How Prefabricated Foundation Walls Are Poured and Installed

How Prefabricated Foundation Walls Are Poured and Installed | This Old House

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4 жыл бұрын

Kevin visits the manufacturer in Pennsylvania that makes custom insulated wall panels, the foundation wall panels arrive and are placed. Adam Campbell supervises a crew that spends only a few house gluing the panels together.
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Stud insulation is made out of a type of styrofoam and is cut using a CNC machine. The studs, headers and footers go into a panel form. Rebar and more insulation are placed. Concrete is then poured on top of the insulation and down into the studs, headers and footers. After setting for one night, the walls get stripped from the forms, hooked up and loaded onto a truck to go to the jobsite.
After a trip from Pennsylvania the foundation walls arrive in Jamestown. Kevin and Tommy find out how Jeff and his team have prepared for the installation. Each panel is lowered in by crane. Adam Campbell from the manufacturer supervises a crew that spends only a few hours gluing this foundation together.
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How Prefabricated Foundation Walls Are Poured and Installed | This Old House
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Пікірлер: 148

@saint_nxckk 4 жыл бұрын

40 Years Of This Old House.🔥 So Proud Of You Guys For Never Giving Up On Your Fans.🙏

@camohawk6703 4 жыл бұрын

I've worked in prefab concrete. this is basically that but so much better. We had everything outside exposed to the elements. If I make a home that has a basement I am so going to get these guys to make the foundation.

@acousticpick 4 жыл бұрын

I had them do my basement cost me 16k for a 1000sqft basement... not cheap but def worth it. Im in PA

@Asmrpurplelady 3 жыл бұрын

@@acousticpick. Can they build an entire shell of the house? We are looking into building our first all concrete home, and wondering if pre fab concrete is a good option.

@acousticpick 3 жыл бұрын

@@Asmrpurplelady yes, they can. Although at a much higher cost than traditional materials (stick build). They build entire shells for commercial applications, but they also do residential. Although not common.

@Asmrpurplelady 3 жыл бұрын

@@acousticpick. Thanks a lot for the response. Do they charge per sheet or square footage?For example a 9 by 10 ft sheet being priced different from a 6 by 10 ft. Did the total cost for your basement include delivery and installation? My apologies for asking too many questions:)

@acousticpick 3 жыл бұрын

@@Asmrpurplelady Yes, they charge by the square feet. Also, the amount of insulation, windows/doors opening or instals, and the taller you go the more it cost per square ft. My price was for 9' tall basement walls and delivered and installed with two window wells installed and 1 french door opening and 2 regular size window opening (no window/door included).

@hanratty450 4 жыл бұрын

The money that was saved went Into the delivery and the crane

@timhanby5662 4 жыл бұрын

hanratty450 that’s what I was thinking, but if you’re in a really rural area, you want a house up as soon as possible to reduce cost so this could be an attractive option.

@tylerberg929 4 жыл бұрын

dont forget the 2 guys with socket wrenches puttin in both "bolts" at each intersection

@Dave--FkTheDeepstate 4 жыл бұрын

Yup... although you still have to deliver materials either way.

@jeremiah9561 4 жыл бұрын

@@AndrewHorezga anyone who says it's not better is a boomer

@CoasterCrazyy 2 жыл бұрын

I agree, where I live you'd be looking at around $1000 an hour for a crane like that.

@10tenman10 4 жыл бұрын

This is the future of home construction. Fantastic product.

@gregcollins3404 4 жыл бұрын

oh man, give that guy a battery run caulking gun...

@richarddavis5542 3 жыл бұрын

Glad to see somebody actually getting delivery of their Superior Walls. Ordered mine in March and have been rescheduled twice. I had a delivery scheduled for today and no one showed up. No advanced notice or anything. I don't know about their product yet, but their customer service is lousy. Meanwhile, as each day delay costs me more money I can't say that I could recommend this company.

@sebastiantevel898 2 жыл бұрын

Good to know. You are not the only one with this kind of complain. Thank you.

