Superior Walls® Xi Plus Foundation Showcased in This Old House® 2018 Idea House in Narragansett, Rhode Island
This post is republished with permission from Superior Walls and features the Superior Walls products offered by Structural Precast.
October 15, 2018
NEW HOLLAND, PA – A precast concrete Superior Walls® Xi PlusTM foundation has been installed as the starting step for the THIS OLD HOUSE® 2018 IDEA HOUSE in Narragansett, R.I. The energy-efficient wall panel system will be featured in both the October and November/December 2018 issues of This Old House magazine.
“This year we’ve been involved in the construction of two projects for This Old House and it’s been quite an honor working with their team,” says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. “For both the THIS OLD HOUSE 2018 IDEA HOUSE and 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.”
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 with which to start the Idea House,” 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 in the Idea House 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 in the Idea House 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 Craftsman-style THIS OLD HOUSE 2018 IDEA HOUSE will be featured in the magazine, plus the house will be showcased in segments of the 2018-2019 season of the Emmy Award-winning TV series This Old House.
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.
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About This Old House Ventures, LLC
This Old House Ventures, LLC, is America’s No. 1 multiplatform home-enthusiast brand, providing trusted information and expert advice through its award-winning television shows, This Old House and Ask This Old House, its highly regarded This Old House magazine, and its inspiration- and information-driven digital properties, including thisoldhouse.com. This Old House and Ask This Old House are produced by This Old House Ventures, LLC, and are presented on PBS by WGBH Boston. National underwriting for This Old House TV is currently provided by GMC, The Home Depot, State Farm Insurance Company, Marvin Windows, Gorilla Glue, HomeAdvisor, and Titan. Established as This Old House Ventures, LLC, the company is headquartered in Stamford, CT, with offices in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Concord, MA.
About Sweenor Builders
Based in coastal Rhode Island, Sweenor Builders Incorporated is an award-winning builder of luxury custom homes. The firm’s portfolio features a full range of in-house design/build and interior design services, as well as collaborations with New England’s leading architects. Founded in 1989, the company has become one of Southern Rhode Island’s most sought-after builders thanks to the guiding principles of its President and CEO Jeff Sweenor. He surrounds himself with craftsman who share his passion for delivering rewarding client experiences, and quality homes that last for generations. For more information, visit: sweenorbuilders.com.
About Union Studio Architecture & Community Design
Union Studio was founded in 2001 with the goal of making an impactful civic contribution to communities of all types through exemplary architecture and urban design. The firm served as the architects on the Concord Riverwalk project and received an Honorable Mention from the New England Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for their work on the project. The Union team embraces a traditional, pedestrian-friendly approach to design featuring vibrant, beautiful spaces that help to enrich our communal and civic life.