Standard drywall is easily installed on this straight and sturdy framework. DETAILS. Do you really want to risk the foundation of your home to a relatively new design? Even if we ignore the Occam's razor, I think we can agree that at best you have a post hoc ergo propter hoc problem. On a 9' walls which is used most times I install 6 to 6.5 feet of exterior stone. Opened hole and placed pea gravel. Log In. I am doing my homework on whether to go with a poured foundation or this SW system. There is too much room for error in designing a structure like Superior Walls design that would not support the backfill lateral loads and especially the water tightness that they guarantee. I would never suggest backfilling any foundation with rocks of any size. Cracks in drywall as a result of winter freeze then thaw are clearly an indication that the house is moving. So your implication, that architects don't like the wall system, doesn't work in my area. CONTACT US. We will update the Superior Walls Newsroom regularly with new images and information for you. That is a joke.In a subgrade wall, I would always apply a primer, bituthene membrane, and drainage mat to the outside of a wall - from above the grade to the bottom of the footing. Q. I wish you well in your proposed endeavor and hope you can achieve the desired results. Foolishly I tried to save a couple of thousand dollars. :). Seems a weird way to make one's case, but then I'm the idiot who has liked her Superior Walls for over 20 years, so I guess that makes me a simple-minded fool. I dug my basement on Feb 16th (in Iowa) which is unheard of here. Hope this helps it's a great product that I have personally used to build 200 to 300 homes since 2000. Community See All. Concrete foundations by Superior Walls are in demand for new custom homes or modular homes because they create a comfortable living space. Here is a link that might be useful: SteelCrete. Customer Response . Umm yea ...imagine the odds !! Do you still need to find a mason to finish the floor? See more of Superior Walls of PA on Facebook. This is not a design case for homeowners to undertake. you can define yourself as a cheap builder or a quality builder - the choice is yours, At this point I am no longer publicly commenting as we are moving forward with this issue. Licensee and Manufacturing opportunities are available in select regions. Do your walls extend below the frost depth around the entire perimeter of your home, or are they adequately protected from frost by other means (e.g. The factory sent their own crew out to set the foundation, and it's been a wonderful basement for me ever since. "Co-worker built a home last year & the builder used SW. Due to improper/careless installation, one of the panels had cracks which leaked. I would tell you if you install them properly, brace them as directed in the instructions, back-fill property then there isn't a better solution on the market. It is now 12 years later. Could I ask who you used to for your Superior Walls? Like George, Ive used all conventional foundations but unlike him, I think problems usually arise from bad design and installation not a faulty product. no - as there are many other homes built on the same soil with guess what - no problems of the house walls cracking - (hmm and they used monolithic pours) I guess it is possible that a meteorite hits my house every year in the winter and fall when I am not at home -, it seems odd that when my ME friend and architect were asked what the problem was it was they said - the foundation - yup could be 1000 things, maybe there are sappers working their way across my property - or perhaps a sink hole - yea lets look at all of those instead of the obvious - of course INferior Walls may work when you are building 1200 sf foot doll houses. My head is spinning. From a structural engineering point of view, I don't understand on what basis you or your architect would assert that these walls are more prone to frost heave than conventional cast-in-place walls. Again you are more than welcome to come to Toledo to see all the ones I have installed with NO problems. Forgot account? Personally, as a general contractor who has built commercial and residential cast-in-place, retaining walls, pre-cast, CMU, and slab on grade foundations, I would not install a Superior Wall system in my own house. "-Dave"Does one suppose that all the work and materials for any other type foundation will be perfect from every builder/installer? Is you think its a poor system move on. In the case of SW foundations, there are prescriptive requirements for gravel footings depending on the load and the required footing embedment depth per the geotechnical engineer's recommendations. You have no idea how long it will last. I'm a forensic structural engineer in the northeast, and I have looked at many frost heave-damaged structures. “Since Superior Walls provided me with a steel trowel finish on the exposed concrete panels, I just need to add strips of moldings to the exterior walls and then paint them.” Job Site Savings Superior Walls basements are dry, warm, and quiet. 