@richarddavis5542 2 жыл бұрын

@@sebastiantevel898 I did receive delivery and am happy with the results. I hope they can improve their Customer Service.

@sebastiantevel898 2 жыл бұрын

@@richarddavis5542 I am glad to hear that.

@opie7257 Жыл бұрын

@@richarddavis5542 Can you provide feedback on cost such as $/SF of panel or $/SF of total area. Just trying to gauge overall cost for budgeting. Thank you.

@richarddavis5542 Жыл бұрын

@@opie7257 Mine was purchased almost 2 years ago. I imagine their prices have changed since then. Concrete costs have been extremely volatile lately. You can probably get the per/ft cost from Superior - that is how they are priced. Also, don't forget to include the material for the gravel footings. That is not included in the price from Superior.

@MetaView7 4 жыл бұрын

This is an amazing product

@justinpatalano9108 4 жыл бұрын

Wow i didnt know they could do that. Thats cool

@Slickizme 4 жыл бұрын

Love the new look

@cetyl2626 4 жыл бұрын

It's "Lancister" as the dutchies say it. Cool to see you down here!

@kaycox5555 4 жыл бұрын

Amazing, thanks!!!!

@NSResponder 2 жыл бұрын

First time I saw precast foundation walls on This Old House, it was Bob Vila showing it to me.

@cpad007 4 жыл бұрын

I like the idea and environmental controls to get 5k psi strength concrete BUT the connections are critical and the weak spot and 3 beads of caulk and two 1/2" bolts doesn't give me much confidence in that connection to not leak in 5-10 years. I would have liked to seen some kind of interleaved connection, more bolts and better sealing design with MORE sealant. Do they do something on the outside of those joints? I surely hope so.

@yolo_burrito 4 жыл бұрын

cpad007 the corners are tapered I’d imagine the weight of the earth around it holds it together pretty well.

@fredbloggs2587 3 жыл бұрын

The corners are being compressed together by the structure. They didn't show it, but a concrete slab is usually poured /after/ the walls are erected.

@angeloc700 3 жыл бұрын

The floor truss system along with the back filled earth is what will ensure stability. The bolts are just to keep things in place until the above elements are installed, which makes things permanent.

@stepitupmorons8704 4 жыл бұрын

wow great stufffff, thank you

@jairamragbir437 4 ай бұрын

thanks for building basement walls, beautiful work cowboys

@angeloc700 3 жыл бұрын

This seems like fantastic technology that I am going to explore on a new build I’m designing. The only thing I wish they would have done is to incorporate a screen or rebar into the wall flats. I think it would produce a more reliable and durable product. Anyway, looks good!

@petefabiano 4 жыл бұрын

So cool!!!!

@ajmuzz22 4 жыл бұрын

Sweet!

@DarthBalsamic 4 жыл бұрын

I find this to be so cool.

@bosse641 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome.

@MJ-iy4fb 3 жыл бұрын

I like them for above ground a lot better. I have a hard time believing these will keep water out underground.

@johnschuetz6331 2 жыл бұрын

That is nuts to do that without a proper spread footing! You still have some learning to do!

@anthonys7534 11 күн бұрын

YOU RE not an Engineer, so YOU have some learning to do!!

@neillinneball 4 жыл бұрын

Outstanding. That’s the way to do it.

@mikesmith-lr8ec 2 жыл бұрын

I've been in construction for years ran a masonry company most of that time.. I think building a building in a controlled environment is a good idea I'm just not convinced on concrete panels for your basement.. the connections in my opinion are weak you're relying on two beads of caulk to keep the water out.. and the main part of the panel is only an inch and a half of concrete.. no thanks I will stick with my 8 to 10 inches of poured concrete solid wall for my house..

@PaulHenreid 2 жыл бұрын

Too cool for school!

@OffroadCpl 4 жыл бұрын

If it was sat on a footer and bolted to it probaly be fine with proper drainage. I could see it in the south where no freeze and thaw cycles

@vonkanon3091 2 жыл бұрын

What is the cost comparison between this method vs traditional onsite concrete poured walls?

