Concrete Homes Council Celebrates Fifth Anniversary As Demand for Safer Housing Increases

The CHC was established in 2001 to promote removable concrete form construction and enjoys the sponsorship of leaders in the concrete industry.

Mt. Vernon, Iowa (April 27, 2006) –2006 marks the fifth anniversary of the Concrete Homes Council (CHC). Established to promote removable concrete form (RCF) home construction, the CHC is an alliance of concrete system providers, contractors and industry partners, under the auspices of the Concrete Foundations Association™ of North America. In celebration of its milestone, the CHC has launched a new web site, www.concretehomescouncil.org. Geared specifically for architects, engineers, builders, developers, concrete contractors and government agencies, the CHC site outlines RCF construction methods and benefits, and features select homes built by alliance members and members' customers.

The CHC actively supports and promotes the work of its members—concrete contractors, builders, developers, low-, mid- and high-rise contractors and manufacturers and suppliers in the concrete construction industry—via speaking engagements, exhibitions, and its participation at trade shows, including World of Concrete and International Builders Show, and events held to educate others about the concrete building industry. For example, the CHC recently took part in the National Ready Mixed Council Association Gulf Coast seminar series held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama. Nearly 200 builders, architects, developers and building code officials attended the series.

The CHC also advances the efforts of its members and the industry with its own membership in the National Association of Home Builders' Concrete Home Building Council (CHBC). "The CHBC has been a positive ally for us, providing a docket of educational programs and supporting collaborative efforts between builders and seasoned concrete contractors," says Ed Sauter, executive director of the Concrete Homes Council. "Our alliance with CHBC brings together experienced professionals to promote building safer, disaster-resistant and energy-efficient concrete housing."

The CHC remains committed to advancing RCF construction throughout the country, and to expanding the concrete home building industry at the local, regional and national levels. Last year's severe weather underscored the need for solid, extreme weather-resistant construction methods. "We've been persistent in our attempts to reach key regions of the U.S. with information on the benefits of concrete home construction," states Sauter. "And then you have last year's hurricane season as well as the recent tornadoes and requests for information increased. Unfortunately, it took some tragic events for people to understand the value of concrete home construction."

CHC members routinely make themselves available to share their expertise with builders, developers and prospective homeowners interested in building concrete homes. Dave Pfanmiller of Security Building Group in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, is the current chair of the CHC, and an experienced concrete home builder who has worked on projects from mid-sized town homes to 12,000-square foot custom homes across North Carolina. In March, Pfanmiller met with Mississippi homeowners interested in reconstructing their hurricane-impacted areas. "The attendance at the meeting and the level of interest in concrete construction were tremendous," says Pfanmiller. "These homeowners are committed to rebuilding their homes using a rock-solid construction process like ours in order to protect their investments."

The CHC was established in 2001 to promote removable concrete form construction and enjoys the sponsorship of leaders in the concrete industry. Platinum sponsors include: Durand Forms, Inc., of Durand, Michigan; Outinord Universal of Miami, Florida; Wall-Ties & Forms, Inc., and Western Forms both in the Kansas City, Missouri area; and the Portland Cement Association, of Skokie, Illinois. For more information, please contact the Concrete Homes Council at 319-895-0761 or info@concretehomescouncil.org.

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For further information, including electronic files, CHC logo and photography requests, please contact:

Ed Sauter
Executive Director
Concrete Homes Council

P.O. Box 204
Mt. Vernon, Iowa 52314

p: 319-895-0761
f: 319-895-8830

e-mail: esauter@cfawalls.org

Wendy Shannon
Marketing Director
Concrete Homes Council

100 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 990
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

p: 770-226-0442
f: 770-226-0447

e-mail: wshannon@opfivecreative.com

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