There’s a better, faster, easier, and greener way to build foundations.

Introducing The 1-Day Foundation

Build with a durable, waterproof, insulated, framed, and more efficient foundation system.

 

Installed in 1 day, square and level.

With no concrete.

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A Fully ICC and NTA Certified Composite Foundation System

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The Modco System Combines: the foundation footings, foundation walls, insulation (R-16.5), waterproofing, stud framing 16″ O.C., and a double top plate INTO 1 STEP IN THE BUILDING CYCLE. This creates MASSIVE time savings for builders and crews because we Eliminate Multiple Steps AND CONCRETE from the Foundation Construction Process.

Using the Modco System, a builder can expect to ELIMINATE 1-2 Weeks From Their Building Cycle

Fiberglass Composites (FRPs) Have Been Reliably Used in Industries for Decades to Build
High-Performance Structures

FRP bridge deck

Bridge Made from FRPs

Boeing-787-8-dreamliner

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Made from FRPs

storage tank FRP

Underground Storage Tanks Made of FRPs

Power-Plant Piping

Power Plant Piping Made of FRPs

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Boats and Yachts Made of FRPs

fiberglass pool

Earthquake Resistant Pools

And Now, With the Modco System, They Can Be Used for Foundations

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From Our Client

The MCS composite foundation has been an absolutely phenomenal product. We’ve been using it for our new builds for the last 8 months and its been an absolute solution for us. The ease of installation, time savings, strength of the product, and 15-year warranty are all major benefits of the system over concrete.”

Ed • Builder, Peak 2 Peak Construction

THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION IS HERE

Why Use Fiberglass Composites (FRPs) to Build Foundations?

Composites, and more specifically fibre-reinforced polymers or FRPs (which is what our panels are) are becoming more and more popular within the aerospace, marine, automotive, and construction industries. And for good reason. FRPs are extremely durable, strong, corrosion resistant, and reliable building materials that prevent the growth of mold, and they do not rust or corrode.

FRPs are commonly used in harsh and corrosive environments like chemical processing plants, power plants, sewers, wastewater piping, and acid storage tanks. In fact, they are used in mineral piping systems to protect the pipes from “hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, chlorine gas (wet and dry), chlorine dioxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, solvent extraction solutions, brines, slurries, and more” (source). Basically, FRPs are used in the most extreme and demanding environments to help protect against the most toxic materials.

They are also used to make boat hulls, bulkheads, and other components for military, commercial and recreational boats, ships, and superyachts. Jets, like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, are comprised of almost 50% composites.

In construction, FRPs are used for beams, columns, bridge decks, seawalls, piles, piers, and cladding for roofs and walls. They are even used to strengthen and reinforce old concrete structures, and new ones, to extend the lifespan by 50+ years. The list of uses and applications of this remarkable material is growing.

The reason FRPs are so popular, is because they have these defining characteristics (source):

  • Highly Corrosion Resistant
  • High Durability
  • High Flexibility
  • High Impact Resistance
  • High Strength-to-Weight Ratio
  • High Thermal Stability
  • Low Maintenance
  • Long Lasting and Sustainable

These are all MAJOR benefits when it comes to building a foundation for a home or structure. The corrosion resistance decreases the wear and tear of the foundation, leading to fewer cracks, leaks, and repairs. The durability of the panels, perhaps the hallmark trait, increases the panels ability to withstand wear and tear, daily pressure, and common damages. FRP’s even have a higher strength-to-weight ratio of steel! They are ten times stronger than steel alloy and 2-3 times stronger than reinforced steel.

FRPs have an exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio compared to reinforced concrete as well. In fact, when a study was done by the ICC on the soil load resistance of our panels compared to concrete, it showed that our panels were more than 2x stronger!

3rd Party Testing: Soil Load Resistance

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The third party testing done demonstrates the durability of the panels, their flexibility, and the extremely high strength-to-weight ratio. To prove the strength of the panels, we conducted an experiment to put them to the test. We cut sections of the panel and had them elevated off the ground and then drove a 10,000 lb flatbed truck on top of the panel sections.

We Placed a Flatbed Truck On Top of Our Panels

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As you can see, the panel holds up extremely well and the deflection is minimal. This demonstrates the incredible strength of the panels, and their ability to withstand lateral soil bearing pressure.

