Concrete Housing
The current office facility for Cornerstone Foundations, built in 2004, is an excellent example of an above grade concrete structure. Cornerstone Foundations is committed to continuing to pursue this alternative for its own projects and those of its clients' due to the many benefits this method provides.
Energy Efficient
The energy efficiency of insulated concrete will provide significant savings in energy costs over time. Cornerstone Foundations uses the ThermaEZE insulating product on the outside walls, leaving plain concrete on the inside surfaces. The interior walls are then plastered and painted to look exactly like dry wall surfaces, but with the advantage of the thermal mass properties of concrete.
When heating or cooling a room, the concrete wall soaks up and stores the energy, releasing it back into the living area over time. This decreases energy costs and temperature fluctuations while increasing overall comfort, keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
This environmentally-friendly choice also follows green building objectives and conserves trees by reducing construction needs for lumber.
Stable construction
A concrete house is not only a smart way to save money on heating and cooling costs; it has unparalleled safety and security. It is also a solid investment that will resist many types of damage to which other types of housing are susceptible.
Concrete has proven itself as one of the most fire and heat resistant construction materials and can resist collapsing and other forms of structural damage. Unlike wood or steel, it will not burn, soften or bend, so it is more likely to remain standing through a fire or forces of nature such as tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes.
Furthermore, unlike wood, concrete is not susceptible to rotting or insect damage. Insurance companies often recognize the many disaster-resistant qualities of concrete homes by offering significant discounts on premiums.
Comfortable and stylish design
Concrete homes are anything but boring. They are very low-maintenance, comfortable and quiet, reducing inside noise from room to room and outside noise from traffic, airplanes and neighbors.
They can have the design of your choice, whether contemporary or traditional, single- or multi-family and one story or multiple stories. Once the walls are cast, they can also be covered in a wide variety of attractive, low-maintenance materials, including brick, stone, stucco or siding.