2 builders we spoke to use Superior walls, and the third has had bad experience with them in this particular location. I wonder what ATM bank accounts you simple minded folks have?! If P&B turned out to be way more expensive I wouldn't do it as I'm ultimately looking for an economical solution to what can potentially be a very expensive piece of the project (building on a steep lot, that is..). Thanks all! 937 East Earl Road Thanks! The entire roof structure will need to be removed, rendering the house uninhabitable for a period of months. Superior Walls precast concrete foundations are the best solution for residential builders looking for reliable scheduling, efficient one-day installation, ready to finish convenience, energy code performance, and a manufacturer’s limited warranty. Are you saying that of the hundreds of homes that surround these 18 only those 18 have faulty soil REally !? Contact them. Superior Walls started in PA. That's why when we built our basement with them last year, we had them do the install themselves rather than trying to find another non-SW crew. We also have them specify the dimensions and reinforcing required for the footings. Superior Walls products are manufactured in quality-controlled factories by specially trained crews. You need to look at other factors, i.e. L-shaped for added stability. We are in the planning stages of building our home. Good lord. The one problem detailed above was not even their fault, yet they sent a crew out to investigate and they left us a free tube of their super-duper caulk (or whatever it is), which my spouse used to patch the hole and it's been 100% trouble-free since. To expand any home from one to two storeys, you need to determine the weight bearing capacity of the foundation. In the curve of the arch will be bubbling basalt columns. As the builder you do have responsibility for checking that sub contractors do the work they are paid for. Question for len_lindy62 - Plan to build in Fairfield/Carroll Valley area in the future. Low-cost, more reliable option compared to poured concrete or concrete block. That had nothing to do with Superior yet they left us a tube of caulk anyway so we could fix it ourselves. Since 1976 Superior Wall Systems has been installing Metal Framing and Drywall. I have never had a problem in 12 years. The baluster types would cost over 300 dollars, and they would be disproportionate, because of the new building code. The home is ten years old - its not just settling. Above Grade wall systems bring the strength and energy efficiency of a Superior Walls foundation to your above grade building applications. They, of course, can't cave at the bottom or the top once the home is framed and basement floor is poured, do they just buckle? This comment is directed straight to mtassinari and the proposed remodeling from a one-storey pseudo ranch style to a two-storey Dutch Gambrel in Massachusetts. The vast majority of the heave cases I've seen usually result from inadequate frost protection. Thanks for the laughs this morning. Make sure that you will get a good return on your investment. About See All. I'm looking for answers like "P&B is a terrible solution on steep lots because of...." or "Unless something is unusual about the soils/rock at the site, P&B will most likely be a better solution because of...." or "P&B should save you a bunch of money over excavating and placing a more traditional foundation unless..." I'm thinking very macro here - broad strokes of the brush. Both houses have had foundations leaks. Only the franchisee can install the walls. This price is equivalent to a traditional built wall. 2019 - New Canaan, CT 2018 - Narragansett, RI 2017 - Rhode Island Beach House 2016 - Farmhouse at Emerson Green ... Each Superior Walls Xi Plus wall panel in the Idea Home has achieved the NGBS Green Certified Product designation provided by Home Innovation Research Labs. Superior Walls of PA. Construction Company in North East, Pennsylvania. Copy text Copy citation Français Citing documents (1) 1. I see this happens in my area also. The architect I work with said to avoid these . Click to see full answer Also asked, how much does an unfinished basement cost per square foot? You've all been duly warned. Any foundation not set on stable ground will experience problems. Based on his experience, I wouldn't use SW if given the choice.". I have a Superior Wall System ( R-5 ) that was installed in 2005. 0. I watched all the activities at my site to verify that it was done correctly. While precast materials span from $20 to $30 per square foot, it’s a lot less labor intensive than the traditional pouring method.. if the SW is heaving, a poured or block foundation would also be heaving. Clean crushed stone shall be free from organic, clayey or silty soils. Beyond is currently a base of 5/8th crushed gravel which will be Montana slate leading to the sunniest part of the back yard and will have a couple of steamer chairs for sunning and low curved stacked stone wall behind. From my experience, they are popular in many rural and suburban areas of New England, but not in large urban areas. All these foundations were done in early January in South Central PA. Superior Walls by Magnis is North America’s leader in custom precast concrete foundations for your new custom built home, or your new modular or ready-to move home since 1981. On the issue of the following: … Here are some getting-started tips, Modern architecture looks right at home on its site, thanks in part to a bold north-south wall of local stone, Try poured-in-place construction for a wonderfully tactile, industrial look, Entreprise générale spécialisée dans le carrelage - Alsace, Personnaliser mon expérience à l'aide de cookies, Houzz Tour: Modern Warmth for a Lake Superior Getaway, Know Your House: What Makes Up a Home's Foundation, Garden Walls: Pour On the Style With Concrete, In Austin, a Backyard Wall Provides More Than Privacy, Houzz Tour: 800-Year-Old Walls, Modern Interiors in Provence, Bulletproof Decorating: How to Pick the Right Kind of Paint, Houzz Tour: Fieldstone Divides and Connects a Wisconsin Home, Material Choices: High Marks for Reinforced Concrete, My custom builder is limiting my product selections, I got so much good advice I'm posting another question on flooring. People that cry about problems most times never followed the procedure and when they had problems blamed the system. YEa and I guess the other 18 houses that failed just coincidentally had bad soils as well whereas the hundreds of others on solid foundations just happen not to ? Had heat and plumbing rough in the basement early on in the 4th day. Excellent job and was done in 1 1/2 days, for a 60 by 35 foot footprint foundation. If I was your builder I would have found out the problem way before you got so angry. He says that SW is ok on less rocky terrain (my impression just from walking around the lot is that the Appalachian range is a big pile of rocks). Welcome To Superior Walls Find Your Authorized Dealer START HERE. Superior Walls basements are dry, warm, and quiet. First, let's ignore the fact that logic would dictate an unsubstantiated accusation contrary to other testimonials would be unreliable without evidence. The price of concrete varies by region, but as of 2008, it averaged around $75 per cubic yard, or just under $3 per cubic foot. The AC condenser could be placed near the front wall, and be less obvious with shrubs. Finally a team from SW came out & properly repaired it by applying a membrane over top of the bad areas on the exterior. Any with personal exprerience? Look what happened with residential stucco and masonite. It also … It might even be cheaper once you add the money that was saved on time. We use them in NC mountains all the time. I'm sure there are people out there who have experience in the foundation business who have opinions on the matter or people who have faced similar design challenges. The old Victorian front porch needs to be replaced, but the cost is unbelievable. 26 people follow this. We have had no problems with the walls at all. Nothing has changed since the last post. You say that everyone laughed at you for even considering them, well here everyone loves them. In my case, a local contractor had been installing the system for about a year. Generally, a one-storey home with a full basement will require a 10" high by 20" wide solid concrete footing with two #5 rebars. I am a builder in the greater Toledo Ohio area. It's no secret that proper installation is a key component of Superior Walls. I makes ure all the blocking is in that is required, deck on, basement floor poured and then back fill. The added benefit in my experience is the superior insulation you get when you build out the basement walls with R-19 batt insulation. You can email me direct through my web site Molinebuilders.com. I'm in the process of buying a new home and my husband and I are making it our duty to have an unfinished basement! Anyone else on this forum you the Superior Wall System? I liked what they offered so much in the first house that when we built the 2nd I specifically requested Superior. Good advice from busdriver. maybe it was by pure luck that all the soil in the area is stable and by chance the 18 house with inferior walls got built on the only unstable soil - ok and your buying that bridge in Brooklyn when ? NEW HOLLAND, PA – Several award-winning homes constructed by Bridlewood Builders have one thing in common: they all began with energy-efficient precast concrete foundation systems from Superior Walls. Most of the homes we build are on crawl space foundations, but whenever a basement foundation is required we use Superior Walls. The total cost of ICF basement installed on concrete footings will come to around $18.00 – $22 per square foot of completed basement wall in Southern Ontario or around $38,000.00 – $45,000.00 for a basement discussed earlier. Does your house have a basement-level garage or other unheated spaces with foundations that have not been adequately deepened? Bidding wars over inner city lots are occurring because of finite space, not pretty porches. Nor does your failure rate pass the smell test. YOUR INPUT - Building NEW custom home on a tiny Toronto East End Lot. Sounds like you need to be harder on the excavator or installer. I think CMU is more suspect than Superior Walls, not because its a bad product but because there are so many more variables to screw up on the labor side of the equation. Many have experienced cracks and moisture issues that would not be corrected by SW as they claimed it was an "install problem." Superior Walls are, in my opinion, franchised and expensive