WEST BEND, Wis., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ — The first Fortified … for safer living(R) home in Wisconsin is now complete. In addition to being disaster- resistant, this house is environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and easier to insure due to its durability and other benefits.
Alex and Jenni Bolek of Kewaskum have lived in their Fortified … for safer living(R) home, built by Excalibur Builders LLC, for a few months now, and say they’re already reaping the benefits.
“This is truly a case where the product exceeds the sum of the parts,” Alex said. “In this case, the end product is a home that is strong, secure, and made to last generations, not decades.”
The Fortified … for safer living(R) designation is granted by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a national nonprofit insurance industry trade association, headquartered in Tampa, Fla. The “Fortified” program features affordable construction options designed to safeguard homes against whatever disasters they face where built. In this case, tornadoes, hail, wildfire, and severe winter weather — very destructive natural perils in Wisconsin.
Thanks to Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction and careful attention to detail, the Bolek’s home also earned Energy Star and Green Built certifications. The Boleks went one step further with the roof of their home and used Insul-Deck, a polystyrene form of Span-Crete, giving them an insulated cast-in-place concrete roof monolithically poured to tie in with the ICF walls.
“Another noticeable benefit with the performance of these walls is the obvious heating and cooling costs savings,” said Bolek. “In these days of unpredictable energy costs, this is something that can’t be ignored.” In fact, the Boleks could save as much as 50 percent or more on energy costs.
While energy efficiency is a huge factor, particularly in the Midwest where winters are cold and summers are hot, safety is really the main purpose of a “Fortified” home.
“Fortified” techniques and construction materials raise a home’s overall disaster-resistance above the minimum requirement of local building codes. Extra attention is given to areas especially vulnerable to harsh elements, including doors and windows, roof construction, and the foundation. “Fortified” construction features include:
– Non-combustible and impact-resistant roof materials that also better
withstand high winds;
– Windows, doors, and garage doors that have a higher design pressure
rating;
– Connections that securely tie the house together from roof to
foundation; and
– Securely anchored exterior structures such as carports and porches.
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) provide solid, lasting construction that resists the ravages of natural perils, as well as time. ICFs also provide two built-in layers of foam insulation. This gives an ICF home many advantages over an ordinary home including greater protection against the elements, greater energy efficiency, and more peace and quiet.
Building the first “Fortified” home in Wisconsin was a rewarding experience for Dave Hamilton, owner of Excalibur Builders LLC, based in Slinger. “Working with Alex and Jenni was a refreshing experience,” Hamilton said. “Their input and attitude made building their home a pleasure. In fact they did a lot of the finish work themselves.
“The Boleks believe their family deserves to live in a home where safety and health are the main concerns. They took it to the point that allowed Excalibur Builders LLC to construct the highest-rated Green Built Home in 2006. Excalibur Builders LLC believes as energy costs continue to rise, homes made of ICF will be the trend of the future. They allow homeowners to live in healthy, environmentally-friendly homes with an Energy Star Home savings of up to 50 percent on heating and cooling costs, as well as a Safe Home that provides them with a reduction on their home owners insurance.”
Jim Schwalen, vice president-Personal Lines Underwriting and Marketing at West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, was instrumental in introducing Excalibur Builders LLC to the Fortified … for safer living(R) program. West Bend Mutual currently offers a 25 percent premium discount for a Fortified … for safer living(R) home. They also offer a 15 percent discount for homes built using ICF construction.
West Bend Mutual Insurance Company provides property/casualty insurance products throughout the Midwest. The company specializes in package products like the Home and Highway(R) and Contractors Businessowners programs, and is known throughout the industry for providing legendary service. West Bend Mutual has been rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best since 1973.
For more information on the Fortified … for safer living(R) program or ways to protect existing homes from hazards visit the IBHS web site www.DisasterSafety.org.
The Institute for Business & Home Safety, an initiative of the insurance industry, works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.
