Bridlewood Builders Start Homes with Superior Walls Precast Concrete Foundations
NEW HOLLAND, PA – Several award-winning homes constructed by Bridlewood Builders have one thing in common: they all began with energy-efficient precast concrete foundation systems from Superior Walls.
“The custom foundation walls we get from Advanced Concrete Systems are the only walls that fit with our philosophy of starting from under the basement all the way up through the roof to create total comfort in the home,” says Robin Loughran, vice president of Bridlewood Builders in Harrisburg, Pa. “We begin with the Xi PlusTM basement walls that have an R-21 rating. Then the next levels are R-23 SIPS walls. Combined with the air-tight construction methods we use, all these products work together as a system to create the highly comfortable, energy efficient homes we build.”
Three Decades Strong
Dedicated to energy efficiency for decades, Bridlewood Builders started using Superior Walls products back in 1987. Since then, the builders have never had a call back for a wet or damp basement situation.
“These precast concrete systems were new products back then,” says Loughran. “We initially had to explain the foundation product to the code officials. Things have changed dramatically since then. Officials and homeowners now eagerly embrace energy efficient products and practices, and the Xi Plus walls make it easy for us to meet code requirements.”
Bridlewood Builders constructs an average of two to three custom homes a year. For the past three decades, each one has been built with Superior Walls from Advanced Concrete Systems. The builder “sells” the system to their customers because it fits into their construction methods so perfectly. The proven performance of comfort, married with energy efficiency benefits, appeal to homebuyers.
Expanded Living Space
According to Loughran, the energy efficiency benefits of precast concrete walls provide more comfortable living space in the homes his company builds.
“For one of our most recent homes in Elkton, Maryland, we created a 2,800-square-foot walk-out basement with the Superior Walls product,” says Loughran. “The basement incorporates a climate-controlled wine cellar using Xi Plus walls for two sides. It has an office, guest bedroom, bathroom, sauna and a living room/game room. All the exterior walls are Superior Walls; there are no framed exterior walls.
“This house serves as a great example of a green, energy-efficient high-performance home. It incorporates a geo-thermal heat pump that is only a 3-1/3 ton unit that works to keep the almost 6,000-square-foot home comfortable.”
The home won the 2017 Peak Achievement Award from the York (PA) Builders Association for being the Best Green Home.
A Homeowner’s Perspective
For Ineke and Joseph Zebley, the choice to include a maintenance-free Superior Walls foundation in their new home was easy.
“I wanted to avoid a cinderblock foundation since we’ve had problems with these in the past,” says Joseph Zebley. “They can literally move. In our older Baltimore home, built in 1927 with a three-foot field stone foundation, we used to get water jets seasonally through the walls. This required expensive waterproofing and retrofitting. I wanted to avoid these hassles this time — especially since our property in Elkton sits in an area rich with artesian springs. Precast panels with minimal seams and breaks seemed the smartest way to go.”
According to Zebley, who has lived in the newly-constructed house since late 2016, the Superior Walls basement is comfortable throughout the year.
“This is hardly what I’d call a basement,” says Zebley. “While I personally keep it around 68 degrees for my own comfort, we’re constantly using the space as extended living. The main floor is set at 70 since the masonry fireplace really warms both the large open living/dining room area and the bedroom.
“I’d happily tell people building a home that, if they’re looking for strong, durable construction that needs no real further maintenance beyond the basics, then this is it. Our Superior Walls, coupled with the work done by Bridlewood Builders, has really given us a truly energy efficient home.”
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.
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