although proven through the years. The first thing I would do is get the concrete tested, then I would make sure the walls were set on solid ground, then make sure the bracing was installed properly. Haul in suitable backfill. I get the argument that they are not as robust simply because they are not as massive and because they are segmented, but if they are sufficiently deep and if they are supported on properly prepared competent soil, I don't see how that's relevant. The SW system is relatively new, and I wouldn't be surprised to see basement wall failures in 10-20 years. Besides, if its cracking without a reason...I'm not in the business of wasting or loosing money on a crapy foundation. The Xi Plus walls made in Canada feature 5″ Neopor® Rigid Thermal Insulation to provide an insulation value of R-23. Each wall is custom manufactured and designed, complete with built-in openings for windows and doors. The weight bearing capacity of the soil usually determines the size of the footings. I like the foundation drainage system that is integral with the crushed rock footings that are required with SW. I don't know I sleep at night, waiting for my cellar to cave in..... My 10 foot tall SW foundation installed in 1996 is performing perfectly. I liked them so much in my first home that I used them again in my second build. I would be willing to answer any questions because they are the best, much better than a poured walls that I used for the first 20 years of my building career. They’re still developing the construction documents and I see the foundation wall is this “Superior Walls” system that uses precast panels with concrete ribs that are pre-insulated, dropped into place with a crane and bolted together. The Superior Walls system keeps your home energy-efficient and comfortable through every season. I have over 150 basements installed using Superior Walls and have NEVER had one problem. But a much simpler solution is found with SteelCrete precast walls found at steelcrete dot com where choices include exterior concrete walls with metal stud backing or monolithic concrete studs, either of which are inexpensive and efficient. Rather than jump to a conclusion, you would be well served to engage a professional engineer capable of sifting through the various possibilities, determining the root cause and identifying a workable remedy. SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE AND COURT OF APPEAL — FEES. Our practice is to have a geotechnical engineer (a licensed P.E.) Te key to anything is installing as the walls were intended to be installed. That nomenclature is commonly used when referring to "concrete blocks." There is a big difference. I've even heard some installers claim that they are stronger than cast in place walls. When you do that you assume ALL the liability for the finished product and probably saw little savings on the overall project. Superior Walls precast concrete foundations are the best solution for residential architects looking for dimensional accuracy, energy efficiency, state of the art design drawings, quality-controlled manufacturing, and certified installation. Superior Walls vs Hello Garage Franchise Comparison. However instead of wood studs you will have insulated concrete and galvanized steel faced studs. We are in the planning phase for our retirement home in the Blue Mountains of PA. Our lot is on a ridge, full of boulders big and small. So you signed up to yell at us and call us simple minded fools. Gave me a really great price to help increase his sales volume. subsurface rigid foam protruding from your foundation's perimeter)? SO lets see 18 houses all with similar problems - the only common thread - all built on INferior walls - not the same style not the same builder not the same location not the same soil - nope the only common thread is .......Inferior Walls. Whether a tenant build out, high rise residential tower, or a community library & community center, we are the contractor of choice. DETAILS. It took him a couple of months to finally get it resolved. Factory Precision. In actuality, concrete is just a hardened sponge. SW showed up at 1030 the next day and left at 330, completed. Sorry to hear your poor experiences. THe point is if 18 houses failed and the only common denominator is INferior Walls than one has to conclude: Different Contractors , different materials , different designs and different soils - the only common denominator ---Inferior walls. Our crews create your custom panels using only the highest quality materials. I'm building a new house in August of 2019, It's getting Superior Walls. I have used them since 2000 and over 200 installed t date with never a bad system. I'm simply asking for their input - nothing more. Green Info. I personally (even though I am a carpenter by trade) build on a wood foundation. They will answer all your questions. And while the Superior Walls system costs a bit more than hiring a foundation crew to build the forms, pour and finish concrete, and then strip the forms away, the walls’ guaranteed leak- and crack-free performance and the current shortage of skilled masons make the overall cost comparison no contest. Superior Walls products begin in factory forms to ensure consistency. THe building moves as a result of the joints and inherent instability of this system. Be sure to have a qualified real estate appraisal prior to getting design and construction quotes. 