Faswall® wall construction materials benefit you in six ways:
- Simplicity: A Dream Come True for the Do-It-Yourself Builder
- Sustainability: A Satisfying Solution For the Environmentally-Conscious Builder
- Affordability: Long-Term Savings for the Value Builder
- Safety & Security: Peace of Mind for Conscientious Homeowners
- Durability: Confidence for the Legacy Builder
- Health & Comfort: Breathe Easier, Live Better
Features of Faswall® Wall Construction Materials | How it Benefits You |
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Simple InstallationFaswall® wall construction materials are so straightforward to build with that supervised unskilled labor can be used for installation — ideal for DIY home construction. See how to build with Faswall®. |
No WorriesFaswall® blocks are dry stacked — no mortar needed! |
OrganicFaswall® wall construction materials are made entirely of organic and earthen materials: 85% mineralized wood chips from recycled wood and 15% Portland cement and slag cement — nothing else. The wood content of Faswall® block is 100% clean recycled pallets. |
Do Good While Building WellYou feel the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing your part to maintain our planet by building with one of the most environmentally-friendly, sustainable building materials available. |
CleanNo polystyrene plastics or foams are used in the manufacturing process of our wall construction materials. Simple formula, simple ingredients, no hidden chemicals or toxins. |
HealthThis makes for a more healthy indoor environment, particularly for allergy sufferers who may be sensitive to the chemicals found in other insulated concrete forms. You’ll breathe easier in a Faswall®-built home. |
Unrivaled Thermal PropertiesFaswall® blocks are highly energy efficient and boast one of the lowest embodied energies in wall construction material. Faswall® wall forms create a 12-inch wide wall that performs better thermally than conventional 2 x lumber-built walls, foam-insulated concrete walls, and structural insulated panel walls. The difference is that Faswall® wall forms are made of wood fiber surrounded by a grid of internal concrete with three inches of insulation placed on the exterior side of the wall. The concrete thermal mass inside the cores of Faswall®, matched with an additional three-inch layer of insulation on the outside of the concrete cores, and furthermore surrounded by two inches of wood fiber, provides a unique and more efficient way of retaining heat and cool inside the building. Compare Faswall® with other building materials. |
Save MoneyThis means that your heating and cooling costs are drastically reduced. Although building with Faswall® increases your initial construction costs modestly, the energy efficiency makes for a better overall value over the lifetime of your home or building. See pricing details. |
Insulation InsertsInsulation inserts within the Faswall® wall construction materials insulate the thermal mass into the living space. This harnesses the full benefit of a “thermal flywheel effect,” meaning that the wall construction material absorbs heat from the atmosphere in warm weather and releases it during cooler periods. Faswall® has lower temperature swings as compared to foam insulated concrete forms, which isolate the mass from the living space. |
Easier & Cheaper to Heat & CoolThis means it’s easier and cheaper to maintain comfortable temperatures in your Faswall®-built home or commercial building. |
Proprietary Wood Mineralization ProcessThe wood chips used in Faswall® wall construction materials are mineralized in a proprietary process that neutralizes the sugars from the wood. This makes the wood chip inert, which means that Faswall is not susceptible to rot or insects. It is similar to crushed stone aggregate in concrete. |
DurabilityThis means your home can literally stand for hundreds of years. Unlike foam, termites do not tunnel through Faswall®, as proven by tests performed by the University of Georgia Deptartment of Entomology. |
Does Not DegradeWood-fiber cement composite does not degrade over time. Some European countries rate wood-fiber cement composite as a 200 to 300-year wall construction material. |
LongevityThis means your home will essentially last forever, with minimal upkeep and maintenance cost. |
Lightweight Wall Construction MaterialsFaswall® wall forms are relatively lightweight — just 28 pounds each. |
Easy to Carry & StackThis makes them very easy to transport and stack. You won’t break your back building with Faswall®! |
No Mortar Between BlocksFaswall® wall construction materials require no mortar between blocks and require minimum bracing when filing with concrete. The wall forms can also withstand higher concrete pressure than any other insulated concrete forms and blow outs are rare. Read more about how to install Faswall®. |