Additionally, FRPs are much easier to transport, maneuver, and install. This means they can be shipped just about anywhere, on a flatbed truck, and installed with ease. This reduces the transportation costs, labor costs to install, and significantly reduces the time needed to install leading to a much more efficient construction process.

FRPs are also a long lasting material that do not corrode or deteriorate overtime. FRPs are a high-quality and high-performance plastic. Compared to concrete, the long-term maintenance of FRPs is much lower, which makes them a much more sustainable and greener building material.

Concrete doesn’t last forever – it can start breaking down in as few as 50 years or less and needs continual maintenance and care to retain its durability. In fact, a lot of times concrete is reinforced with FRPs once it starts to corrode because FRPs help concrete maintain it’s structural integrity.

Even steel, which is what rebar is made of, corrodes and breaks down. That is why FRP rebar is growing in popularity especially in states where there is a lot of rain and water, like Florida. This simple demonstration below shows the stark difference between FRP and steel. Both FRP and steel rebar were placed in a vase of water. Look at the difference between the 2 vases after 52 hours.

FRP Rebar vs. Steel Rebar

In just 52 hours steel is corroding and the water is already murky from the deterioration of the steel. This is what happens to foundations once water creates cracks in the concrete. The steel corrodes, leading to a severely diminished foundation that is not as strong or dependable, that needs to be reinforced. This can be extremely costly to fix and repair.

Overall, FRPs have become the go-to building material in many industries due to their reliability, durability, strength, corrosion resistance, and longevity. The demand is growing as organizations such as the Florida Department of Transportation adopt them for a wide variety of applications.

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The Extremely High Strength-to-Weight, Durability, and Corrosion Resistant Properties of Our FRP Panels Make Them a Perfect Fit for Building Foundations

A Concrete-FREE Foundation System

Concrete is a great building material. It is proven, and it is used on just about every construction project that needs a foundation. But there are many downsides that every builder, GC, and client has had to deal with because there was never a better alternative (which we’ll get into shortly).

We use a fully ICC and NTA certified composite foundation system which includes both the foundation panels and foundation footings. There is NO CONCRETE in our foundation system. There are times when concrete footings are used in conjunction with our foundation panels, and we will use a non-structural concrete slab (called flowable fill) for the bracing on the bottom of the foundation before backfilling (see the FAQ). But with our composite panels and footings, the foundation construction process is devoid of concrete.

The old way of pouring concrete footings and walls is extremely time-consuming, labor intensive, prone to mistakes, and creates a lot of waste. It’s a building practice that has not changed in over 100 years. The new way is to build with a completely turnkey foundation system that integrates waterproofing, insulation, framing, the sill plates, and window/door cutouts into a single clean step.

Because There is No Concrete, WE ELIMINATE:

  • Forms. No setting up or breaking down the forms before and after pouring concrete.
  • Rebar. No bulky rebar on-site, no having to place rebar, fix rebar that is not placed properly, and no rebar inspections!
  • Anchor Bolts. No need to install them in the concrete walls. Never risk constructing a foundation and forgetting to install them (we’ve talked to clients who have made this frustrating mistake).
  • Curing. No more waiting for concrete to cure. Cuts out days (even weeks!) from the building cycle.
  • Call Backs. Gone are the days when a customer calls you about cracks, leaks, blowout fixes, and warranty claims. This saves a builder between $1,000-$2,000 per callback.
  • Cracks and Spalling. No more worries about cracks/spalling from understrength concrete, under-designed concrete, over-watering, improper curing, inadequate cold weather/hot weather precautions, cracks from shrinkage, cracks from freezing. And don’t worry about the footings not extending below the frost line, or moisture in the soil adhering to the foundation wall and lifting it, or even deterioration from salt.
  • Leaks. Gone are form tie hole leaks and other leaks from cracks.
  • Concrete Trucks. No more wasted time waiting on trucks, dealing with cement trucks damaging the property, or concrete washouts damaging the property.
  • Deliveries to the Job Site. A complete foundation system delivered onsite means no more waiting for materials or trips to get materials. With MCS, hard-to-access job sites can easily be reached.
  • Site Storage and Site Access Needed. Since the composite foundation system is delivered on a single flatbed truck and installed with a crane, or boom/truck combination, the job site will be clean. No forms or bulky rebar laying around.
  • Hiring Concrete Companies and Outsourcing the Foundation Construction. Because the foundation is prefabricated, we train and certify teams of installers. Our system is straightforward, simple, and very easy to learn to install.
  • Inspections. Say goodbye to the footing rebar inspection, footing final inspection, wall rebar inspection, wall final inspection, and damp proofing inspection. We eliminate 5 inspections!
  • Costly and Time-Consuming Mistakes. Our system is prefabricated in a quality controlled environment which ensures the accuracy of the dimensions. If a problem does occur, mistakes are easily fixed because the panels can be modified on-site, with traditional tools.
  • Winter Blankets, Heaters, Additives, Safety Fees. With our system, all these additional expenses are gone. And, because our system is independent of the weather, we can install the panels in the cold snowy mountains without a problem or the hot dry Front Range in 100-degree heat.

