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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reddi-Wall?
Redd-Wall blocks
are polystyrene
insulating concrete forms filled with concrete. They are used for
the construction of walls sand basements for residential, commercial and industrial
buildings.
Are Reddi-Wall blocks as strong as a
cement block or poured a wall?
Reddi-Wall's truss type construction and added rebar make Reddi-Wall
walls as strong as a cement or poured wall.
What materials can be used
to finish the exterior surface of a Reddi-Wall System?
Any surface treatment that is used in conventional home building
can be used on the Reddi-Wall system with no additional costs.
How is exterior wood, aluminum,
or vinyl siding attached?
Siding is attached with stainless steel drywall or deck screws.
How is drywall attached?
Reinforcement tracks are installed in the block and drywall
screws fasten the drywall.
How is electrical wiring
installed
Greenfield or conduit can be used as in typical wood framed
homes. Another method is to
cut a 1/4 inch groove into the foam block. The wire is then
installed and the groove is foamed shut.
Can you ever install a door or
window later?
Yes. a concrete saw can be used to easily cut in a door or
window.
How high can you build up?
Heights of 20 feet or more require some engineering.
With proper engineering you could go up to 100 feet.
How much weight can you place
on top of a wall 9 feet height?
It will hold up to 136,000 pounds every 10 inches or every square
foot.
How much weight can be placed
on the brick ledge?
Based on a 9 foot wall, the brick ledge will carry an excess of 12.5
tons.
Can you use Reddi-Wall block
for an addition?
Yes. You can add it to any type of structure.
What is the R-Value of Reddi-Wall?
The calculated R-value of the wall empy is R-26. In actual
infrared tests, the wall assembly tested in excess of
R-70.
What kind of performance record
does Reddi-Wall have?
In Michigan there are thousands of structures built with the Reddi-Wall
system. There has never been a problem with the structure or
water leakage.
How does using Reddi-Wall
effect heating bills?
When used for basements only, it reduces heating bulls by 50% or
more. If your entire home is built using Redd-Wall blocks
you can reduce your heating bills by up to 75%.
Reddi-Wall's 4000 sq. ft. test home built entirely
with Reddi-Wall is heated for under $100 per year!
How are cooling bills affected
when a basement is made with Redd-Wall?
In an actual testing it was found that the air conditioning bills are
much lower in an Reddi-Wall home. In a conventional home the
part of the basement above grade allows a lot of heat and moisture
to penetrate into the home.
Are there any smells or
off-gassing associated with the Reddi-Wall blocks?
No, they are odorless. There is no off-gassing. In
fact, the Reddi-Wall blocks have been given food clearance.
If there is a fire, is the
smoke from Reddi-Wall blocks toxic?
By-products of the combustion or Reddi-Wall blocks are CO2, CO and H2O which could
possibly cause suffocation. However, Reddi-Wall blocks are
not nearly as toxic as the materials used in conventional
construction.
What is the temperature at
which Reddi-Wall
blocks melt?
The melting temperature is between 374-500° Fahrenheit.
Some wood and most cloth will spontaneously burn at this
temperature.
At what temperature will Reddi-Wall
block flash into flames?
At 800° Fahrenheit. The block has a 2 hour
fire rating, flame spread of 15 and smoke developed at 125
rating.
What is the life expectancy of
Reddi-Wall blocks?
The EPA has given polystyrene a life of 10,000 years per inch. Reddi-Wall block won't
lose any insulation value.
Will insects eat or penetrate the foam block?
There has never been a case of this happening. In tests
with termites and ants, the insects died without having eaten the
foam block or escaping. The block
contains boric acid crystals that attack the nervous system in
insects. The boric acid also works as an excellent
fire-extinguishing agent.
How much does Reddi-Wall block
reduce noise?
It has been measured at 52 DB. The best head set for ear
protection for ear protection has a level of 26 DB.
How much wind can Reddi-Wall
resist?
A 100 mph wind produces a 45 pound per square foot pressure.
The wall has been tested to 2800 plus pounds or approximately 400+
mph.
What happens to the air
quality in a Reddi-Wall home?
In homes with the basement and above grade walls constructed
with Reddi-Wall blocks, the fungus levels equal to the outside air
entering the home. The bacteria level is undetectable.
An average six month old home with a concrete basement has a
bacteria level of 288 parts per cubic meter.
How does bacteria grow in a
home with a cement basement?
Where heat meets cold, moisture condenses. This makes a
basement wall damp, which along with a high ph, porosity and
temperature, cause favorable conditions to grow bacteria.
Why won't bacteria grow in an
Reddi-Wall home?
The place where heat meets cold is outside the basement so
there is no moisture generation. Foam reflects 99+% of the
heat waves that hit it. This creates a very active molecular
surface and bacteria die from molecular bombardment. Reddi-Wall
foam blocks are also penetrated with boric acid that prevents mold
from growing and also serves as a flame retardant.
What about an airtight
home? If there are few air leaks will the air get polluted?
There is strong evidence that the outside air of a Reddi-Wall
home is often more polluted than the air inside air. This is
due to less chemicals off-gassing & reduced mold and bacteria
counts. We recommend heat and hot water systems be vented
with outside air and installation of proper ventilation.
What type of heating unit is
suggested to heat these homes?
Any conventional heat system works fine.
The size of the
unit can be reduced 1/2 the normally recommended size. Hot
water circulated through the floors works very well.
What is the size of the Reddi-Wall
block?
The block is 5 feet in length, 12 inches in height and 10 inches
thick.
What mix is used for concrete?
We use 300 pound PSi concrete made from 70% sand and 30%
stone. We use stone that is 1/2 inch or smaller. A 2%
fly ash is added for flow ability and water resistance
How wide are the window jams?
The window jams can be set as desired.
What type of window is
recommended?
Any type of window may be used. We would recommend using an
energy efficient window to increase your energy savings.
What is the cost of Reddi-Wall
basement compared to a poured wall basement?
The base price of a Reddi-Wall basement is 10-15% higher than
a poured wall. When the cost of insulation, steel
reinforcement and basement finishing is calculated, Reddi-Wall is
about 30% less overall.
Does the insulation value change in a Reddi-Wall basement?
Reddi-Wall blocks have an R-26 value on the foam block
alone. After the foam blocks are filled with concrete, it
has a minimum of R-50 and will not loose any insulation
value. In comparison, a poured wall has and R-0.8
rating. A 2 inch sheet of foam insulation has an R-10
rating.
The problem with poured walls is
they're not reinforced with steel and they crack from frost push
even when properly waterproofed. The attached foam sheets
may get wet from ground water, dropping their R-Value to as low as
R-1.
Contact Us!
To obtain more information or for a
detailed estimate please send
us an email or or give us a
call.
info@JordanGreenHomes.com
(815) 382-8859
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What we do today,
right now, will have an accumulated effect on all of our
tomorrows.
-
Alexandra Stoddard |
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