Reduced Construction RiskThis means drastically reduced risk, hassle, and wasted time and resources for you during the construction process. |
Less Concrete NeededFaswall® requires less concrete infill compared to foam insulated concrete forms for similar wall thickness. |
Reduced CostAmong other compared features, this means Faswall® costs less to build with than other types of insulated concrete forms. See pricing details. |
Easy Fastening & CuttingYou can nail and screw directly into Faswall® wall construction materials. You can also easily cut Faswall® blocks with carpenter’s tools. No installation or searching for furring strips. Electrical wiring can be cut into the walls. See pictures of the installation process. |
Simplicity & SpeedThis makes a myriad of operations quicker and simpler, e.g. fastening windows directly to the Faswall® wall construction material, fastening cabinets directly to the interior wall, electrical wiring, etc. |
Easy, Direct SurfacingYou can surface finish Faswall® directly on both sides. It makes an excellent substrate for plasters and stuccos — it keys-in on the porous surfaces. |
Reduced Time & Complexity, Greater Beauty & HealthWith no need for interior framing or exterior prep, your building will go up faster and easier. It also means that your Faswall® home can be designed to look as beautiful as any other wall construction material — it won’t look like a typical concrete block home. Furthermore, this reduces the layers of wall construction materials needed, which means less toxins in your home as compared to conventional wall systems. |
Impact ResistantFaswall® wall construction materials are impact resistant. Both stucco and drywall can be applied direct to the Faswall® wall forms and the surface remains durable and puncture proof. |
Less MaintenanceThis means you won’t have to spend a lot of time, money, and hassle maintaining your exterior and interior walls. |
Vapor PermeableFaswall® blocks store and release moisture (water vapor, not liquid water) in a “sink effect,” depending on the environmental conditions. The scientific term for this is “hygroscopic.” |
Indoor ComfortThis means that the wall construction materials eliminate moisture building in the wall and regulate the indoor RH (relative humidity) levels at a healthy and comfortable level. You’ll feel more comfortable during the day and sleep better at night. |
Inhibits Mold GrowthBeing a vapor permeable building envelope, RH levels in a Faswall® building are kept low enough so that it is not possible to reach the level of RH where mold can start to grow (typically 70% RH). Combined with the high pH (alkaline) environment resulting from the cement content, this means that the wall construction materials actually inhibit mold growth. |
Breathe Easier, Less MaintenanceThis means that allergy sufferers sensitive to mold spores in particular will breathe easier and feel safer. You also won’t have to worry about tearing out and replacing walls due to mold. |
Sound ProofFaswall® wall forms are sound Proof (ASTM E 90-90) with an STC rating of 55. |
PeacefulThis creates an exceptionally quiet indoor space. You’ll feel more protected and peaceful. |
Flame ResistantUnlike foam insulated concrete forms or conventional stick-framed walls, Faswall® block cannot burn or melt. The fire rating of Faswall® wall construction materials is 4 hours with zero flame spread and no smoke development (ASTM C-119-88, E-84-89a; test done without insulation inserts). Faswall® walls cannot sustain a fire, and there is no release of toxic smoke from Faswall® walls during a fire. Faswall® customers are providing their families and businesses a security that cannot be achieved except through building concrete bunkers, adobe, or clay in-fill structures. A home of one of our builders sustained an internal fire, which destroyed the inside belongings. But the wall system endured, making it possible to rebuild with the original Faswall® walls intact. |
SafetyThis means that you can sleep better at night knowing your family is more protected from fire danger. |
StrengthFaswall’s strength makes it suitable for all seismic zones. |
SecurityThis means you can rest assured that your home can withstand anything that nature dishes out — from earthquakes to hurricanes. |
Withstands Freezing & ThawingThe Faswall® wall construction material withstands freeze/thaw cycles without degradation. It passed the 300 cycle test (ASTM C-666). |
ConfidenceThis means that homeowners can build year round in very cold weather conditions without fear of the Faswall® forms losing their integrity. |
Meets or Exceeds CodesFaswall® meets or exceeds building and energy codes in all states. |
Reduced HassleThis reduces your hassle in obtaining permits and approvals. |