@garysumlin8355 4 жыл бұрын

I would like to have seen them put a keyway in

@gpslightlock1422 3 жыл бұрын

They should be dispensing caulk out of 55 gal drums and it should be pneumatic so they get uniform distribution. System is intuitive but still would prefer cast in place solid foundation.

@TheDomain16 4 жыл бұрын

How he said Lancaster...😂🤣

@SubsonicNoise 4 жыл бұрын

Here in europe we have 20+ story high skyscrapers made from prefab concrete slabs, but those are A LOT more heavy duty 😁

@SubsonicNoise 4 жыл бұрын

Terrance Armentrout I know! Hence why I was surprised that the US treats it as an unusual thing. These prefab concrete slab skyscrapers are unique in their construction tho because they were built mostly by the soviets in reconstruction efforts after WW2, including in germany.

@Lenser 4 жыл бұрын

I used superior wall for my house. Love it. Would never use any other foundation.

@MrWisdom79 4 жыл бұрын

Your checks in the mail

@Lenser 4 жыл бұрын

@@MrWisdom79 what an idiot you are.

@keithupton86ku 4 жыл бұрын

@@Lenser Can't take a joke?

@Lenser 4 жыл бұрын

@@keithupton86ku I get cranky when my check is late

@johnames6430 4 жыл бұрын

when you have to replace yours you might

@blackcaterpillar 4 жыл бұрын

What about cold bridges on the corners?

@christopherlehman626 4 жыл бұрын

Nah, I'm sticking with my full inch 8 thick wall with a rebar web. Or ICF. Which is probably a better, more expensive product. More time consuming, don't need a crane though. What if they used a 2 inch tension rod instead of those puny bolts. That way when the foundation eventually cracks, sags, bows, you can just tighten your tension rod and bam, straight and level wall again.

@Snail_Nailz 3 жыл бұрын

I’m shocked this hasn’t become the preferred method of residential construction despite being @ top of commercial design for decades! Its VERY low thermal transfer...fire proof...pest proof...upkeep costs are pretty much non-existent...earthquake tensile strength is much better than comparative methods...and the finishing options could be extraordinary!

@UnbreakableM1nd 2 жыл бұрын

It's very popular in Europe and Asia. America is just a little behind the times because they have so much lumber available, so they never really had the incentive to switch to concrete.

@ayoubfarid1663 4 жыл бұрын

what's better in terms of longevity and strength... this prefab foundation or a standard poured concrete slab foundation wall like most houses in Canada?

@still34u 4 жыл бұрын

I'm not an expert on this. But you're basically asking " what's better 8 inches of concrete or 1 3/4 inches? " I feel like the answer is common sense and untill they have at least 30 years of experience with this, I will not be convinced that it is any good

@6806goats1 4 жыл бұрын

I’m wondering as well. I want to dig and expand my basement and build in a lap pool. Was thinking ICF’S but will consider any option if it works better and saves me project cash.

@peterad1529 4 жыл бұрын

my uncle's business in Germany transports all sorts of pre fabricated concrete walls. This isn't old tech. but possibly an improvement and new to America.

@yekutielbenheshel354 Жыл бұрын

The USA has vast forests (and concomitantly cheap lumber); Germany doesn't.

@10tenman10 4 жыл бұрын

My only worry is at the connections there is potential for water and vapor to enter the basement

@johnwhite2576 2 жыл бұрын

how do you drill through this 5000 psi concrete for utilities !!

@hhectorlector Жыл бұрын

is "the manufacturer" in your description a placeholder for Weaver Precast? lol

@augustreil 4 жыл бұрын

Where's the footing ? Sure hope they seal those corners from the outside with some rubber/tar sealant and heavy plastic over them ?

@indman101 4 жыл бұрын

Also drainage pipes and gravel below to drain any possible water away from the foundation.

@still34u 4 жыл бұрын

They don't .. I think, realistically, this product has lifetime expectancy anywhere between 8 - 15 years. With 8 years being the first leaks and 15 being a need to tear down your house

@CartoonistVikrant 4 жыл бұрын

What is aps.is it asbestos? Banned in america?

