Avanhar Homes is on a mission to revitalize the City of Martinsburg, W.Va. — one house at a time. The builder has acquired a city block of undeveloped property and is constructing affordable custom single family homes. Avanhar Homes plans to offer the homes at price points well below today’s current market.
“This city was once famous for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, being the location of the state’s first post office and the gateway to the Shenandoah Valley,” says Avan Harris, business development manager of Avanhar Homes out of Charles Town, W. Va.
“The property we acquired was part of the McDowell Limestone Quarry dating back to the 1870s. We put together a plan to help with the revitalization of the City of Martinsburg by building 1,500-2,000 square foot custom single family homes in this area. Our intention is to offer them at affordable prices to provide better value and upscale living for residents.”
Starting with a Quality Foundation
The custom homes being constructed by Avanhar Homes all start with Xi™ Plus precast concrete foundation systems from Advanced Concrete Systems in Middleburg, Pa. The quality of the Superior Walls® panels appeals to Harris, who has committed to having every home start with a similar energy-efficient foundation.
“Avanhar Homes understands the importance of having a custom home rooted by a strong foundation,” says Harris. “The only way to accomplish this was to seek out a company to meet and exceed our expectations.
"Superior Walls pre-insulated foundation systems definitely stood out as the best overall option for us. The impressive stability, performance, design aspect and warranty of these products add to our homes and reinforce our goal of providing better value for upscale living.”
The Superior Walls Xi Plus wall systems provided by Advanced Concrete Systems include one-inch foam insulated concrete studs and one-inch foam insulation on the bond beams to help ensure energy efficiency. Facing against the environment, the panels have a concrete face shell backed by 4-1/2” of expanded polystyrene rigid foam insulation and 1/2” DOW Thermax polyisocyanurate rigid board insulation, providing insulation with a 21.3 R-value in the wall cavity (in U.S. markets).
“Advanced Concrete Systems and Avanhar Homes have a wonderful relationship,” says Harris. “Our Superior Walls representatives make frequent visits to the construction site to assure we’re in sync. We’re currently in discussion on purchasing a 12-acre development in the City of Martinsburg and when that happens we fully intend to use Superior Walls for the foundation systems of those additional homes.”
Nothing but the Best
With a goal of creating the first seven houses in just two years, Avanhar Homes is dedicated to excellence. “We’re excited to bring our ‘A game’ to this project and contribute to a city in need,” says Harris.
The “A game” for Avanhar Homes includes building homes in the City of Martinsburg with Craftsman and Modern designs featuring a combination of vinyl lap, shakes and bead board siding from CertainTeed®, seated on stone veneer. GAF Timberline® Lifetime Architectural Roofing Shingles will top the homes while Argon-filled windows and R-21 insulation throughout the homes will help keep them energy efficient.
“The proximity of the City of Martinsburg to Virginia, Baltimore and the District of Columbia makes it a desired location,” says Harris. “My family and I are here frequently to enjoy the historic sites and Main Street activities. It’s our hope that our efforts contribute to the growth of the city.”
Superior Walls products offer builders unmatched benefits with the most competitive foundation system available in the marketplace. The company’s precast insulated concrete wall panels are dimensionally accurate and install quickly to provide a strong, energy efficient foundation for residential and commercial projects. For more details, visit www.superiorwalls.com.
