A precast concrete Superior Walls® Xi Plus™ foundation has been installed as the starting step for the THIS OLD HOUSE 2018 IDEA HOUSE in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The energy-efficient wall panel system was installed in one day at the beginning of the construction process for the home in March.
“It’s an honor for our company’s products to once again be involved in a project connected with the team at THIS OLD HOUSE,” says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. “In construction, the foundation selection is critical. The selection of the Xi Plus concrete foundation will help make the basement of this home a more comfortable area for extended living and storage space.”
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.
“Most impressively, the Xi Plus foundation for the Idea House was installed in just one day,” says Costello. “This allowed the building crew to start framing in the project the very next day.”
The Craftsman-style THIS OLD HOUSE 2018 IDEA HOUSE is being constructed by Sweenor Builders, Inc. and will be featured in the October and November/December issues of This Old House magazine and in segments of the 2018-2019 season of the Emmy Award-winning TV series This Old House. On thisoldhouse.com, a webcam delivers live coverage of the construction of the home.
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.
