Superior Walls Withstand Devastation of Hurricane Sandy

When Scott and Sherri Nevins evacuated their Barnegat, New Jersey, home 12 hours before Hurricane Sandy struck, they had no idea what they’d find when they returned. Several days later the couple returned and were amazed at the damage in their neighborhood but even more astonished at their own home.

“We found lots of debris around our home and a little sand in the garage,” said Scott Nevins. “We sprayed out the garage and that was it – cleanup done! While others in our neighborhood were not as fortunate, we’re reaping the benefits of our smart decision in 2009 to include Superior Walls in the construction of our home.

“Initially we selected the product because it provided a straight foundation for the framer and it wouldn’t sway like a house on pilings. Since this is a windy location, we also liked the idea that the garage was airtight with the Superior Walls foundation. Now, when we look around and see the extensive damage other homeowners face, we’re exceptionally grateful that we selected this precast concrete system.”

Scott Nevins points out that he found no sheet rock or insulation mess in his garage after Hurricane Sandy. The surge of 18” of water in his garage was easily cleaned up, and life went back to normal for the Nevins family.

In Ortley Beach, New Jersey, one of the hardest-hit areas from the storm, builders were amazed that an under-construction Superior Walls foundation was completely unaffected by the hurricane. Total devastation surrounds the construction site that was undamaged by the storm.

“There are numerous stories of Superior Walls projects simply defying Mother Nature in New Jersey during this storm,” said John Ruga with Northeast Precast Superior Walls. “One home in Strathmere, New Jersey, was left completely unharmed by the hurricane while neighboring houses were severely damaged. This particular house has above-grade Superior Walls with flood vents. As the waters rose, they went through the vents and let the house with little to no damage.”

The Superior Advantage

As opposed to concrete blocks or poured concrete, precast concrete panels by Superior Walls are steel-reinforced and created in the manufacturing process with DOW® Styrofoam™ boards, which provide excellent rigid foam insulation. The resulting wall panels provide a dry, warm, damp-resistant, and exceptionally energy-efficient foundation for a home.

“If you’re constructing a home, the foundation selection is critical for building an energy-efficient structure,” said Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. “Choosing a precast Xi™ or Xi Plus™ concrete foundation can help reduce heat loss in a home. That’s a ‘bottom line’ consideration that has long-term financial benefits for a homeowner.

“In addition, in extreme weather situations like Hurricane Sandy, there’s a great deal of peace of mind in knowing that your foundation system can really handle severe weather conditions. Each storm is different, but to continue hearing survival stories from homeowners who had minimal damage as a result of the superstorm really proves the durability of these precast foundation systems.”

For homeowners, 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 space in a comfortable setting. Builders also benefit from saved job site time and labor when certified Superior Walls installation crews set the walls in place in less than one day, so that home construction can immediately begin the following day.

Each Superior Walls panel is custom made to the specifications of an individual home, including built-in openings for windows and doors. Pre-engineered access for wiring or small plumbing elements along with smart stud facing for easy drywall installation are included and help speed up the installation process.