Steel Foundation Catching On Fast

Steel Foundation Catching On Fast BUILDINGS Houses 23-5-31 Steel foundations cost less, take less time to install and are warranted for 50 years, says Steelmasters, a Michigan company that's doing a booming business in prefabricated steel foundations. "Steel basements cost 5 percent less than concrete per linear foot," says Steelmaster's Steve Van Haitsma. Plus, the steel walls can be easily insulated up to R30, he adds. Electric, heating and water ducts are easier to run through the wall cavities and sheet rock can be attached right to them without firring out. Three or four men can install the system in a day, compared with concrete which can take several days to lay and up to a couple weeks to dry and cure. The patent-pending system consists of a combination of galvanized steel studs and track, and galvanized painted steel siding, covered with a waterproof insulating membrane. The walls are available in three stud sizes. For larger homes, or if you want 9-ft. basement ceilings, 8-in. walls are used. For smaller homes or walkouts, 6-in. walls are used. Full basement walls are generally built with studs at 16-in. centers and completely covered with steel decking and foam membrane. Walkout walls extend from the frost line up to the floor joists, generally with studs on 24-in. centers and the below-grade portion coated with a waterproof coating. "Daylight walls" are a combination of both wall types. The steel panels sit on a concrete footing wrapped in a 60 ml. rubber boot. Panels are set with a hardened nail into the footing, and the concrete floor is then poured, locking panels in place. A limited 50-year warranty ensures against any structural rusting of the system, Van Haitsma notes. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Steelmasters Inc., 1111 Godfrey Ave. SW, Suite 16, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503 (ph 800 686-5941 or 616 224-1842; fax 248-0333).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.