Wondertec International, based in Newberry, S.C., says that its new cement-based landscaping and subdivision wall system is faster to build than concrete block and is as much as 40 percent cheaper. Moreover, with recent Dade County Miami approval, the wall can be built up to 15 feet tall in high-wind zones up to 150 miles per hour, the company adds.
"Dade County building regulations are some of the toughest around," says Walter Shealy III, company president. "Building code compliance means [the system] can be used anywhere."
Building perimeter and landscaping walls with cement block is extensive and costly, Shealy says. A typical 6-foot block wall "needs a footer that must be dug 16 inches below grade. This process takes time, and it leaves a mess on the jobsite." The walls cost anywhere from $100 to $120 per linear foot.
Wondertec combines the application of a fence and mini pre-stressed concrete that is low maintenance and moisture resistant. Built on site, it can be erected in less than half the time of conventional walls and does not require below-grade footings or piles, the company says. The two-sided, hollow-core wall also has a place for outdoor fixtures or security systems.
Can Wondertec be used to build house walls? "Not at this point," Shealy says. "But it has the potential for that down the road."
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Miami, FL.
