Why Poured Concrete Walls?

More and more home builders are discovering the advantages of solid concrete construction as the long-term, quality alternative to concrete block and traditional wood- and steel-framed houses.

Hurricane Resistant House
In independent tests simulating 250 mile-per-hour ground level wind speeds equal to the strongest hurricanes and tornadoes, steel-reinforced concrete poured walls substantially outperformed typical wood- and steel-framed walls for: 1) reducing flying debris, the greatest hazard to homeowners during this life-threatening weather; and 2) withstanding collapsing and structure damage. Researchers at the Wind Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University concluded that walls built with wood or steel studs lack the strength and mass to resist the impact of wind-driven debris, while concrete poured walls consistently stood up to the test without structure failure. This evidence shows that poured concrete walls are the ideal building material for a hurricane resistant house.

Power to Stand Up to Earthquake Forces
In a range of strength tests, concrete proved two to four times stronger than the maximum wind load and five to nine times stronger than the maximum earthquake load – bending strength considerably greater than the standards required by the Uniform Building Code.

Toughness to Resist Fire
In countless fire wall tests, concrete has proven itself as one of the most fire- and heat-resistant construction materials. Unlike wood or steel, concrete does not burn, soften, or bend, so concrete structures are more likely to remain standing through a fire.

No Appeal for Insects or Rot
Unlike wood framing, concrete construction is not susceptible to rotting wood or damage by insects like termites that can cost thousands of dollars to treat or repair.

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