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To open the door to a SecureTech built home of your own, please contact:

SecureTech
Open the Door…
TM
TM

SecureTech TM
TM

Wall-Ties & Forms, Inc.

Manufacturers of Aluminum Forming Systems
and Accessories for SecureTech Constructed Homes
4000 Bonner Industrial Drive
Shawnee, Kansas 66226
1-800-444-9692
Fax: 913-441-0076
Email: ask@wallties.com
www.wallties.com
COPYRIGHT 2002
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…to a SecureTech built home of your own. TM

The Ultimate in Home and Light Commercial Construction

SecureTech Built Homes

• Rock Solid Construction
• Unparalleled Safety and Security
• Attractive Architectural Designs
• Low Maintenance
• Extremely Energy Efficient
• Environmentally Friendly
• Remarkably Comfortable and Quiet
• Affordable
• Reduced Ownership Cost
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Inside a SecureTech TM

built home, you’ll find

distinct advantages.
More and more homebuyers are discovering the advantages
of solid concrete construction as the long-term, quality alternative
to traditional wood- and steel-framed houses. Take a look at
the benefits a SecureTech built home can offer you…
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Wall-Ties & Forms, Inc. • www.wallties.com

Rock Solid Construction for Unparalleled Safety and Security

A SecureTech built home can withstand fire, infestation, and forces of nature like tornadoes,
hurricanes, and earthquakes significantly better than homes made of other building
materials – for greater peace of mind in protecting yourself, your property, and your family.*

The Strength to Withstand Hurricane/Tornado Force Winds

In independent tests simulating 250 mile-per-hour ground level wind speeds equal
to the strongest hurricanes and tornadoes, steel-reinforced concrete walls substantially
outperformed typical wood- and steel-framed walls for: 1) reducing flying
debris, the greatest hazard to homeowners during this life-threatening
weather; and 2) withstanding collapsing and structure damage.
Researchers at the Wind Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech
University** concluded that walls built with wood or steel studs lack
the strength and mass to resist the impact of wind-driven debris, while
concrete walls consistently stood up to the test without structure failure.
“My clients are
The Power to Stand Up to Earthquake Forces surprised when I
In a range of strength tests, concrete proved two to four times stronger than
tell them that the
the maximum wind load and five to nine times stronger than the maximum
earthquake load – bending strength considerably greater than the standards SecureTech built
required by the Uniform Building Code. home they’re
looking at is
The Toughness to Resist Fire
In countless fire wall tests, concrete has proven itself as one of the most fire- constructed with
and heat-resistant construction materials. Unlike wood or steel, concrete does not steel-reinforced
burn, soften, or bend, so concrete structures are more likely to remain standing concrete — you
through a fire.
can’t tell just from
No Appeal for Insects or Rot looking at it. But
Unlike wood framing, concrete is not susceptible to rotting wood or damage when they hear
by insects like termites that can cost thousands of dollars to treat or repair.
all the benefits of
a concrete home,
A Range of Beautiful, Low-Maintenance Design Options
they’re even more
A SecureTech home can be built in your choice of architectural styles, including contemporary,
traditional, one- or two-story, in a single or multi-family home. Once cast, the exterior impressed.”
walls can be covered in any of a wide range of attractive, low-maintenance materials: from
stucco to siding to brick or stone. Inside, plaster-finished walls with built-in crown moldings, Jon Rufty
President
distinctive floor coverings that include carpeting, tiles, hardwoods, and laminates, and other Rufty Homes, Inc.
extra touches add warmth and personality to your home’s appearance. Cary, North Carolina

*Although concrete walls offer greatly enhanced safety, when disaster strikes, homeowners should always seek shelter in a “safe room”,
interior room, or other safe place to avoid injury from broken glass or other flying debris that could enter through doors and windows.
**The Texas Tech University Wind Engineering Research Center testing is independent of the SecureTech built home.
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“Offering Insulated for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Comfort, and Quiet

consumers a Because of concrete’s incredible thermal storage capacity, a SecureTech built home
SecureTech stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than traditional houses. Airtight
constructed construction and rigid insulation also eliminate external air infiltration to
keep inside temperatures consistent and comfortable. The Environmental
home gives us a
Protection Agency (EPA) has consistently awarded SecureTech built
superior option homes a Five-Star Rating for energy efficiency through its ENERGY STAR®
for our clients who home program. Homes with the ENERGY STAR label are designed to use
are concerned less energy, help you save money on utility bills, and help protect the
with safety, environment. And, particularly in areas where homes are close together,
solid monolithic concrete’s sound-buffering qualities minimize noise from traffic, airplanes,
affordability,
and neighbors — as well as noise inside the home — so you can relax in an atmosphere
conservation of of quiet and comfort.
resources, and
comfort.” Environmentally Friendly/“Green Building”
As ENERGY STAR homes, SecureTech built homes place an emphasis on conserving energy and
Larry Swearingin
reducing indoor air pollution. A SecureTech constructed home follows the “Green Building”
Foundation Contractor
Swearingin objectives and also significantly
Construction, Inc conserves trees by reducing the
Lawson, Missouri
need for lumber. In countries
where lumber is scarce and with the
conservation of natural resources a
priority, homeowners have enjoyed
the benefits of concrete, stone, and
masonry homes for thousands of
years. In recent years, more and
more Americans have discovered
the many benefits of concrete
construction.
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Wall-Ties & Forms, Inc. • www.wallties.com

Affordably Priced, With Added Cost Savings Through the Years

While the purchase price for a SecureTech built home is similar to a conventional home, over
time the savings to homeowners can be much greater. In addition to lower maintenance
costs, with an EPA ENERGY STAR home designation, a SecureTech built home offers:

Lower Monthly Utility Bills

Concrete's thermal capacity keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler
in the summer, allowing your furnace and air-conditioner to run during
“off peak” times to take advantage of utility companies’ power rate discounts.
Energy savings on heating and air-conditioning can add up to thousands of
dollars within a few years.