8 check-ins. Superior Walls panel being lowered and put in place. I have at least 18 people in my area alone that I have talked to with the same issue - the system is bogus . Stop feeding the troll. We needed them to bring in the topsoil and rock and get the landscape design past the review board. I'd enlist the help of a structural engineer familiar with SW to help diagnose the root cause of the problem and to come up with a workable solution. Do a quick search on Superior Wall failures and you will come up with many results and links to other problems people have had. We (husband and I) will plant (mostly native) this spring and fall. First, in theory, 5,000 psi concrete is supposed to be "waterproof." The houses on either side had some voids in the pour because they were poured in below freezing conditions. This will ensure there are no water issues. But a much simpler solution is found with SteelCrete precast walls found at steelcrete dot com where choices include exterior concrete walls with metal stud backing or monolithic concrete studs, either of which are inexpensive and efficient. New Homes built with the Superior Walls precast concrete foundation systems benefit from lasting increased building efficiencies that are superior in every way. In the one case my neighbor had to have his basement floor and a part of the wall jack hammered up to make repairs. AG wall panels are specifically designed and modified for use above grade. Easy to finish inside, with conventional materials and labor. Local municipalities require that a shrink/swell soil evaluation report be submitted as part of the building permit application process. Talk to Us About Your Project. Part of my basement is a shop with no heat in that part. I receive calls from different parts of the state and sometimes the country asking about them. Do yourself a favor spend a few thousand more for a real foundation - you will be glad you did - or you can rehang doors and patch drywall on a yearly basis. Fantastic, professional, polite, cost effective, fast and efficient. The point is that without an objective investigation we simply don't know the root cause of the failure. But because Superior Walls are cured in the factory prior to shipping, no heating and hoarding is required during winter construction (or summer construction for that matter). My thinking is the buyers will tear away the porch anyway, and make a cold room underneath(which the rest of the ‘hood has), and use superior wood or a composite anyway, for renting or raising a family. In Uncategorized. 18 failures of inferior walls no failures of other foundations and you still want to believe? The temperature has never been below 59 degrees in the shop even during cold spells with morning lows of 15 degrees. It's all good, now we get to do the fun part! Construction materials are subject to quality issues both in manufacturing as well as installation. I couldn't be happier with the results either - it's a great system. Green Info. My only connection to Superior Walls is as a very satisfied customer. What has your general contractor said concerning the issues? Superior Walls is expanding throughout the US and Canada. Any thoughts? Are all the walls made in PA and then shipped to the locations? In one of my developments I built 106 homes and all but 2 of them used Superior Walls. The foundation is superior walls set on a footer that they approved . Based upon the proven design of the Xi Wall System, the Xi Plus Superior Walls system brings many exciting additional features for selective builders and homeowners. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask me. Lampert, thanks very much for your input. 24 people like this. A local structural engineer can perform the required services to determine whether your foundation can support the changes you desire. Did you see problems during the setting of the foundation? When searching for a qualified design professional, be sure to inquire as to his/her qualifications. Superior Walls are, in my opinion, franchised and expensive although proven through the years. He obviously has a bone to pick. Superior Walls precast concrete foundations are the best solution for architects, builders and home buyers looking for an energy efficient, quality-controlled, and certified installed precast concrete product. Cinder blocks are no longer manufactured. I just want to understand the physics here is all. "I've lived in a home with Superior Walls for the foundation since 1995.". In 1993, President Bill Clinton mandated the construction of a 14 miles-long wall between San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico to stem the flow … Follow the directions, don't short cut the foundation and you will be one happy homeowner. Look what's happening with cultured stone veneers recently? Concrete Walls Cost Factors . That area is phase I of our landscaping, which Triple Sixteen also designed and installed. My customers love them and a few of the ones that didn't use them when I first started using them wished they had.
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