FAB-FORM MONOPOUR

Maison Chic Shack

Video of World's First Sewn
Fabric Steps 

This thirty second video shows the filling of the fabric formed steps, taken with an iPhone.

Simon Auger, President, Maisons Chic Shack of Orford, Quebec, designs and builds spectacular log homes for his clients (visit www.maisonschicshack.com).

Simon is a repeat user of Fastfoot® Monopour as his projects are in remote locations where concrete is very expensive.

Lumber-formed footing steps

Excavation Drawing

The excavation contained two sets of three steps, each 18" high by 2' or 2'-8" long (see Simon's drawing on right). The 18" height matched the Nudura block used on this project.

"We were very interested to try the sewn steps", said Simon. "Fab-Form premanufactured Fastfoot® to match our excavation perfectly. We screw-attached the fabric to the bottom edge of each component."

"It is not sustainable to cut up all this lumber to form steps - it ends up in the landfill. Fastfoot® stays in place for the life of the building preventing rising damp."

Inside of fabric step

Interior View

This picture shows the interior of the sewn footing step. Note the use of Zont™ horizontal bracing, which transfer all catwalk loads directly to the ground and provides excellent alignment on these 15' high walls.

The sewn step reduces concrete consumption by 40%  while providing equivalent structural stength. There is no concrete leakage when pouring into a closed form.

The fabric-formed steps provide excellent protection against ground moisture wicking up into the concrete. Click here for a complete discussion of rising damp.

Inside of fabric step

Sustainable Formwork

The photo to the right shows a typical lumber formed step. Every single piece of lumber and plywood used in this step ends up in the landfill.

With the fabric formed step, Fastfoot® stays in place for the life of the building, preventing rising damp. Not a single piece of lumber is wasted with this technology.

Lumber formed footing steps are unsustainable: As the lumber is an open form, concrete fines leach into groundwater, polluting both the water table and ultimately the landfill.

Poured foundaton

Premanufactured Bucks 

The premanufactured door and window bucks are ready to be installed in the foundation. Note the 2" of extruded polystyrene on the outside the buck which provides a thermal break between the wooden buck and concrete.

"Conditions in our winter are very severe", said Simon Auger. "Adding the thermal break ensures the concrete remains warm, even in the coldest weather."

"Conditions dans notre hiver sont très sévères", a déclaré Simon Auger."Placer la coupure thermique assure le béton reste au chaud, même par temps très froid."

Poured foundaton

Ready for Concrete 

The 15' high Nudura® wall and Fastfoot® Monopour are ready for concrete. Walls are braced with Zont™ bracing, the horizontal bracing system ideal for ICF monopours. Safety regulations are very strick in Quebec, as can be seen from the catwalk railings in the interior. OSHA only requires railings if the height of the catwalk above the ground is greater than 6' in height.

Nuduar with steps

View Showing Steps

The picture to the right shows the steps dropping off 4' - 6" beside on each side of the closest corner.

Sewn Fastfoot® steps eliminate all rigid formwork, including plywood bulkheads and side forms. Concrete useage is reduced by 40%  over lumber formed steps while providing equivalent structural stength.

Lumber formed steps provide no protection against ground moisture wicking up into the concrete. Click here for more information on rising damp.

Nuduar with steps

Poured Foundation

This final picture shows the foundation after pouring concrete. Bracing has been removed and the 'peel and stick' moisture protection is being installed prior to backfilling. Another successful foundation by Maisons Chic Shack.

"Nous sommes très heureux de la performance de Fastfoot® Monopour", a déclaré Simon Auger. "Il réduit nos coûts de façon significative en béton tout en offrant une excellente précision supérieure du mur."

"We are very pleased with the performance of Fastfoot® Monopour®", said Simon Auger. "It reduces our forming costs significantly while providing excellent top of wall accuracy."