MARATHON, Wis. (June 6, 2002) – When land covenants restricted Chris Reedy's customer from building a modest outdoor tool shed, the Wausau-area builder suggested adding a lower-level garage beneath the three-car garage. With a walk-out style home plan, the extra 864 square feet would provide room for a boat, lawn tractor and yard tools. The home was showcased in the 2002 Wausau Area Builder's Association Parade of Homes in June.

Reedy, co-owner of Reedy Builders, installed steel reinforced concrete hollowcore planks from County Concrete in the garage floor of the central Wisconsin home. Hollowcore offers the strength necessary to support the upper level weight and provides additional room below.

Traditionally used in commercial construction for its high load-bearing capacity, span range and durability, prestressed hollowcore is becoming a mainstream building material on the residential scene for gaining interior space. Where land slopes allow for walk-out basements, it makes good sense to builders and homeowners to create a lower level garage, workshop, entertainment room or additional storage room. Expanding living quarters is also feasible since hollowcore can be painted, sprayed with acoustical coatings or studded for drywall. And due to its massive strength, support poles with their shadowing effects and obstructive views can often be avoided.

County Materials Corporation introduced its Hollowcore Roof & Floor systems to the market last year and reports an outstanding response from the residential home building market. "Builders like using the product because it's delivered to the job site ready for installation and is easy to work with. It sets up right over the foundation and provides an immediate work deck after grouting," said Jim Langkamp, sales representative.

Langkamp points out that Hollowcore Roof & Floor systems are also an economical choice for expanding a home's interior space because, with a walk-out basement, most of the foundation is already in place and backfilling the void is no longer necessary. "Due to its high strength and durability, it also affords you greater protection from tornadoes and has excellent fire resistance--with ratings up to two hours," said Langkamp.

Residential home plans commonly require hollowcore in an eight-inch depth, while greater spans with heavier loads may require ten-inch depths. County Materials manufactures depths up to 20", making it ideal for multi-family homes, housing complexes and condominiums.

County Materials Corporation, producers of a full range of concrete products for over 55 years, has manufacturing facilities and HomeScape Studios located in 14 locations throughout Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota.