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Concrete form leads to increased heating and cooling savings
Published 06:00 a.m., February 26, 2007
When a person who plans to build a new home hears that a certain type of construction will save 44 percent in annual heating costs and 32 percent in cooling expenses — that individual pays close attention.
Making those estimates is Cooper Stewart who is the owner of Pelican Rapids-based Terra Logic Building Products. Even though Stewart doesn’t build homes himself, he heads a marketing company that sells energy-efficient building products to home builders in seven states and a few Canadian provinces.
Stewart and his 140 distributors pitch LOGIX insulated concrete forms — the key to successful energy savings in newly constructed homes.
“LOGIX insulated concrete forms are based on the simple concept of interlocking blocks,” Terra Logic employee Glen Habedank said. “Homeowners will have a wall system that's not only long-lasting and energy-efficient but also homes that are sound-proofed and moisture resistant.”
Stewart formerly owned Innovative Construction Systems in Pelican Rapids which now houses one of his distribution outlets.
“The concrete forms are made in Winnipeg,” Habedank said. “And while the lion’s share of our sales go to contractors, we do make sales to some homeowners themselves through our 140 marketing distributors.”
The expanded poly styrene (EPS) foam in LOGIX walls provides a thermal resistance rating of R-24. Thicker and more solid 2-3/4-inch foam panels are standard on every LOGIX form that is made.
There are nine steps to building a wall. In step seven the concrete is placed with use of boom pumps and reducers to slow the pouring velocity.
Step eight allows for installation of electrical boxes and channels for wiring along with plumbing channels.
In step nine, finish materials such as stucco, wood, metal, brick, stone or even log can be attached. Finish materials can be applied using mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives according to local building codes.
Terra Logic Building Products has marketing distribution outlets in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, upper Michigan and the northern tier of Illinois.
Outlets also are in place in Manitoba, half of Saskatchewan and in western Ontario, Canada.
“We’ve been doing this for seven years, and I’ve worked here four of those years,” Habedank said. “Things are going well and we’re also looking for new marketing venues.”
Owner Stewart is a veteran of construction who spent several years on the West Coast. He owned his own design/build contracting companyin Oregon called Stewart Design & Construction.
Stewart had the desire to move to the upper midwest — and his wife Lisa’s home area of Pelican Rapids suited him just fine.
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