BENEFITS for BUILDERS
WHY THE PROS PICK SMARTBLOCK™ FORMS FOR BASEMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS

PROS FOR THE BUILDER

  • No waiting for subs (concrete, framing, etc.)
  • Easier to keep house in square with resulting cost savings for above grade floor, framing, roof, joists, etc.
  • No form stripping
    • Easier to attach waterproofing
    • No prep solvents
    • Eliminates waiting for sub to return
    • Fewer chances of leaks
  • Eliminates follow on steps with framing and insulation subcontractors
  • Faster start above grade - sill plate can be attached day after pour instead of waiting on form stripping
  • Greater flexibility with poor weather and job site conditions
    • Can be placed in rain
    • Possible to work on muddy sites
    • Wall insulation permits cold weather installation and concrete placement
  • Subs do not have to wait for availability of forms, skilled crews, etc.
  • No extra costs for angles, corners, drops, windows, doors, curved walls and other custom features
  • Simple, all-in-one system
    • Limits extra trips to pick up special tools, adjustable panel forms, attachments, etc.
    • Fewer chances for mistakes
  • More forgiving system - easier to isolate blowouts and continue work, to keep walls aligned and in square during pour, etc.
  • Virtual elimination of wall cracking, thus limiting callbacks, structural problems, etc.
  • Reduced injury history and worker's comp claims for general and/or subcontractors

BUILDER BENEFITS OUTLINE:

  • Simple, easy construction using 2-3 general laborers
  • No heavy lifting, safer on site
  • Interlocking tongue and groove is easiest by far
  • No settling call backs, no pop-outs
  • Fast construction time
  • Code approved
  • Stronger, safer building to your clients
  • Ultra-high energy efficiency
  • Cold weather pouring
  • No high capital costs
  • No cleaning and repair costs
  • Greater job control
  • Fast easy design changes
  • No special tools or costly moving equipment
  • Steep lot forming in a snap
  • Curves, angles and other architectural details
  • Easy, fast electrical and plumbing installations
  • No waiting for subs
  • Windows, doors roughed out like any other poured or masonry wall
  • Interlock various widths to save on concrete costs

EASE OF USE

  • Placing concrete is simpler, faster and has fewer job problems.
  • ConForm blocks combine insulation with concrete placement in one step.
  • Eliminates buying, transporting and protecting expensive concrete form systems.
  • Eliminates building, stripping and cleaning formwork.
  • Eliminates staging, moving, carrying and cutting forms or masonry block.

SUPERIOR RESULTS

  • Structural value equals or exceeds walls poured-in-place or built with masonry block.
  • Concrete cures in an ideal curing environment.
  • Superior curing produces superior strength.
  • Forming on sloped job sites is quick and efficient.
  • Superior layout and squaring with ConForm blocks.
  • ConForm blocks are easily adapted for curved walls, following terrain contours, inset and raised detailing and other decorative features.

SUPERIOR JOB CONTROL

  • ConForm construction is easier to master than other on-site concrete placement methods.
  • Using ConForm blocks can allow a general contractor either to eliminate masonry or concrete ubcontractors or get them to perform in a more timely way.
  • Can permit smoother transition between trades.
  • ConForm insulates to permit placing concrete year round, including in cold weather.
REDUCE CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND INCREASED PROFITS
  • Reduces material and labor costs by 5% to 40% compared to other methods of placing concrete.
  • Reduces job time by up to 50%.
  • Reduces job injuries and workmen's compensation claims.
  • Blowouts are repaired quickly and easily with a minimum loss of concrete.
  • Design advantages result in fewer after job callbacks for workmanship.
The following table compares SmartBlock™ built walls to other methods of construction.

 

SmartBlock™

Masonry

Poured-in-Place

Stick Frame

Speed of Construction

Fastest

Slow

Slow

Medium

Fire Resistance

High

High

High

None

Structural Strength

Highest

High

Highest

Medium

Flexibility in Design

High

Low

Lowest

High to Medium

Ease of Use

High

Medium Low to Low

Medium to Low

Medium

Cost

Low

Low to Medium in Most Applications

Medium in Most Applications

Lowest

Incidence of Callbacks

Low

Medium

Low

High

Additional Steps Required for Insulation

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Insulation Value

R-22 or R-24 Equivalent

Marginal

Marginal

Marginal

Sound Impedance

High

High

High

Low

Job Injuries

Low

Medium

Medium

High