In addition to eliminating all of these things from the foundation construction process, another benefit is the time savings builders can expect from using a prefabricated composite system. Check out this time-lapse video below showing the stark contrast between a concrete foundation versus a composite foundation.

Concrete vs. Composite Construction

Basement foundation concrete gif
basement foundation composite gif

You can see how easy and fast it is to install our system. It is not labor intensive, and anyone can be trained on the installation process.

We spoke with and gathered data on the foundation production schedules from production builders, the builders who build homes the quickest (think Lennar and D.R. Horton), to see what their timelines are to build a foundation.

Below is a comparison of their timelines versus ours, we compare both the winter and summer schedules to our schedule. To make an apples-to-apples comparison, we start with the staking of the site and end with the start of the first floor walls.

Summer Concrete Schedule
Modco Schedule

The Modco approach results in 8-10 days in time savings, equating to an increase in efficiency by 40-45%! And this is a comparison to productions builders (Lennar, D.R. Horton, Toll Brothers), basically the most productive builders in the U.S.

This gap widens significantly once you compare us to any builder who does not have all of their trades dialed in. Plus it does not take into account any other problems that could arise with concrete such as delays from mistakes, waiting on the weather, waiting for deliveries, failing inspections, callbacks, etc.

Eliminate Concrete From The Foundation and Cut Out Weeks From The Building Process. No More Expensive Fixes, Callbacks, Warranty Claims, or Dealing with Rebar, Forms, Curing, Concrete Trucks, Inspections, and Additional Hidden Expenses!


A Completely Waterproof Foundation GUARANTEED

I called several references for each product, and the composite foundation customers all marveled at how dry and warm their basement’s are. THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER.

Justin

Once water leaches into a foundation, endless problems occur. Our panels are made from a Fiberglass composite material, similar to the material boats hulls are made from. Compare the images below of our foundation panel and a boat hull and see how they have the exact same composition.

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Bottom View of Our Panel

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As you can see our panels and a boat hull have the exact same configuration which means the panels are completely impervious to moisture, providing an airtight barrier that cannot be penetrated. We then take extra measures to waterproof the seams where the panels connect (panel-to-panel), and the panels connect to the footing (panel-to-footing).

For waterproofing, we use foundation-specific products:

These products are applied directly after the installation of the foundation and ensure a completely waterproof foundation.

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Contrary to Popular Belief, Concrete is Porous.

When concrete cures, tiny pores, spaces, and holes that air and liquid can pass through are created. This is horrible for keeping moisture out of a foundation. Also, any water (one of the main ingredients of making concrete) that does not interact with the cement during the curing process also created pores. Cement paste is so porous, that 96% of the pores are actually connected.

In addition, cement, the main ingredient used to make concrete, contains calcium, which is soluble in water. Because of the concentration of calcium in concrete, the pores in concrete get gradually larger in the presence of water. Water then destroys porous concrete over time, leading to cracks in the walls, which leads to water leaks and damage, radon seeping through the cracks, and gas seeping through the cracks. This leads to expensive fixes that need to be done. All of which could be avoided with a waterproof composite foundation system.

“44% of New Homes Have Leaky, Wet Foundations”

A survey conducted by Fine Homebuilding of 33,000 new homeowners revealed 44% of the new homes had moisture problems. Of all the homes that have moisture problems in the US, which is approximately 60%, it is estimated that 38% of those homes have mold and fungus growth. Mold and fungus can be extremely dangerous and detrimental to one’s health. They are harmful pathogens that release spores into the air, which can make people very sick.

Mold and fungus can trigger allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and cause serious problems for people with compromised immune systems. In addition to the health risk is the financial burden of remediating mold and fungus growth. If it is not taken care of immediately, the cost to remove skyrockets. It can easily cost up to $5,000 to remove. And if it’s black mold, cost to remediate skyrockets by 6X, or $30,000. Now that’s an expensive problem that could have been avoided altogether by using a waterproof foundation system.

