Hello All,
I am considering putting in a superior walls brand foundation in for a new home with many corners and about 3000 ft2 rambler. I like how the insulation is molded into the cement wall and the wall is high density, low water concrete.
I ask all the local building guys I know around St. Paul, Minnesota and the only problem they see is the caulk used on the 90 degree bends in the wall. The guys at superior say it should last at least 75 years.
Not too many people I know can offer any good advice on whether or not to use these pre-cast concrete walls for a Minnesota foundation.
Does anybody know out there what kind of caulk they use and how long it lasts. Does anybody see any plusses or minuses with those walls.
thank you all
Ryan Ellingson [email protected]
Replies
Don't know what they use, but NP-1 by Sonneborn is a good caulk.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I'm about 90% sure that the caulk used is a polyurethane. I had the same concern about the caulk, and the only thing I really had to go on was what the salesmen told me. I have personally not built any houses using superior walls, but have done work on them as a sub and a builder I worked for built a few. They have actually been around for at least 20 years, so if there were any big issues, I'd expect that it would have been publicized.
Re plusses and minuses, the initial cost is higher than poured in place, but if you are planning on finishing the basement anyway, I think you may find that the Superior wall system is cheaper or equal once you figure in the cost to frame and insulate the basement. The initial insulation is around R-12, but I believe that it is a true R-12, at least with the newer generation of the SW product which encases the entire "stud" in rigid foam. The wall assembly can easily be upgraded to a higher R-value using various insulation methods, but based on the fact that you already have an air tight studded wall cavity, I'd think fiberglass batts would be fine. Another advantage is that you are getting a factory built product, and therefore there should be less room for errors. Foundation accuracy problems are not uncommon and these problems with poured foundations have been discussed here several time lately. Installation is quicker, and once erected, framing can start the same day (although the basement floor must be poured and first floor system framed before backfill) and being that you are in MN, there is less worry for you re cold weather concrete placement. The concrete used is 5000 PSI, which is inherently waterproof.
No I don't sell superior walls, but a good friend of mine does, and he being a true salesmen, I've heard the his entire pitch multiple times over dinner and drinks.