total project costs on a 100,000 sq ft building.
Tilt-Wall Benefits
6-8 weeks
Typical tilt-wall timeline
Tilt-wall panels for a 100,000 sq ft warehouse can be cast and erected in 6-8 weeks versus 12-16 weeks for traditional masonry or steel stud systems. This accelerates your Plano project schedule and reduces general conditions costs.
3-4 hours
Fire rating
8-inch tilt-wall panels deliver 3-4 hour fire ratings without additional fireproofing. Many Plano developers see 15-25% reductions in commercial property insurance premiums compared to steel or wood-framed buildings.
50+ years
Service life
Concrete tilt-wall systems require virtually no exterior maintenance for 30-50 years. No painting, no wood rot, no termite damage. North Texas climate-tested durability that protects your Plano investment.
Unlimited
Design options
We can incorporate architectural reveals, exposed aggregate finishes, integral color concrete, form liner textures, and window/door openings in any configuration. Plano commercial developers use tilt-wall for everything from industrial warehouses to retail facades.
Engineering & Specifications
All tilt-wall panels are engineered to meet ACI 551 (Tilt-Up Concrete Structures), Texas Building Code, and Plano building department requirements. Below are typical specifications we work to on North Texas commercial projects:
Soil & Foundation Interface
Plano sits on expansive clay soils (high plasticity index) that experience significant volume change with moisture fluctuations. Tilt-wall panels require properly engineered foundations with adequate bearing capacity, perimeter grade beams, and sometimes helical piers or drilled piers in areas with poor soil conditions. We coordinate foundation design with your geotechnical engineer and ensure panel connection dowels are positioned within +/- 1/4 inch tolerance to prevent field fit-up issues during panel erection.
Climate & Curing Requirements
North Texas summer temperatures (95-105°F) require special concrete mix designs with retarding admixtures to extend workability and prevent premature setting. We use chilled water or ice in summer mixes and apply curing compound immediately after finishing. Winter pours (rare freezes below 32°F) require cold-weather protection with insulated blankets or temporary enclosures. All panels must reach minimum 75% of design strength before crane lifting—typically 7 days in summer, 10-14 days in winter.
Recent Plano Work
210,000 sq ft tilt-wall distribution center with 34-foot clear height
Panel Count
62 panels (avg 28' × 32' each)
Timeline
9 weeks from casting to substantial completion
Project Challenges
Coordinated with active adjacent tenant operations, night pours required
Scope Delivered
185,000 sq ft multi-tenant flex building with architectural tilt-wall
Panel Count
58 panels with integrated reveals and exposed aggregate finish
Timeline
8 weeks panel erection
Project Challenges
Tight urban site with limited crane access, sequential panel erection
Scope Delivered
Need references from recent Plano tilt-wall projects? We can provide contact information for general contractors, developers, and structural engineers we've worked with on commercial buildings throughout Collin County. Contact us for project references.
Plano Tilt-Wall Questions
Common questions from Plano developers, general contractors, and property owners considering tilt-wall construction for their commercial projects.
Tilt-wall (also called tilt-up) construction is a method where concrete wall panels are cast horizontally on the building's concrete floor slab, then tilted vertically into place using a crane. In Plano, we typically cast 8-inch thick panels that are 24-40 feet wide and 28-35 feet tall. After the concrete cures to 75-80% of design strength (usually 7-10 days), we use a hydraulic crane to lift and position each panel onto pre-set foundation dowels. This method is 40-50% faster than traditional masonry and delivers superior fire ratings and long-term durability—making it ideal for Plano's industrial parks, logistics centers, and commercial warehouses.
For a 100,000 sq ft warehouse in Plano, the tilt-wall process typically takes 6-8 weeks from casting bed preparation to final panel erection and bracing. Here's the breakdown: Weeks 1-2 are engineering coordination and site prep. Weeks 2-4 involve casting bed preparation, rebar installation, and panel casting (usually casting 6-10 panels per week depending on bed size). Weeks 4-5 are concrete curing time. Weeks 5-7 are crane erection, bracing, and alignment. Week 7-8 includes connection grouting and finishing. This timeline is significantly faster than the 12-16 weeks required for comparable CMU or stick-framed construction, which is why Plano developers choose tilt-wall for fast-track schedules.