AVOID THESE COSTLY REPAIRS

waterproofing the foundation

95% of all Foundations are Damp Proofed

Another reason so many have moisture problems is because when the foundations were constructed, they were damp proofed, and not waterproofed. What’s the difference? Damp proofing refers to keeping soil moisture out of the foundation, it is intended to prevent the flow of water vapor in the soil. It is not intended to prevent water leakage through cracks and holes in the walls. Waterproofing, on the other hand, protects the foundation completely from soil moisture and liquid water. Waterproofing is much more robust.

The reason most foundations don’t get waterproofed is because it’s not required by code, and it’s more expensive.

But there are major problems with only damp proofing foundations, such as:

  • Damp Proofing does not completely seal cracks or form tie holes;
  • Poor and negligent backfilling can damage the thin damp proofing material;
  • Hydrostatic pressure will not be stopped, leading to water seeping through;

Because the majority of foundations are damp proofed, and not waterproofed, inevitably moisture will seep through the foundation cracks. And once the seal has been broken the floodgates to mold, fungus, mildew, and rot are opened.

These harmful substances can lead to a myriad of other problems, even including damage to the rest of the home. As a matter of fact, wet foundations can cause severe problems in the attic! Mold can very easily travel upwards and disperse throughout the rest of the house, leading to the accumulation of mold upstairs and in the attic. Mold and fungus can also enter the heating and cooling system, and the spores can then get circulated throughout the rest of the home. They can then find new, damp places to call home and grow and expand.

In addition, a scary problem can arise with the floor. The floor above can rot, and pose a risk of collapsing. Mold causes structural integrity issues which can also be very expensive to fix.

Now, for the first time ever, a completely waterproof foundation system exists that is impervious to water and moisture. Not only will your foundation stay dry, but serious problems will be prevented from ever occurring. And an important thing to note is that the fully waterproof solution we provide IS INCLUDED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE FOUNDATION. This means that if you are a builder you save an extra day or two of time on the project, and there is no additional expense for waterproofing materials. So now it is both economical to waterproof the foundation and efficient. You save time and money.

And if that wasn’t good enough, we include a guarantee for our foundations and waterproofing. Each foundation we install includes a 15-year warranty ensuring a completely dry foundation. No more having to worry about leaky, wet, moldy, and fungus infested foundations and homes!

Eliminate Moisture Problems, Cracks, Leaks, Mold, Mildew, Rot, Bugs, and Fungus from Entering The Foundation GUARANTEED. Prevent Extremely Expensive Problems from Occurring with a Completely Waterproof Foundation.

Sill Plates Are Pre-Attached

Pressure Treated Double Top Plate Attached

The new way of building foundations includes a double top plate which we pre-attach the sill plates. This may seem like a trivial detail, but it is not. The sill plates assure that the foundation is square and level, a HUGE problem that occurs with concrete on a regular basis. And an unlevel and out of square foundation can be an absolute pain to fix. Not only does it cost delays, but there can be expensive fixes that need to be made. With our system you never have to worry about the foundation being out of square or unlevel again.

Also, pre-attaching the sill plates saves time, labor, and materials. No longer do the sill plates need to be installed in the field. We include the double top plates with all of our foundations, and pressure treated lumber can be supplied upon request.

With the sill plates pre-attached, we eliminate:

  • The need to fix a foundation for being out of square or level.
  • A day of labor, materials, and time.

Composite Studs Are Pre-Attached

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Each panel is 9′ high and comes with composite studs already attached, 16″ O.C. Because these studs are made from the same composite material as the panels, they are incredibly strong and robust, and serve multiple purposes.

First is the framing for the interior wall. If you are building a basement, the old way of framing can be very challenging. The wall needs to be square and level or else the walls will need to be furred out. The walls can easily be unlevel due to improper backfilling. Then someone on-site would need to install the framing, which means additional expenses for the framer, materials, and time are added to the construction process.

The new way of building ELIMINATES the need for a framer altogether, and having to deal with unlevel walls. Now there is no framer needed, additional expenses for the materials, and no time lost in having to frame a basement. Plus no more headaches with unlevel walls.

