GLSW FAQ
Builders who have never used Superior Walls often have several questions about their construction and installation. GLSW provides several answers to common questions. If you need any more information, please reach out to us.
The total width of the wall is 10¼ inches, the face of the wall is 1¾ inches.
When you build a house wall, the strength is not in the plywood sheathing on the exterior; it’s in the studs. Each concrete stud in a Superior Walls system will support 11,000 pounds. The concrete on the wall panel's face stiffens the wall to prevent racking and exterior elements from entering, just as plywood sheathing does on a stick-framed house wall.
Superior Walls panels contain a very specific concrete mix. This mix has a low water-to-cement-powder ratio resulting in a very high PSI concrete. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) states that water permeability is a direct function of the water/cement ratio (a lower w/c ratio results in lower permeability). Superior Walls’ concrete mix design provides a water/cement ratio of 0.40, are rated for extreme durability, and are watertight. However, Superior Walls panels are damp proof only; they are not waterproof! If waterproofing is required in your area, then Superior Walls panels must also be waterproofed.
The Xi wall panel has an overall R-Value of 12.5 with a 6-inch-deep stud cavity to add extra insulation. R-50 is easily achievable with more spray foam.
Superior Walls panels are poured in steel forms making the top and bottom of the walls extremely flat. Poured footings have lumps or aggregate sticking out of them, which creates pressure points or “hot spots” in the wall panel, which can result in cracks over time. That’s why the IRC Code states that if a precast wall panel is on a poured-in-place footing, it must be shimmed and grouted to the footing with non-shrink grout. Crushed stone footings help create a drain field under the walls, which prevents hydrostatic pressure buildup and reduces the likelihood of a wet basement.