WHY SMARTBLOCK™ FORMS ARE THE SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE

What Makes Us Better Than the Competition

• Our customer service and technical support is a priority
• Our patented teeth interlock better and form a superior structure
• On-site service and assistance available

Heating and Cooling Reasons

• R-22 to R-24 equivalent (compare to R-11 for a typical basement with wood frame wall and fiberglass insulation) High heat-capacity material (concrete) combines with EPS to form an excellent insulator
  "In the summertime when we were building [near Las Vegas, Nevada]--and didn't even have the windows on yet--it was 113 or 114 degrees outside. But you could walk into the house built exclusively with SmartBlock™ forms], and it was only about 75 to 80 degrees. It was perfect inside this house." Leonard Steinberg, President of Heartland Homes

Environmental Reasons

• Neither uses, requires nor releases CFCs
• Recyclable
• No lumber waste
• Inert, non-toxic, fire-retardant, non-carcinogenic

Economic Reasons

• Long-term financial savings due to lower energy, maintenance and insurance costs
• Free on-site supervision and assistance
• Cuts overall construction costs (material and labor) by 10-40%
• Concrete walls cost far less to maintain than other walls

Construction-Related Reasons

• Easy assembly after brief learning period
• Especially easy to use in difficult building areas (tight clearances, hill sides)
• Blocks weigh less than 2 pounds each (masonry blocks weigh 35 pounds each)—for comparison, a pallet of SmartBlock™ forms weighs 40 pounds; the same area of concrete block weighs 500 pounds
• Can be cut with a handsaw
• Helps yield straight and plumb walls
• Cuts labor time up to 30-50% percent (because of speed of assembly and lack of need for framing, furring and insulation)
• Meets or exceeds the three major building codes in the U.S. and is approved for use in 49 states (ICC #4572, LARR #25006, BOCA #89-67, SBCCI #9301, Wisconsin DILHR #920083-I, New York DHCR #624-93-MC)
• Exceeds every energy code requirement in the U.S.
• Allows monolithic pours
• Built-in insulation during curing minimizes potential for cracking
• Walls are smooth, clean and easy to work with
• Plumbing and electrical systems are insertable with only the use of a router
• Allows simple construction of radius walls and special architectural features
• Perfect for cold weather forming and construction

Structural Reasons

• 50% greater compressive strength than standard methods of forming concrete
• Never rots, decays or mildews
• EPS surface holds waterproofing well
• SmartBlock™ forms' flexibility helps absorb concrete expansion and contraction, resulting in fewer hairline cracks and preserving the integrity of drywall finishes
• Straighter walls

Safety Reasons

• Our modified EPS melts, but does not burn on its own
• Smoke from EPS is considerably less toxic than burning red oak wood
• Slows down spread of fire within structures four times more effectively than wood

Aesthetic Reasons

• Accepts a wide variety of facings, including wood siding, shingles, stucco, brick and stone
• High R-value allows additional scenic window area while maintaining an energy efficient building envelope
• Allows the construction of larger basements (internal square footage) than other methods, since perimeter space is not wasted on studs, insulation and wallboard

Psychological Reasons

• Peace of mind knowing that your building is solid/requires less maintenance/resists fire

Other Reasons

• Acoustic insulation (30 times quieter inside)
• EPS has no nutritional value for insects/vermin
• Available in several widths to suit every building need
• A "tried and true" method with sound, completed structures across the U.S. and in several foreign countries
• Easy to obtain through distributors across the country
• ConForm is the dominant company in the field

COMPARISON TO SOME OTHER BLOCK DESIGNS

AVAILABILITY

• Most blocks are not available in all areas of the country
• ConForm Global is available worldwide

BLOWOUTS

• Due to a combination of connector spacing, improper foam density and inexperience, other foam forms have a tendency to blowout
• Steel ties can not bind well to foam, and have an even greater tendency to blowout

CORNERS

• Steel ties must be cut through, dulling the handsaw and taking a great deal of time
  Some blocks, such as 3-10 Polysteel, must be cut at 45º angles to make corners, and tend to be inaccurate for angles greater than 90º
• Molded corners tend to be confusing for the builder

COST

• Many forms do not "collapse" for shipping (like our VWF does) and are therefore more expensive to ship
• Forms that claim lower prices than ours tend to provide lower insulation, less customer support, less service, etc.
• Form systems that have a variety of forms (special end pieces, corners, ledges, etc.) are an expensive nightmare for distributors, who have to stock huge amounts of inventory. Such systems are hard for builders too, as builders must figure precisely how much of each type of form they require.

FIRE

• Many blocks provide a two-hour or less firewall

INSULATION

• Exposed connetors allow thermal bridging and lower the effective R-value of the structure
• Many blocks simply have a lower R-value, due to less dense foam or thinner walls
• Claims of higher R-values tend to be inaccurate. For example, a wavy interior allows thermal bridging through the zones of thinner insulation, yet some manufacturers claim higher R-values due to the thicker portions of the walls.

PLASTIC TIES

• Exposed plastic ties allow thermal bridging, lowering effective R-values
• Stuccos and waterproofing systems do not adhere well, if at all, to exposed plastic connectors
• The ties are not usually perfectly aligned and are difficult to find when screwing into them.

SERVICE

• There is no competition in this category with outstanding on-site service and training for the builder.

STEEL TIES

• Difficult to locate
• Tend to deform block, leaving a wavy finish and requiring extensive finishing or the application of insul board
• Galvanized coatings flake away, leaving areas to rust and bleed through stucco
• Rusting ties also weaken the connectors' structural ability to support drywall/siding
• Cutting through steel ties to fit blocks to a job is laborious
• Make the block somewhat heavier (5-6 pounds) and cumbersome
• If exposed to the outside of the structure, allow thermal bridging and lower the effective R-value
• Causes blowouts because the steel can not bind to the foam very well

TEETH

• The teeth on many systems do not allow small lateral adjustments
• Some systems that have a sliding tongue and groove rather than teeth allow the cells to misalign (causing a loss of structural strength) and require corners to be mitered
• Forms with this type of teeth tend to float, "snake," and require excessive bracing.

WEIGHT

• Some blocks, consisting of a mixed concrete/EPS are extremely heavy.
• Steel ties make the blocks somewhat heavier (5-6 pounds) and cumbersome