Additionally, the studs are structural component of the panel. They add support for the soil load resistance, and increase the width of the panels, increasing the compressive strength. Since they are extremely strong and have an exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio, we also use them for beam pockets and to support I-Beams for basemenrs. As you can see in the images below, the studs are holding up the I-beams.

Beam pocket

This detail is something the structural engineer will design. Included in our fabrication process are the beam pockets.

With our system, the foundation comes framed, with beam pockets, completely square and level.

This eliminates:

  • Having to frame a foundation on-site with poor conditions. Reducing labor, materials, and time wasted;
  • Having to construct beam pockets for basements.

An Energy Efficient Insulated Foundation Panel

BUILD NET ZERO HOMES – PASSIVE HOMES – LEED CERTIFIED HOMES

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Bottom View of the Panel

Each panel contains closed-cell R-16.5 insulation that is continuous and rigid. The old way of having to insulate the foundation on-site, with blanket batt or roll insulation is over. This time-consuming step is now eliminated from the construction process entirely. This saves a day of work, about $2,000 in material costs (depending on the size of the foundation it can be more or less), and the possibility of the insulation getting wet.

One thing that is overlooked by many builders is the fact that concrete contains a lot of moisture, and it can take a year for that moisture to evaporate. This results in moisture getting trapped in the insulation, turning the insulation into a breeding ground for mold. And as we know, mold leads to costly repairs and remediation.

As you can see in the picture above the insulation is encapsulated in the panel between two sides of impervious fiberglass. The insulation is in an airtight chamber. This prevents any moisture from percolating into the insulation, becoming moldy, losing effectiveness, and causing problems to the rest of the house or structure.

Now, there are different zones here in Colorado which determine the R-value of insulation needed to be up to code. The R-16.5 insulation contained in our panels meets the standards in most jurisdictions. Additional insulation is needed in the colder climates, like the mountains, which we can easily insulate and get the R-value up to 30 by filling the stud cavities with Batt insulation.

Here are the benefits of our insulated panels:

  • Basements can account for 20% of a home’s total heat loss. This can be reduced with our highly energy-efficient foundation panels.
  • No longer is insulation needed to be installed on-site. This reduces a day of work and materials for an estimated total savings of $2,680.
  • The insulation is encapsulated in the airtight panels which removes the risk of moisture and mold feasting and growing in the insulation. This reduces costly fixes needed to repair and replace insulation, and remediate mold.
  • Additional insulation can be added to the stud cavities to easily get the R-value up to 30.
    • Because the insulation is very efficient, a basement can now be used as a climate controlled storage unit. Antiques, vinyl records, DVD’s, instruments, etc. can now be stored in a controlled environment without needing to spend $1000’s per year on a storage unit.
    • This also reduces energy bills. Less energy is consumed by a homeowner because the efficiently insulated walls reduce the heat needed to warm a basement in the winter, and cold air needed to cool a basement in the summer.

Totally Encapsulated Insulation Reduces The Ability for Mold to Accumulate and Cause Damage to the Interior of a Home. Also Increased Energy Efficiency Leads to Money Saved on Utility Bills

The Panels are Fabricated in a Quality Controlled Environment

Picture of Our Fabrication Plant

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Prefab construction is on the rise, and for good reason. There are many benefits such as:

  • Significantly increased efficiency;
  • High levels of precision and quality;
  • Cuts are made the exact dimensions and specifications called out on the plans;
  • Maximized accuracy and fewer mistakes;
  • Reduced labor needed (during a time of labor shortages);
  • Less waste;
  • Safer working conditions;

This all translates into a much more streamlined construction process for foundations. Since we fabricate the panels in our fabrication plant to the exact dimensions in the foundation plans, we assure accuracy and quality foundations. In fact, before installing a foundation, we do a mock-up install at our factories site, making sure everything lines up perfectly.

The old way of building foundations on site presents many problems. For one, the weather is an unknown variable. Here in Colorado it can be sunny and warm one minute, and snowing the next. Unpredictable weather makes it tough to pour concrete. Secondly, mistakes are easy to make. With a concrete foundation, there are tons of possible mistakes that can be made, and these will continue to happen. Nobody is perfect. But mistakes can be avoided altogether by using a foundation system that is prefabricated to the exact dimensions ahead of time, where quality is our number one priority.

The Foundation is Cut to the Exact Dimensions and Specifications in a Controlled Environment, Leading to Maximized Efficiency, Accuracy, and Fewer Mistakes. Which Saves Time and Money.

