A precast concrete Superior Walls Xi Plus foundation has been installed in Narragansett, R.I. 

“For the Net Zero House we supplied dependable, energy efficient Xi Plus foundations. These remarkable precast concrete panels are installed in just one day, so the teams at Sweenor Builders could get started immediately with the construction process,” says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls.

According to Jeff Sweenor, President and CEO of Sweenor Builders, the Superior Walls system got the project off on the right track. “The beauty of the Superior Walls system is that we got a perfectly straight, level and square foundation,” says Sweenor. “Impressively, the Superior Walls team was able to accommodate all our requests to customize the foundation. They created the openings we needed and even incorporated spaces for hurricane tie downs.

“The Superior Walls foundation provides added living space for the future homeowners. In addition to a storage area, we’ve created a home theatre, gym and sauna room in the basement. As a bonus, the sturdy foundation is also extremely energy efficient.”

Value of Precast Concrete

As opposed to concrete blocks or poured concrete, precast Xi Plus concrete panels from Superior Walls are created in the manufacturing process with Dow Thermax insulation covering rigid foam insulation. The panels are available with a built-in insulation value of R-21.3 and can be insulated up to R-42+.

The wall panels used in the project 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. The Superior Walls Xi Plus wall panels have achieved the NGBS Green Certified Product designation provided by Home Innovation Research Labs.

The panels were custom manufactured off site in indoor production facilities at Superior Walls by Weaver Precast. This eliminated any on-site soil contamination, such as the form oil used for poured concrete walls.

The 2,700-square-foot cottage was designed by Union Studio Community Architecture & Design out of Providence, Rhode Island. Located less than a mile from the town beach, future owners of the house will benefit from the durability and energy efficiency of the precast foundation on the home.