Superior Walls By Collier Foundation Systems, Inc.

The chart below will outline some of the advantages to using Superior Walls for your Superior new home. The chart will also compare Superior Walls to other foundation systems. If you have any further questions, please contact us.

	Superior Walls	Block	Poured in Place	Insulated Concrete Form (ICF)

5,000 psi plus+ concrete?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Walls manufactured in a climate-controlled factory?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Installed by factory-certified installation crew?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Damp proof from factory?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Rebar always present in a pre-engineered configuration?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Concrete footer required before foundation walls constructed?	NO	YES	YES	YES


Can use crushed stone footing?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Limited by cold weather as it relates to pouring concrete?	NO	YES	YES	YES


Always include a redundant perimeter drain to daylight or sump?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Sill plate holes provided?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Provided with a continuous layer of R5 or R12.5 insulation bonded directly to the concrete?	YES	NO	NO	YES*


Holes provided for wiring and plumbing?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Treated wood or galvanized nailers built into the wall?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Allow for increasing the amount of insulation without the need to install additional framing?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Foundation installation time average 1/2 to 1 day?	YES	NO	NO	NO


Ready to finish from factory?	YES	NO	NO	NO


(*or higher, depending on system)

Here are a few sample questions for you to ask:

What is the uniform (axial) load capacity? How does that compare with Superior Walls 5,500 lb/LF capacity?

What is the brick ledge capacity? How does that compare with Superior Walls 2,900 lb/LF?

Do you have structural test reports? Maximum point load you can handle? Add additional studs for concentrated loads over 30,000 pounds?

Were your tests conducted at a laboratory certified by the International Accreditation Service like Superior Walls?

Do you have an Evaluation Report from the International Code Council?

How long have you been building these structures? How many have you installed? What type of warranty do you provide?

What is the foundations capacity to resist the lateral pressure of the soil? Will your 10’ height support soils with a lateral pressure of 100 lb/SF/Ft of depth like a 10’ Xi Superior Wall?

What are the limitations on backfill material? What type of Water damping do you use?

For above-grade foundations (as in a walkout basement) in high wind areas - what are the positive and negative transverse load capacities? Do they come close to the 80 PSF negative and 155 PSF positive capacities of Superior Walls?

What do you have to do to use the foundation as a two-hour party wall in townhouse construction?

Do you have any fire test reports? Did an IAS certified lab conduct them?

What are your beam pocket capacities? Have they been specifically tested?

What kind of technical support staff do you have? Do you employ a full-time Building Codes Specialist like Superior Walls?

Are the “R-Values” built into the wall to pass fire testing, or added afterwards?

Do you provide a detailed Builder Guideline Book? What kind of footer do you use? And why?

Are you NAHB Green Approved and help promote Green Building and High Energy Savings?

Do your products receive quarterly inspections from a third party inspector?