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January 14, 2000
For Immediate Release
For more information, contact Jennifer Grover or Bruce McIntosh at PCA (847) 966-6200.
Concrete Concepts Show Homes Open During 2000 Builders Show
Interest in concrete homebuilding surges; Portland Cement Association and Marshall Bobbitt Homes team up to present the latest in concrete homes
When it comes to building beautiful—and lasting—homes, more homebuilders around the country are relying on concrete than ever before. Currently, more than 10% of new home starts are concrete, and the Portland Cement Association predicts that share will grow by leaps and bounds in coming years. This year, PCA’s Concrete Concepts Show Homes demonstrate why builders—and homebuyers—love the beauty of concrete.
Marshall Bobbitt Homes and PCA will open the doors of their concrete homes to attendees during the annual International Builders’ Show, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders January 14–17, 2000, in Dallas. Located adjacent to a golf course in the Buffalo Creek subdivision in Heath, Texas, the 3,474 square-foot home is one of several to be built in the development using the PinkForm Xtra insulating concrete form (ICF) system by Owens Corning.
"Not only did we want to build a beautiful show home," says Lionel Lemay, PCA’s director of residential programs, "but we also wanted to show that benefits like durability, energy savings, and sound-proofing can be achieved in a luxury home with concrete walls. With concrete, you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for utility."
ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels, which are stacked into the shape of the walls of a building. The forms are filled with reinforced concrete to create a solid structure, sandwiching a heavy, high-strength material between two layers of light, high-insulation foam. The resulting walls offer a long list of benefits: air tightness, strength, sound attenuation, insulation, pest and fire resistance, and more.
Homebuyer interest in concrete homes has surged in recent years: almost 125,000 homes were built in 1998 using concrete systems (including ICFs and concrete masonry). Concrete’s market share rose to more than 10%, a remarkable 350% increase since 1993. PCA market research also shows that most builders believe homebuyers are willing to pay 2% to 5% more than wood framing for the quality of a concrete home.
Marshall Bobbitt is one of those builders. "There are a lot of advantages to having a concrete home, advantages that many homeowners are willing to pay a little extra for," says Bobbitt, president of Marshall Bobbitt Homes. He says that in addition to benefits like pest resistance and soundproofing, "energy efficiency, balanced with the strength of concrete walls for safety, add to the value of the house." Bobbitt has built upscale homes in the Dallas metro area for 36 years, and plans to continue building with concrete.
The furnished home at 1815 Morrish Lane, in Heath, Texas, also features decorative concrete flatwork, a cement-based stucco finish, and concrete landscaping pavers and retaining walls. Inside, the home offers flexible spaces for living, working, and playing. On the first floor, a large living area with 18-foot ceilings opens onto a covered patio. A gourmet kitchen complements the lavishly appointed dining room. The sunny master suite features a semi-circle bay of picture windows, a spacious walk-in closet, and a Mediterranean-themed bathroom complete with an oceanview mural. Three more bedrooms will give future homeowners room to grow.
Upstairs, a loft space (with a small putting green for rainy day practice) overlooks the downstairs living room. An extra-large all-purpose room adjacent to the loft can function as a children’s playroom, an office, or storage space. Small touches throughout the house—footed cabinets in the dining room and master bath; exquisite marble, granite, and tile work in the kitchen and bathrooms; handcrafted millwork in every room—give the home a luxurious, yet livable feel.
The finished and furnished model home will be open for tours during the Builders’ Show floor hours. Two concrete homes under construction nearby will also be open for viewing. Free shuttle buses will leave the convention center throughout the day to bring visitors to the homes. Builders Show attendees may pick up tour information at the Portland Cement Association Booth #3221, located in the Concrete Pavilion.
Marshall Bobbitt Homes will open the model home both before and after the Builders Show for consumer tours. The Concrete Concepts Show Homes are sponsored by the Portland Cement Association, the Cement and Concrete Promotion Council of Texas, and Owens Corning. For more details on the Concrete Concepts Show Homes, including photographs and directions to the site, visit www.concretehomes.com.
Editor’s note:
A complete media kit, as well as interior and exterior photography (nine views total), are available immediately (click here to preview photos)
Contacts
Marshall Bobbitt, Marshall Bobbitt Homes: (972) 772-9498
Robb Baumann, Cement and Concrete Promotion Council of Texas: (817) 540-4437
Fred Wynn, Architect: (972) 907-0080
Lionel Lemay, PCA Managing Director, or Jim Niehoff, PCA Residential Promotion Manager: (847) 966-6200
Based in Skokie, Illinois, the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the U.S. and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.
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