The Entire Foundation is Delivered on a Flatbed Truck and Installed in 1 Day

The beautiful thing about prefab construction is the ease of delivery and installation. Because our panels are lightweight, made from an extremely high strength-to-weight FRP, they are extremely easy to pick up and install.

The old way of constructing a foundation is extremely laborious and time consuming. You need to deliver all the rebar, forms, and materials to the job site. Construct the footing forms, lay the rebar, get an inspection. Pour the concrete, which depends on the weather and or factors. Then get the footings inspected. If passed, then construct the wall forms, set the rebar, get an inspection. Pour the concrete, which again is dependent on the weather. Get the walls inspected, and if passed, move on to the next step in the construction process. And this is a very simplified version. There is room for error in setting the rebar, the concrete truck getting delayed, the inspector failing and inspection, and so on.

The NEW way to build foundations is to fabricate the entire foundation in a quality controlled environment, ship the whole foundation on a single flatbed truck (2 deliveries if it’s big), and install it the same day with a crane or telehandler and small crew of 4-5 workers. You can see how easy it is to deliver the foundation on a flatbed truck and then install it with a crane and just 4 workers from this video:

For smaller foundations that are 3′ high or less, we have even picked up the panels with man power and constructed the foundation, eliminating the need to use an expensive crane. You can see a video of an install here.

The efficiency of this system is mind-boggling. Imaging never having to deal with forms, rebar, inspections, messy job sites, and waiting on the weather ever again.

Here are the benefits of the EASY installation process:

  • An entire foundation can fit on the flatbed of a truck, and be shipped anywhere. This makes it much easier to build in harder to access places, and easier to build in general.
  • Builders now have flexibility over their construction schedule. Once fabricated, the foundation can be picked up and installed at any time.
  • Predictability. Construction schedules can now be accurately predicted with precise accuracy. No more waiting on the weather, concrete companies, contractors, and the various elements of building on site.
  • Efficiency is maximized. A construction crew can be trained and certified on the process, and now the foundation construction process can be retained in house. Leading to a high performing team.
  • Reduce the amount of labor needed, only 4-5 workers needed to complete the install.
  • Reduce time, build much faster. Cut weeks out from the build cycle.
  • No curing necessary so the building cycle is extended to the entire year.
  • Clean job site, no mess, and no damaging the property and creating permanent, long lasting effects.

In addition to all these benefits, we can train and certify construction crews on how to install the foundation system. Framers are great for learning the system because then they can start framing immediately after installation. But really anyone can be trained on ho to install the system since we have a comprehensive installation manual that shows step-by-step how to install the footings and panels.

Also, if you train your team on how to install the system, you can now keep the foundation construction in house. No more relying on concrete companies and contractors for the foundation, and you can maximize efficiency. If you are interested in learning more about training and certifying your team, please contact us here.

A Full Foundation Can Be Delivered and Installed in Just 1 day with a Small Crew of 4-5 Workers and a Crane. This Leads to an Optimized Construction Process and Maximized Efficiency. Build Foundations 10x EASIER!

An ICC and NTA Certified Composite Foundation System – Only 1 Inspection Needed

ICC certification NTA certification

Our system is completely ICC and NTA certified. Both the panels and footings are certified and up to code, and they have prescriptive engineering that any structural engineer can easily understand and use to design a foundation for a project.

There is no rebar, forms, or concrete, and waterproofing is included with the installation. So we eliminate the rebar inspections, footing and wall inspections, and the damp proofing inspection. 4 inspections gone!

Failing an inspection is a huge setback and an extremely painful process to remedy. Let’s say that 1/10 inspections fail, this would result in 1/3 houses failing an inspection which results in lost time, delays, increased labor and material costs to fix the mistake, and then having to get the inspector back out to re-inspect the foundation. Failing an inspection enormous opportunity cost.

We bypass the inspection from the city with a structural letter of compliance from the EOR (this is recommended method). The cost is a few hundred dollars extra, but is well worth the investment. If something does need to be corrected, only a few days will be added to the construction timeline as mistakes are extremely easy to fix with our modular system.

Another topic that comes up a lot is how we address expansive soils. There are a lot of expansive soils on the Front Range of Colorado and traditionally a deep foundation system such as concrete piers, piles, and caissons extending to the bedrock below would be needed to account for bad soils. The cost for this goes through the roof, especially with the current high prices of concrete.

