If a new home is in your future in 2018, take it from the experts and invest in a precast concrete foundation.

“The selection of a foundation is one of the most critical decisions a new homeowner can make,” says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. “When constructing a home, concrete block and poured-in-place concrete foundations are time consuming, unattractive and lack energy efficiency.

"Choosing an energy-efficient precast Xi or Xi Plus concrete foundation can help ward off heat loss and make the basement a more comfortable area for extended living and storage space. The wall panels provide a dry and exceptionally energy-efficient foundation for a home.”

Costello points out that builders have been using precast concrete wall panels for more than 35 years. Each panel is custom created for the exact needs of a project (including the allowance for window and door openings) and the entire foundation can be set in just a day. This speeds up the overall construction process.

As opposed to concrete blocks or poured concrete, precast concrete panels from Superior Walls are created in the manufacturing process with DOW Styrofoam boards, which provide excellent rigid foam insulation.

Superior Walls Xi wall panels feature steel reinforced concrete and 2 1/2” of DOW Styrofoam insulation to create a barrier against sidewall water penetration. The panels are custom designed and constructed in a factory-controlled setting.

Unique features of the Xi wall panels include:

• 5,000+ PSI concrete
• Steel-reinforced top bond beams, concrete studs and footer beams
• Horizontal steel rebar inside top and bottom beams
• Vertical steel rebar inside each stud
• Insulated access holes for ease in wiring and plumbing
• Galvanized steel stud facing ready for drywall finishing
• Insulated corners, studs and bond beams

Superior Walls Xi Plus wall panels have many of the same features of the Xi walls, plus:

• Dow THERMAX polyisocyanurate insulation covering rigid foam insulation
• A four-inch insulated footer beam
• A four-inch standard floor slab may be poured equal to the height of the footer beam eliminating the need for an additional screed board.

            Xi Plus panels are available with a built-in insulation value of R-21.3 and can be insulated up to R-42+. The wall panels provide R-values that meet or exceed energy conservation values from both the IECC and the IRC, and the Xi Plus wall panels can help in the construction of an ENERGY STAR qualified home.

            Xi and Xi Plus panels are available in different marketplaces. For additional information and to find Superior Walls locations closest to you, visit www.superiorwalls.com.

Green from the Ground Up

Superior Walls insulated precast concrete wall products have been pre-qualified to earn specific green points as Green Certified Products by Home Innovation Research Lab (formerly the NAHB Research Center).

            Superior Walls panels are built in indoor production facilities, eliminating any on-site soil contamination such as the form oil used for poured walls. No on-site sprays or bituminous coatings are required to make the walls damp-proof.

            Since Superior Walls panels are engineered and manufactured with insulated concrete studs, Superior Walls reduces the amount of materials used to build a structure, including wood and concrete, and reduces the carbon footprint of a new home or commercial facility's construction process.