Solid Foundation for Marino Custom Homes

              LEBANON, OHIO – In the Village of Indian Hill outside of Cincinnati, builder Pete Marino is doing something fairly unusual in today’s challenging economic marketplace --- he’s building a spec home.  And, it’s not a small house. He’s constructing a one-million-dollar-plus custom home.

             “We’re feeling much better about this market in 2011 than we did several years ago,” says Marino, managing partner of Marino Custom Homes, LLC. “We saw an increase in sales in 2010 over 2009 that has pushed us forwards into new development projects. As long as we build sensibly we believe there will be buyers for our high-end custom homes.”

             For Marino, building “sensibly” means starting with a solid, energy-efficient R-5 foundation system from Superior Walls of the Tri-State. Custom-made to the exact specifications of a home, the damp-proof precast concrete foundation can be set in place by a certified crew in less than 12 hours, creating a fast start for a home’s construction process.

             “I’ve had good experiences with Superior Walls foundations in the past which led me to using one on this custom home in Indian Hill,” says Marino. “We’re confident that the homebuyers will see the value in having added living space in their basement area afforded by the Superior Walls foundation. That space can be transformed into a game room, home office or entertainment area to maximize the livability of the entire house.”

             The individually-created Superior Walls R-5 panels include built-in openings for windows and doors. Pre-engineered access for wiring or small plumbing elements along with smart stud facing for easy drywall installation are included and help speed up the installation process.

            The first and only insulated precast concrete wall system to earn the Green Approved Product designation by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, Superior Walls products use up to 70 percent less concrete in a new home than conventional foundations. Stud facings eliminate the need for additional wood framing prior to interior finishing. Using fewer materials helps reduce the carbon footprint of the new home’s construction process.

           “We specialize in creating LEED certified homes,” says Marino. “When we use the R-5 foundation system, we can earn up to 10 points on our project toward a National Green Building Certification.”

            The Green Approved Products Certificate #00071 provides builders the following points for the use of Superior Walls foundation systems:

• Practice 601.2 – 3 points – Structural systems/advanced framing techniques optimize material usage.
• Practice 601.5 (1-3) – 4 points – Precut/preassembled components, panelized, or precast assemblies are utilized for a minimum of 90% of floor, wall, and/or roof system.
• Practice 607.1 – 3 points – Products containing fewer materials are used to achieve the same end-use requirements as conventional products.
• Practice 701.4.3.1 (1) – Mandatory – Insulation is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or local code. Mandatory for certification.

           “We anticipate this Indian Hill home will be finished by July,” says Marino. “Then we’re going to start working on additional new homes in our area. I’m counting on the sensible products we use and high quality of building construction to continue helping our sales rise throughout 2011 and well into 2012.”

          For more information on Marino Custom Homes, LLC visit www.marinohomes.com. For information on Superior Walls of the Tri-State, visit www.tristatesw.com.