With our system, because the panels and footings have prescriptive engineering, the engineer can avoid using a deep foundation system altogether by over-excavating and refilling with compacted, native or non-native soil. This avoids the need to use costly piles, piers, and caissons.

In summary, the benefits of using an ICC and NTA certified composite foundation system include:

  • Bypass the foundation inspections; only a structural letter of compliance from the EOR is needed to pass the foundation inspection.
  • No More FAILING INSPECTIONS; save time, delays, costly fixes and repairs. Decrease material and labor costs, stress, and the fear of going over budget.
    • Approximately 1/10 inspections fail, which is 1/3 homes. Never fail a foundation inspection again.
  • Prescriptive Engineering; Structural engineers can easily understand, design, and stamp plans using the prescriptive engineering from the testing and certification of the panels.
  • Avoid Costly Deep Foundation Systems; a deep foundation system can be avoided by over-excavating and refilling the hole with native or non-native soils. This saves everyone time and money.

Bypass All The Foundation Inspections with A Fully Tested and Certified Composite Foundation System. 

A Weather Independent Foundation Installation

In construction, we are at the whims of mother nature and whatever obstacles she throws at us. Colorado is home to a volatile weather environment where it can be sunny and warm one minute, and raining and cold the next. Unfortunately for concrete, this presents a lot of problems.

Concrete needs to be poured when the conditions are just right. The ideal temperature is between 50-60 degrees and anything above or below will need additional equipment. If it is too cold, under 42 degrees F, then additional expenses are incurred for keeping the concrete warm – blankets, heaters, extra additives, and water. Problems can easily arise within the concrete as it sets in cold weather such as the water inside the concrete freezing, expanding, and cracking concrete. If that happens then the newly poured concrete needs to be demolished and re-poured. Ouch. It also takes much longer for concrete to cure, adding days and weeks to the construction timeline.

If it is raining outside, the concrete can get damaged and lose strength and structural integrity. The cement mix can get washed out, making the surface a weaker consistency and also reducing it’s strength. This is not ideal for the foundation of a new home.

If the weather is too hot and dry, and there is a lot of direct sunlight like the conditions of Colorado summers, the concrete surface can easily crack and there can be additional shrinkage. Concrete will set much quicker than normal, and the workability will diminish. In warm weather water will usually be added to the mix, which causes the concrete to lose it’s strength and durability.

These are all problems that can be avoided with our foundation system that is independent of the weather. Since the panels are prefabricated, we just need a foundation hole that is excavated, clean, and dry. We can install foundations in the winter, up in the cold mountains. We can install foundations in the hot summer heat with no humidity. The weather does not affect the installation, unless there is a downpour of rain.

The benefits of using a weather independent foundation system, include:

  • Decrease Delays; bad weather, hot and cold weather is no longer a factor. Experience no significant delays due to the weather ever again.
  • Increase Predictability; construction schedules can now accurately predict their timelines and stay on schedule.
  • Year Round Building Cycle; increase the building cycle to a year round schedule. Build in the winter when it’s cold and snowy. Build in the summer when it’s extremely hot and dry.

Eliminate Weather as a Factor for Installing a Foundation and Build Year Round. No More Delays, Setbacks, and Pouring Concrete in Bad Conditions.

Significantly Increase Efficiency and Predictability of Construction Timelines.

A 15-Year Warranty Is Included With Each Foundation

Most concrete foundations do not come with a warranty, and if they do, they are extremely limited. If problems arise during the construction of the foundation it becomes extremely stressful, especially for the builder, who may not be any recourse for a bad job done. If problems arise after the house is complete, the homeowner may have no recourse for a failing foundation. Plus the cost to fix a bad foundation can skyrocket into the 10’s of thousands of dollars, fast. This should be alarming since a study by Fine Homebuilding discovered that 44% of new homes had wet and leaky foundations.

With our system, there is a 15-year warranty included for each foundation installed. We guarantee a foundation without structural defects that is completely waterproof. Since the product itself has a warranty, there is very little to dispute about the installation or problems that arise from the foundation. Concrete, on the other hand, is considered a service where the installation and final product have a lot more that is up for interpretation. With our system, everything is cut and dry, ensuring the builder and homeowner a durable and waterproof foundation.

For builders, we ELIMINATE:

  • Any concerns about cracking, spalling, leaking, insufficient reinforcing, or barrier failure between the foundation and the top plates.
  • Callbacks of any kind.
  • Arguing with concrete contractors about the work done, fixes and repairs to the poured foundation.
  • The stress of pouring concrete.