Reduced Insurance Premiums

Because building homes with concrete may significantly reduce property
loss from hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and fires, insurance companies
often recognize the disaster-resistant qualities of concrete homes by offering
significant discounts on premiums. Check with your insurance agent for details.

Special Mortgage Options

To encourage the sale of energy-efficient homes, the EPA offers ENERGY STAR
homebuyers access to preferred financing, including lower interest rates,
closing cost reductions, and a two-percent stretch on standard debt-to-income
ratios for loans. (Other special options are available — consumers should research
your individual mortgage options or visit www.energystar.gov/homebuyers.
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Rock Solid: The SecureTech

SecureTech’s state-of-the-art construction technology allows a builder
to create a high-quality home that’s safe, secure, comfortable, attractive,
and environmentally friendly. With added cost-saving benefits such as low
maintenance and reduced ownership costs, a SecureTech built home may
be right for you.
1. Wall Forms: After creating a reinforced the reinforced concrete is sufficiently cured and
structural concrete slab foundation for the home, forms are removed. Work begins on the second
aluminum forms (8-foot plus tall) are erected level if a two-story structure. Walls, ceilings, and
creating 4-inch reinforced concrete walls with 2 stairs are placed monolithically.
inches of insulation on the exterior and 6-inch
concrete floors/ceilings.
4. Interior Walls: Because the finished interior
concrete walls and ceilings are so flat and smooth,
2. Electrical/Mechanical/Plumbing: Electrical drywall is not needed. Walls and ceilings are
boxes, conduit, plumbing, and mechanical sleeves plastered, sanded, and painted.
are cast in place.
5. Exterior and Roof: The exterior can be
2
3. Pouring Concrete: Concrete is poured into the finished with stucco, brick, siding, or other materials.
wall and deck forms. In The roof is conventionally framed of lumber or
just one day, steel atop the concrete deck that forms the first
or second level’s ceiling. This allows architectural
flexibility in roof design while keeping the wood
or steel used for the roof framing outside of the
home’s fire-resistant thermal concrete envelope.

6. The Finished Product

A beautiful new SecureTech built home.
6

Concrete Milestones 1824 Use of concrete 1923 Frank Lloyd Wright

materials goes back to designs his first concrete home,
the ancient Egyptians La Miniatura, in Pasadena,
and Romans, but the California. His luxurious
invention of modern weekend home, Fallingwater
cement is attributed to in Bear Run, Pennsylvania, is
Joseph Aspdin, a builder perhaps the most famous of
in Leeds, England, who his concrete home creations.
obtained a patent for it 1908 Thomas Edison
in 1824. secures a patent and
builds 11 cast-in-place
concrete homes in
Union, New Jersey.
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Wall-Ties & Forms, Inc. • www.wallties.com

Construction Process “Our SecureTech

built home is so
quiet inside and
out, our three
1 active boys don’t
disturb us or the
neighbors! We
had a hot summer
and a cold winter
this year, and
even with a 40-
degree variance
in temperature,
we barely had
to adjust the
thermostat.We
2 love the home’s
appearance, its
3 energy efficiency,
and the fact that
it’s so safe and

4 quiet.”

Andy Embrey
SecureTech home
resident
5 Liberty, Missouri

1994 Concrete makes 21st Century Across

a splash when the America, new construction
National Association of concrete single-family
of Home Builders homes, luxury townhomes,
(NAHB) promotes a and duplexes abound as
5,000-plus square foot, homeowners and builders
$1.75 million concrete discover the many benefits
home as its New of concrete construction.
American Home.
ABOVE: New American Home photo courtesy of NAHB.
LEFT: Publicity rights to the name and likeness of Frank
Lloyd Wright and his work used with permission from
the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, Arizona.
LEFT: Fallingwater photograph by Robert P. Ruschak,
courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
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SecureTech steel-reinforced concrete methods are recognized

by, partners with, or in alliance with the following organizations
and programs:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Wind Engineering Research Center

(FEMA) Texas Tech University
www.fema.gov www.wind.ttu.edu

Partnership for Advancing Technologies in Housing

(PATH)
Project Impact
SecureTech building method is a PATH technology.
Building a Disaster-Resistant Community
www.pathnet.org
www.fema.gov/impact

NAHB Research Center

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
www.nahbrc.org
and the U.S. Department of Energy
ENERGY STAR home program
www.energystar.gov
SecureTech built homes have consistently been
awarded a Five-Star Rating.

Brochure by –
Shannon and Company, Chapel Hill, NC
Graphic design by Alison Duncan Design, Durham, NC