Press Releases

NEW HOLLAND, PA. – The Forino Co., L.P., a regional home builder based in Sinking Spring, Pa., has made the commitment to start offering and constructing its homes with Superior Walls® precast concrete foundation systems. Weaver Precast, out of Ephrata, Pa., will supply approximately 100 Superior Wall foundation systems to Forino for installation within 16 unique communities throughout 2015 within Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill Counties.

“As a team, we spent a great deal of time researching the benefits of Superior Walls products prior to making this decision,” says Shawn Sweigart, project manager at Forino Co., L.P. “We believe this product will be the new standard for new home construction throughout the communities we build and serve.”

Sweigart mentioned that the crisp and clean appearance of the Superior Walls foundations is one of many reasons Forino decided to introduce this product to its customers. “The Superior Walls Xi system includes galvanized steel studs with access holes for electrical and plumbing which enables our customers to transform their basements into usable space in no time, which is very appealing to our customers,” says Sweigart. “The 15-year foundation warranty is a bonus, plus the energy efficiency aspects of the foundation are appreciated by all.”

The first Superior Walls Xi foundation was installed in Forino’s Ceila II Model, which will be featured in the Berks County Parade of Homes in early June of 2015, within the Willow Glen community located in Ontelaunee Township, Pa. “The installation was a seamless and efficient process,” says Chuck Halsey, site supervisor with Forino. “The Weaver Precast team was on site by 7am and completely finished by 3pm. The very next day we started with underground utilities and prepping for the framer.

“The timeliness and efficiency to which the Superior Walls Xi foundation is installed saves us several days within the construction schedule. Rather than waiting for a poured concrete foundation to dry and settle, we’re ready to begin the subsequent construction sequence the next day. That’s particularly critical after the winter we all just experienced in the Northeast because the installation of these dependable precast walls is not defined by temperatures.

“Inside the basement with a Superior Walls Xi foundation, I immediately noticed that the appearance is cleaner and brighter, and I think homeowners will greatly benefit from this.”

Halsey and Sweigart both commended the commitment of the Weaver Precast team in preparing the Forino Celia II Model for the installation. “The Weaver Precast team did not miss a thing,” says Halsey. “They diligently prepared us beforehand on all aspects of the construction and installation process and honed in on what we needed to know. Their level of professionalism brought us all a feeling of confidence moving forward with the Superior Walls Xi foundations.”

Below the Ground

As opposed to concrete blocks or poured concrete, precast concrete Xi wall panels from Superior Walls are created in the manufacturing process with DOW® Styrofoam™ boards, which provide excellent rigid foam insulation. This helps ward off heat loss and makes the basement a more comfortable area of the home for extended living and storage space.

Superior Walls Xi 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:

• 5,000+ PSI concrete
• Steel-reinforced top bond beams, concrete studs and footer beams
• Horizontal steel rebar inside top and bottom beams
• Vertical steel rebar inside each stud
• Insulated access holes for ease in wiring and plumbing
• Galvanized steel stud facing ready for drywall finishing
• Insulated corners, studs and bond beams

Superior Walls insulated precast concrete wall products are pre-qualified to earn specific green points as Green Certified Products by Home Innovation Research Labs.

For homeowners and facility operators, the benefits of Superior Walls foundations systems are substantial. The energy-efficient walls help lower energy costs and reduce energy leakage while providing increased living and storage space in a comfortable setting. For more information visit www.superiorwalls.com.

Forino Co., L.P. was established in 1975 by Tony Forino. The company has residential communities in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. To date, the company has amassed revenues over $1.1 billion by selling more than 6,800 residential homes and developing more than 85 communities. For additional details visit www.forino.com.