@kingtutakhamon Жыл бұрын

Which company built these walls?

@technicalitems731 3 жыл бұрын

Who does these type of houses North of Atlanta Georgia?

@michaelbaumgardner2530 4 жыл бұрын

No footings...Hmm.!!!

@kevinhornbuckle 4 жыл бұрын

Michael Baumgardner The slab locks to the walls.

@alaskankare 4 жыл бұрын

is this rated for earthquake areas? Seems like the walls would just come apart in a quake?

@spigotface 4 жыл бұрын

I'm thinking the same thing. But also not even earthquake areas. Even in seismically inactive areas, how well does all this hold together once a house starts to settle and shift? Those two bolts will hold the slabs against each other but they aren't going to maintain the geometry and shape of the foundation like a single rigid mass of concrete would.

@TheDomain16 4 жыл бұрын

We rearly get earthquakes in PA and they are nothing to talk about.

@dandan1364 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting that you never mention the brand or company that makes these panels.

@tonycash8544 4 жыл бұрын

No footing. What could go wrong lol

@rodolforodeiguez3915 2 жыл бұрын

What is the name of this outfit and where are they located at

@CoasterCrazyy 2 жыл бұрын

Is this really even needed though, honestly the way foundations are done today (at least where I live in Canada) they are perfectly fine. If anything Id like to compared the price difference overall and if a basement 30 years old done this way would have any water leaking.

@kdranjan 2 жыл бұрын

Is footing not required for precast foundation? Can anyone answer?

@SnakeHandler-g7u Жыл бұрын

I called an engineer who worked on a house in my neighborhood after I looked up the plans and saw no traditional concrete footing; he said no concrete footer required, only a compacted gravel footing.

@ginger_breadman 2 жыл бұрын

Superior Walls?

@FredMcIntyre 4 жыл бұрын

😃👍🏻👊🏻

@mghc7 2 жыл бұрын

Who does the floors then

@leozmaxwelljilliumz3360 4 жыл бұрын

Cool idea but I definitely would rather have a poured wall and slab foundation. Something about a wall that's mainly 1.75" thick is kinda questionable to me

@bigvegass 4 жыл бұрын

You either didn't listen or just don't get it. Stick with simple stuff there tiger

@TylerNieves-ty7ns 4 жыл бұрын

Wes ive poured enough footings and stem walls to know a prefab that thin on no footing is junk.. its a shame people value some clipboard boys oppion rather than a masons

@6806goats1 4 жыл бұрын

Wes what a dickhead.

@jaycharles9548 3 жыл бұрын

Using this system of walls , who is responsible for laying the drain pipe ? There is a drain pipe below the crushed rock ? Right ?

@bp4170 3 жыл бұрын

That should be the excavator. He would install the footer drain on the outside as well as the radon pipe on the inside before he installs the stone required for the floor and footings.

@garydh57 4 жыл бұрын

To bad so far from Arkansas.

@vincebaker3384 4 жыл бұрын

how do you hang pitchers or put shelves on a wall that has metal studs?

@johnames6430 4 жыл бұрын

with a drill bit for metal...

@plutus205 2 жыл бұрын

Why does concrete need insulation? Why can't you just poor solid concrete and rebar?

@brhino 4 жыл бұрын

We don't really have 'basements', as such, over here 🦘 so why are there 'windows' ?

@DXSUCKIT1990 4 жыл бұрын

Ventilation and to let light in. It gets pretty dark down there lol

@2aminitials 4 жыл бұрын

Also if there's a fire it can be an egress location.

@thefungusshow2535 4 жыл бұрын

Some building codes require emergency egress windows in basements.

@brhino 4 жыл бұрын

I still don't get it ! It's a basement, how can it have windows ? That's like having opening windows on the lower decks of a ship?

@thefungusshow2535 4 жыл бұрын

@@brhino The foundation has a well kit at the window opening to provide access to the surface. There is a ladder inside the well. This is what it looks like... windowwellexperts.com/egress-window-wells/

@Dave--FkTheDeepstate 4 жыл бұрын

Did they mention the cost?

