Illinois
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For more information about concrete homebuilding in Illinois, call:

Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association at (309) 862-2144
Masonry Advisory Council (Central and Northern IL) at (847) 297-6704
Great Lakes Cement Promotion Association at (517) 887-6016

Bolingbrook

Heritage Knolls is a subdivision in Bolingbrook, a southwestern suburb of Chicago. All the homes are precast concrete homes, ranging in size from 2500 sq. ft. to 4000 sq. ft. Each house has a full basement. Inside the precast floors, radiant heat provide a cost effective method of heating. Even the garages employ this energy-efficient technique.

The walls have foam insulation in the middle of wall, encapsulating it in concrete. The interior is smooth concrete, which can be coated with white textured paint to give it a drywall-finished look. The exterior facade can be stamped for a brick, stucco or siding appearance.

For more information, please contact Brian Bock of Dukane Precast at (630) 774-9510.

The first Fortified…for safer living® home in Illinois, and the first in the central United States, is now under construction in Bolingbrook, IL. The home was featured on two different Chicago newscasts. Links to those stories are below:

CBS 2 Chicago

NBC 5 Chicago

Fortified…for safer living® is a new-home construction designation program of the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a national nonprofit organization established and supported by insurance company members.

“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.

DuKane Precast, Inc. is building the home in Bolingbrook’s Heritage Knolls on Royce Road. AAA Chicago Motor Club, an IBHS member, is sponsoring the public safety campaign associated with the new “Fortified” home. The company will also offer a homeowners insurance premium discount to homes built to the “Fortified” standard in Illinois.

“Fortified” home buyers and their builders may choose from a package of affordable upgrade options based on the home’s location. The Bolingbrook home will have added protection against tornadoes, hail and severe winter weather – three of the state’s most destructive natural elements.

“Fortified” construction features in this home will include:
--Connections that securely tie the house together from roof to foundation, protecting the structure from winds with speeds up to 130 m.p.h.
--Impact-resistant roof materials that better withstand high winds and are fire resistant.
--Windows and doors with higher wind and water design pressure ratings and a garage door capable of withstanding impact from large objects.
--Construction materials and siting work that eliminate the threat of flood or wildfire.

Depending on the quality of the material the buyer chooses, the cost to add “Fortified” features to a new home in Illinois could be between three and eight percent of the total cost.

An independent inspector, trained by IBHS, verifies that every “Fortified” feature has been built into the home. AAA Chicago will fund the inspection at the Bolingbrook home. The “Fortified” designation is then registered with the Institute and remains with the structure indefinitely, unless major modifications are made.

There are currently seventeen “Fortified” homes – either completed or under construction – throughout Florida and North Carolina. Several projects are also underway in other states.

“While we cannot escape the destructive power of nature, we can help protect our homes against it,” said Steve JN. Bernth, president & chief operating officer, AAA Chicago Motor Club. “That is why AAA Chicago Motor Club and AAA Insurance have partnered with Dukane Precast Inc. and IBHS to promote this new “Fortified” home, the first of its kind in the Midwest.”

"Our company is utilizing a systems approach with our precast concrete product to build the safest, healthiest, most durable and energy-efficient structures possible,” said Grant Ripper, president, Dukane Precast, Inc. “We are pleased to be working with AAA Chicago Motor Club, AAA Insurance and IBHS on this “Fortified” home here in Bolingbrook, IL.”

“The construction of this latest “Fortified” house marks a significant expansion of the Fortified…for safer living® program,” said Harvey Ryland, IBHS president and CEO. “IBHS is privileged to participate with AAA-Chicago Motor Club, AAA Insurance and DuKane Precast, Inc. in taking this important step in the program’s growth.”

For more information, contact:

Kevin Barber of the IBHS at (813) 675-1043
Brian Bock of Dukane Precast at (630) 774-9510
Jeff Gaydos of Auto Club Group at (313) 336-1406

Gurnee

Portland Cement Association is a sponsor of Concept House XI in Gurnee. It provides a showcase for high-performance building products and services that enhance livability. The Concept House is highly energy-efficient, offers excellent indoor air quality and uses environmentally friendly and/or recycled materials while reducing waste. Showcasing state-of-the-art technology, including Category 5 wiring, multiple computer stations, home automation, etc., the exterior walls are built out of ICFs.

The 5,937 sq. ft. home is built on a custom home site at The Reserve at The Merit Club Community in Gurnee, one of the fast-growing northern suburbs of Chicago.

For more information, contact Mark Buschman at (847) 265-0230 or click here.

Rockford

Rutu Construction is premiering its first ENERGY STAR home project. Construction on this approximately 2475 sqft two-story home features Quad-Lock ICF exterior walls, an engineered geothermal HVAC system, Low E Argon-filled double-pane windows and ENERGY STAR appliances that will help to reduce energy consumption by 60 to 75%.

Mitesh Bhalavat, PE, owner of Rutu Construction, is so confident in the quality and performance of the construction that he is providing a 10-year structural warranty on this home. Mr. Bhalavat comments, “Not only will home owners be amazed in the construction aspects of a concrete home, but they will be in awe of the living qualities”. These qualities include: unheralded quietness, a draft-free environment and of course, huge savings on energy consumption which leads to lower operating costs.

Mr. Bhalavat, an ENERGY STAR partner continues,“homeowners today are more aware of efficiencies and environmental issues than ever before– here is a building technology and associated home products that are in direct support of these issues.
We are currently planning more ENERGY STAR homes using these technologies to create environmentally friendly neighborhoods. Smart homeowners know that it’s not just the location but the quality and the performance of a home that should be considered when buying.”

For more information or to book an appointment to tour this home, please contact Rutu Construction at (815) 979-2673.

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