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My builder is leaning toward endorsing Superior Walls of America’s prefab concrete foundation to a wood foundation such as Woodmaster or 21st Century Wood Foundation. Does anyone have experience and could give advice regarding any of these ? Also, is there a stress insulated panel system for use as a below grade foundation for a walkout basement ? Thanks in advance.
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Dave, I can only speak for Superior Wall. Their main manufacturing facility is here the suburbs of Philadelphia. As a distributor for Nascor EPS wall panels for the mid-atlantic area I recommend them to all my customers. A typical foundation is installed in about 5 hours. They delivered 1800 basements in 1998 and were setting them at a rate of about 65 a week. All the people I have talked to are very happy with their choice. As far as wood foundations go I visited a large regional builder in Minneapolis last year, and they use them exclusively. The company I work for, Nascor also makes a wood foundation, but I would probably use Superior Wall in my home next year. If you have any questions you can E-mail me.
John Giuliani
Nascor Building Systems of PA.
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I installed three Superior Walls foundations in the last three houses I built and would also recommend them. The only consideration is cost, especially if the foundation is at all complex. I went out of my way to simplify the foundation, making use of cantelevers and any other trick I could think of, as well as using block for garage and porch foundations.
I have also used wood foundations, but had to build them myself. They share the advantage of Superior Walls in being set on gravel, which is the greatest advantage of both and why I wouldn't consider a house not using one or the other. In both cases, the house sits on a continuous bed of gravel which means the total elimination of basement water problems, and even most dampness with poly under the floor, barring blockage of the drain to daylight or failure of the sump pump.
John Rose
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My builder is leaning toward endorsing Superior Walls of America's prefab concrete foundation to a wood foundation such as Woodmaster or 21st Century Wood Foundation. Does anyone have experience and could give advice regarding any of these ? Also, is there a stress insulated panel system for use as a below grade foundation for a walkout basement ? Thanks in advance.