@inspectorsteve2287 4 жыл бұрын

I can't believe that one bead of waterproofing adhesive is enough. If that dries out and cracks your screwed.

@pdxlockpicker7796 4 жыл бұрын

There's 3. Inside, middle, outside.

@inspectorsteve2287 4 жыл бұрын

@@pdxlockpicker7796 no I know I heard that. It's one one bead the put on before putting the other wall up. They obviously tested this before bring it to market. It's just different from the norm.

@joepatterson5235 4 жыл бұрын

Seems like a hell of a lot of money to me

@timhanby5662 4 жыл бұрын

Joe Patterson Good if you need a house thrown up quick, such as in rural areas.

@stevebag3720 4 жыл бұрын

I have never had a foundation with poured footings and poured walls and a hole dug take more than a week. That little addition would be two days max!

@fredbloggs2587 3 жыл бұрын

That was the most superficial coverage of a building technology you've done yet.

@rawbacon 4 жыл бұрын

I'd rather have a foundation wall built out of Rice Krispies Treats.

@joeschlotthauer840 4 жыл бұрын

I'd feel better knowing if more caulk was used, 5 beads instead of three...

@Adam-ho8gx 4 жыл бұрын

I dislike how he basically says that most homes around 3500 psi because of incompetence. Modern concrete plants and their contracted trucks will get you the correct PSI at site, no matter what you order. If the average house is 3500 psi then it's because that is what they engineer specd them to. I also trust a single pour 3500 psi foundation to stand up 50 years to water far more than this jigsaw puzzle.

@tryppryt8137 4 жыл бұрын

If Tom Silva hadn't said great, I would have called bullshit.

@yaosio 4 жыл бұрын

16 hour shifts!?

@morecrapforputdowns 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah I'm sure it's split between 2 shifts

@ajmuzz22 4 жыл бұрын

No unions here..

@somber_soul 4 жыл бұрын

They run shifts, plural, for 16 hours. I.e. 2 shifts.

@MrWisdom79 4 жыл бұрын

Truckers do it everyday.

@keithupton86ku 4 жыл бұрын

@@MrWisdom79 I do it every day. It's not difficult.

@minermen16 3 жыл бұрын

Old school for me sorry. I’ll go with the block concrete walls not that stuff

@Coder-zx4nb 4 жыл бұрын

No thanks. I've seen one too many homes where that corner seal fails after 20 years!

@joebon7175 3 жыл бұрын

I can picture water flowing through those seams

@rawbacon 4 жыл бұрын

2:14 that guy definitely has some bodies buried in his basement.

@Fiberglasser03 4 жыл бұрын

An 1 3/4 concrete skin? Hope you don't have a lot of backfill against the house. This guy is talking crap on poured walls but they are 8-12'' solid concrete.

@douglasmccarty1196 4 жыл бұрын

The basement wall in our house is 32 in of poured concrete. There is a very slim chance it will crack

@venividivici4253 4 жыл бұрын

Don’t worry. This job will be replaced by robots. All those workers pictured will spend more time with their families. I can’t imagine working 16 hours in shifts.

@still34u 4 жыл бұрын

yeah .. Unless this comes at least 75% cheaper than the traditional way of building, I'd say it isn't worth it. What is the expected lifetime of this product? Why is it bolted and not welded? I've seen panel walls before - the whole soviet union was built from them. While most of it still stands, it isn't anywhere near ideal. The caulk lets go, because all caulk will. Call it what you want, it will let go. I've been in one of these style homes and there was snow blowing through the wall. Structurally sound? maybe.. Practical, reliable? I don't think so. It's gotta be cheap if you want me to use it anywhere

@Conex145 4 жыл бұрын

It's not bad but why don't get a descent foundation and build a house with a thick brick wall. no wonder why homes getting damaged during a hurricane....

@Conex145 4 жыл бұрын

@William Baker I'm sorry. I meant decent concrete walls. like 20cm thick. you're right single brick is crap

@TheDomain16 4 жыл бұрын

Hurricanes in PA...I don't think so.