To date, we have had 0 warranty callbacks for any of the composite foundations we have installed.

For homeowners, the benefits include:

  • A GUARANTEED waterproof foundation. No more worrying about leaks, mold, rot, fungus, and expensive future repairs.
  • A GUARANTEED structurally sound foundation.

Each Foundation Installed Comes with a 15-Year Warranty – 15 years More Than Concrete. A Completely Waterproof and Structurally Sound Foundation GUARANTEED.

A 10X GREENER and More Environmentally-Friendly Foundation System

It is no secret that concrete is bad and harmful to our environment. But just how detrimental is it? Well, cement, one of the four ingredients in concrete, is so harmful that according to the National Academy of Science, “cement production is currently the largest single industrial emitter of C02, accounting for ~8% of global CO2 emissions” (source).

Concrete is also the 2nd most consumed product on the planet (right after water) with 4 billion tonnes of CO2 polluted annually. Concrete production has increased 300% in the last 40 years, with the demand growing every day. The cement sector is the 3rd largest consumer of energy and the 2nd largest emitter of CO2.

CO2 is a potent greenhouse gas that has many adverse effects on the planet and harms the species that live on it, including us. It magnifies these catastrophes;

  • The thawing of glaciers;
  • The flooding of islands and coastal cities;
  • The increase in intensity of hurricanes;
  • The desertification of fertile areas;
  • The adverse impact on agriculture and livestock.

These catastrophes will lead to food shortages from reduced agricultural outputs, and a rise in infectious diseases such as malaria, cholera, and dengue. Extreme heat which will cause cardiovascular and respiratory problems (source).

There are several key factors to look at when analyzing the harmful effects of concrete. First is the extraction of all the raw materials that go into making concrete, which is laborious and intensive. The second is all the energy, fossil fuels, and pollution created by the equipment needed to extract the materials, process, refine, mix them, transport them, and then install concrete. The third way is all the harmful secondary and tertiary effects on the environment such as the depletion of the earth’s topsoil, the acidification of the oceans, and the eutrophication of our lakes and streams.

These are a few of the harmful effects of concrete production:

  • the extraction of raw materials from our environment;
  • the production process of cement and concrete leading to 4 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted, ~8% of the global production of CO2 emissions;
  • the emissions from traveling and delivering raw materials and concrete;
  • the catastrophic chain reaction from concrete production leading to Earth’s topsoil being damaged, the acidification of the oceans, the eutrophication of lakes and streams, poor air quality, acid rain, smog, and the increase in wildfires.

These are all things we want to reduce.

The good news is our foundation system is 10X more environmentally friendly than concrete.

Take a look at this graph below comparing the negative effects of concrete vs. our fiberglass foundation system.

Chart Composite Vs. Concrete1-1

A complete life cycle analysis was conducted by a group of graduate students from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University. They researched and compared the environmental impacts of both a composite foundation vs. a concrete foundation, which accounted for the entire life cycle of both systems, looking at the extraction of materials, pollution from manufacturing, and the delivery and installation of the systems.

The study found that there is a 10X reduction in the negative environmental impacts by using our foundation compared to a traditional concrete one. THIS IS HUGE. Because our composite foundation system has no concrete, cement, or steel in it and is made from fiberglass, a resin, and foam for the insulation, the harmful effects are minimal.

Additionally, the ease of transportation and installation of the system reduces the need for lots of heavy equipment and excessive labor. This makes the system overall of a much greener product, significantly reducing the harmful effects on the environment with no long term negative impact on the job site or permanent damage.

In summary, you can now build greener, more environmentally-friendly and sustainable foundations. By eliminating concrete, you reduce greenhouse gases and CO2 leading to a healthier ozone layer, significantly less winter smog, less summer smog, less acid rain and snow, less acidification of the oceans, streams, and lakes. Less eutrophication which is the over enrichment of aquatic ecosystems, leads to exorbitant and harmful algae growth and kills fish.

Homeowners can feel good knowing that the foundation beneath their feet is a better, healthier overall product than concrete that will not rust, corrode, let in moisture, is extremely energy efficient, and is 10X better for the environment.

The Negative Environmental Impact of Concrete is 10X More Than That of Our Composite Foundation System. Reduce Carbon Emissions, Waste, and Pollution.

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