While we understand that not all lots have the same advantages and disadvantages, it is from within our own background of experience that we note our ideas on using poured concrete walls vs block walls. Concrete pours require professional and detailed... Prep-Work. Without joints, poured walls possess a greater lateral strength, which essentially means they have a greater ability to resist pressure presented by water and the soil from the outside. The only disadvantage I ran into was that they were almost 3 weeks late. The cost for the Superior Walls is about the same as a poured wall including the waterproofing and insulation. Superior Walls products are insulated precast concrete wall systems that are custom manufactured to each building’s specification. Re: Block vs Poured Wall I've used the superior walls on a recent project and found that the cost was right in line with a poured foundation. This wall is monolithically poured (poured all at once) with high-strength concrete for solid structural integrity and reinforced with steel rebar and polypropylene fibers. The builder quoted using superior wall Xi foundation system for the basement. Poured concrete foundations also require reinforcing steel if you want the walls to resist the horizontal forces of wet soil. Building log homes in East Tennessee for many years, we are very familiar with building on steep, mountainous lots. We’ve done many finished basements using Precast (particularly Superior Walls) and we’ve never seen any staining. Poured Concrete Foundations. The high density concrete evaporates very little (it’s mostly cured), and because the walls are so airtight, there is little vapor drive and therefore little oppty for condensation or moisture buildup behind the drywall. You may be wondering about the difference between cinder block foundations and poured concrete foundations, and which is the superior choice for your home. Founded in 1981 by Mel Zimmerman, a Lancaster County, PA home builder, Superior Walls of America now has licensees all around the country. An 8-inch poured concrete wall costs $12.75 per square foot, or $1,224 poured, on average. Our customers who have used poured in place concrete foundations or cement block walls in the past have discovered how fast, economical, and strong our Superior Walls systems actually are! Superior Poured Walls in Midland 48641 listed as licensed Concrete Contractors Near Me Home Improvement and we are located at the address PO Box 2012 Michigan 48641 in Midland and you can contact us via email or ☎ phone at (989)835-9340, click here to learn more and get hours, ratings and free expert estimates from Superior Poured Walls and licensed pros in Midland and nearby. Poured in place concrete forming requires hauling, curing and storing materials. Cast concrete retaining walls can be much faster to put in place than stacked-stone walls, but often that consideration is less of an issue on smaller projects. The Xi Wall’s special high strength, low-water concrete mix also requires no additional damp-proofing, benefiting from technology developed for the original Superior Walls precast concrete system. When we asked about using ICF's, he said that using these would cost 3 to 5% more than the superior wall system. Poured concrete foundation walls are arguably stronger than cinder block foundation walls. However, a solid concrete wall has superior load-bearing capacity. The major one is that on average, on-site poured concrete walls have a higher density than precast concrete walls. The Xi wall’s special high strength, low- water concrete mix also requires no additional damp- proofing, benefiting from … For our poured walls we specify 4000 psi concrete set in place with a pump truck, horizontal steel rebar, vertical steel rebar when needed for additional tensile strength, footings that are formed with a modern drain control system called form-a-drain, have a keyway in the footings to resist lateral pressures and they are made with an attractive brick pattern. It was the beginning of October and I didn't have time to do ICF, and I "cringe" at the thought of poured walls. Superior showed up at about 7am and prepped the basement. While the density may be higher, you do need to consider the disadvantages of climate … One of the best features of the system is they can be set very precisely, as opposed to a poured foundation which if the forms are not set just right or move during the pour, you are stuck with what you've got. There are a lot of advatages to the system (easy to finish basment, no damproofing required, build on them the same day they are set). A poured concrete wall requires the construction of formwork and is, therefore, more labor-intensive. The Xi product forms a concrete cavity wall panel with concrete studs at 24 inches on center attached at the top and bottom with bond beams and the entire assembly is faced with an integral concrete face shell. Cinder Block Foundations vs. Our precast concrete walls are manufactured in a factory-controlled setting with the greatest attention to detail. This is a very exciting time. Poured wall concrete should not be poured in very cold weather. Crushed Stone Footer vs. An alternative to poured concrete, ... One product that continues to generate interest is the state-of-the-art precast wall and foundation system developed by Superior Walls of America. There are many factors to the speed of any job, of course, but a good concrete contractor won’t take long to build forms for a concrete retaining wall and pour the concrete into place. Cost about 2500 more than poured wall, and cost comparable to ICF. Superior Walls are placed on a crushed stone footer for a few reasons: It is Dry: A crushed stone footer allows for extra moisture under the foundation to flow freely into the drainage system. ICF foundations are unique in that the forms themselves become part of the foundation. The foundation wall is monolithically poured (poured all at once) with high-strength concrete for solid structural integrity and reinforced with steel rebar and polypropylene fibers. Traditional Poured Concrete Footer. As far as poured vs superior walls, I think the concept is good but the SUPERIOR WALLS people have NO control over the concrete company or the Wall installer. Our insulated concrete forms are precision manufactured, double-insulated and steel-reinforced to create a strong, superior wall assembly. Water leakage problems in poured concrete foundations; If not prepared correctly, poured concrete can crack, which water can leak through. Walls showed up about 8. Installing a block concrete wall compared to a poured concrete wall is also a factor because the latter requires specialized equipment and molds as well as a full construction crew to complete. Superior concrete products home page. These cracks are often difficult to find and require the building owner to dig up all the concrete to find the source of leakage. Read somewhere that basement walls account for about 20% of the total heating costs. For purposes of the study a 24-by -40-foot basement, complete with footings, waterproofing and including all material and labor, was examined from the standpoint of poured concrete, full 8-inch block, and modular (7 5/8 -inch-high) block for both frame and veneered homes. Are you in the process of designing and building a new home? March 3, 2014 | Michael Luckado. Why not use a traditional concrete footer? Fences, screening walls, modular retaining walls, and more, all with the look of the natural textures you love. Although poured concrete makes for a superior foundation wall, in my area, few foundation contractors have invested in the forms. Superior Walls foundations are better than poured or block foundation because they are made with steel re-enforced, high-density concrete (5,000 psi) that’s poured into permanent forms in a controlled environment. While traditional concrete foundations are poured using plywood forms that are then removed, the polystyrene forms stick to the concrete, causing a built-in, immovable insulated layer. Superior Walls Basements 9' Side Wall 5000 PSI Concrete 15 Year Warranty Insulated. Poured Walls. On-site concrete poured walls do have plenty of advantages to consider. (According to the American Concrete Institute, 4,000 psi mix is watertight.) I used superior walls not because of price, but because of time. ... Used as load-bearing walls attached to a slab or sunken foundation, concrete walls provide superior strength and resilience. Superior Walls feature patented, insulated, precast concrete wall panels that are formed in a factory-controlled setting and delivered to the new home job site, where the panels are lifted into position with a crane and carefully bolted together and sealed. They create a solid, even foundation on which to build a house, shed or other structure. Precast VS Poured in Place Concrete Precast Concrete Fence Walls Superior to Poured in Place Concrete. Cinder block and poured concrete slabs are both popular foundation choices. If so, congratulations! Once the forms are all put in place, concrete is poured in the middle. Apparently, passive solar works really well in this climate zone. Most basement and concrete foundation walls are a minimum of 8” thick. A poured-wall contractor based nearby told me that he had $200,000 invested in forms; it’s not an easy business to get into without financing. It is also more time-consuming in that the curing process must be completed before any additional work can be done. These materials are inexpensive and relatively easy to use. However, despite all their similarities, cinder block and concrete … The perfect medium for your job. So You’re Building a Basement: Poured vs Block Foundations. Why Superior Walls Are a Better Choice. , and more, all with the look of the total heating.. 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