Most Plano tilt-wall projects require a 100-200 ton hydraulic crane depending on panel size, weight, and building height. For standard 8-inch panels that are 28-32 feet tall, a 120-ton crane is typical. Taller panels (35+ feet) or thicker panels (10-12 inches) may require 150-200 ton capacity. We coordinate crane logistics with your Plano site manager, including haul route planning, ground prep for crane outriggers, and panel sequencing to minimize repositioning. Crane rental typically runs $3,500-$6,500 per day in the DFW market, and we can complete 8-12 panel lifts per day with an experienced crew.
Tilt-wall construction typically costs $8-$14 per square foot of wall area in Plano—comparable to or slightly lower than CMU masonry ($10-$16/sq ft) and significantly less than architectural precast ($18-$30/sq ft). The real savings come from faster construction schedules (reduced general conditions and financing costs), lower insurance premiums (due to superior fire ratings), and minimal long-term maintenance. Most Plano developers see 10-15% total project savings when choosing tilt-wall over alternative structural systems for warehouses and industrial buildings over 40,000 square feet.
Absolutely. We routinely incorporate window and door openings, decorative reveals, exposed aggregate finishes, form liner textures, integral color concrete, and brick or stone veneer attachment points into tilt-wall panels. For Plano commercial projects, we coordinate with architects to achieve the desired aesthetic while maintaining structural integrity. Window and door bucks are set in the casting bed before concrete placement. Architectural reveals are created using foam strips or wood form liners. Exposed aggregate is achieved by applying a surface retarder before casting, then pressure-washing after panel erection. These finishes add $2-$8 per square foot but deliver a high-end appearance that elevates property value.
Per the Texas Building Code and Plano's building department, tilt-wall buildings must be designed for 115-140 MPH wind speeds depending on building height and exposure category. Plano is in Wind Zone 1 with minimal hurricane exposure, but we still engineer all panel connections and bracing systems for these loads. Our structural engineers use ASCE 7 wind load calculations and design panel-to-foundation connections, panel-to-panel connections, and roof-to-wall connections to resist uplift, lateral, and overturning forces. All connection welds and anchor bolts are inspected by third-party special inspectors before final approval.
Yes. Concrete Contractors of Plano self-performs both structural foundations and tilt-wall packages as a bundled scope. This integrated approach ensures that foundation dowels, embed locations, and slab elevations are precisely positioned for panel erection—eliminating coordination conflicts between separate trades. We pour the building's slab-on-grade foundation first (with tilt-wall lifting inserts embedded), then cast panels directly on that slab. This saves 2-4 weeks compared to coordinating separate concrete subs and gives you a single point of contact for the entire concrete package. Most Plano general contractors prefer this bundled approach for schedule certainty and reduced risk.
Tilt-wall construction costs in Plano range from $9-$14 per square foot of wall area for standard industrial warehouse panels, and $12-$18 per square foot for architectural panels with decorative finishes. A typical 100,000 sq ft warehouse with 22-foot wall height has approximately 15,000-18,000 sq ft of wall area, putting the tilt-wall package at $135,000-$250,000 depending on finish level, number of openings, and architectural complexity. This includes engineering, panel casting, crane erection, bracing, connections, and finishing. Final pricing depends on panel count, site access, soil conditions, and schedule. We provide detailed estimates within 48 hours of reviewing your Plano project plans.
Have a specific question about tilt-wall construction for your Plano project? Our estimating team can review your plans and provide detailed answers about panel engineering, crane logistics, schedule coordination, and cost projections.
Precision Concrete
Talk with our project managers about tilt-wall builds, structural foundations, and site paving. We mobilize fast and deliver commercial-grade concrete that holds up to the toughest specs.