Precast Concrete Foundation Stands Up to Hurricane Florence

When Hurricane Florence hit in September, emergency shelters quickly filled up across Moore County, N.C. As directed, the Abbondanzio family evacuated their cherished home and headed to one of those shelters. After flood waters receded, they returned to find their home had easily survived the storm’s wrath.

“We took a direct hit from Florence and had more than 13 inches of rain, very high winds and local flooding,” says Abbondanzio, a resident of Carthage, N.C. “We couldn’t believe it when we returned and our home was dry, safe and secure.

“When I built my home in 2014 I used precast concrete foundation panels from Superior Walls of North Carolina. Not one drop of water entered our house from Florence. I’m convinced that the Superior Walls foundation saved our home.”

Investment Pays Off
Located about 130 miles from the East Coast, the Moore County area has suffered from extensive flooding from the hurricane. Downed trees (including a huge one in the backyard of the Abbondanzio residence) have made life difficult for residents.

“Roads in our community were washed out in some places and trees were lying everywhere,” says Abbondanzio. “This storm shut down the town. We couldn’t believe our New England 1860’s reproduction style home had no damage at all.

“When pricing out our foundation four years ago, the Superior Walls product was just a little higher than a poured concrete or concrete block foundation. However, I was impressed by the warranty offered for sidewall water penetration and the fast installation time. When I worked out the numbers and the benefits, it was a no-brainer.

“Now that we’ve seen how efficient and dependable this precast concrete foundation can be in storm conditions, we’re recommending it to everyone. This investment was well worth the price and we now have even greater peace-of-mind for the future.

Manufactured for Success
As opposed to concrete blocks or poured concrete, precast concrete panels from Superior Walls are created in the manufacturing process with DOW^® Styrofoam^™ boards, which provide excellent rigid foam insulation.

Superior Walls Xi^TM wall panels feature steel reinforced concrete and 2-1/2-inches of DOW^® Styrofoam^™ insulation to create a barrier against sidewall water penetration. The panels are custom designed and constructed in a factory-controlled setting. Unique features of the Xi wall panels include: