Nolan Scheid

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Nolan Scheid — Leave a comment

Affordable SCIP Panel Home Construction with Amor Ministries

Amor Ministries, located in San Carlos, Arizona recently launched a project that provides the local Apache tribe with low cost housing using SCIP Panel construction. SCIP buildings were chosen for their low cost, high insulation and simplicity. Volunteer church and school groups visit San Carlos to work with local team leader Jonathan Hayek and construct these homes. During their visit, each group will spend a few days working on a home where they will do anything from assembling the SCIP panels, applying the stucco, painting and more. Each group receives a few free days during their stay for local excursions to go hiking, visit nearby Phoenix or relax.

The houses themselves are built using SCIP panels, a total of 85 to a home. The panels arrive onsite by truck where the volunteers assemble the home over the concrete slab. Once assembled the volunteers cover the exterior and interior including the ceiling and roof with stucco using a ToolCrete Stucco Sprayer. The sprayer helps to reduce application time significantly and is a lot more fun than applying everything by hand. These homes are built as permanent residences and will likely be the home of an Apache family for generations. SCIP Panel homes remain environmentally friendly and provide efficient insulation while keeping residents cool despite the uncomfortable Arizona heat. Upon completion a family is able to purchase the home at an extremely low rate and contribute to its finishing touches, which includes painting and furnishing.

Amor has joined hands with different parishes, schools, and communities near and far in order to bring the people of the San Carlos Apache Reservation high quality and comfortable living conditions. If you’re interested in learning more about SCIP Panel construction please contact ToolCrete at (800) 669.3272 or to volunteer for the next build project visit Amor’s website.

Up Next… SCIP Construction- Stucco Sprayer VS. Stucco Pump VS. Dry Gunite

Posted on October 28, 2013September 26, 2014 by Nolan Scheid — Leave a comment

Insulated SCIP Panel Homes | Construction in Africa

To some the idea of living within the walls of a Zambian mining town may not seem all too attractive, however Imison recently wrapped a project that may change the way one thinks of a typical African mining town. The construction company has supplied Structural Concrete Insulated Panel building kits to mining areas like those in Solwezi where 85 3-bedroom houses, a school, sports center, and guest lodge are being put into place for the mine’s management.

One attractive quality that clients found about the homes were insulation benefits that ToolCrete™ Mortar Sprayer products provided. Zambia rests within an extremely warm climate- summer heat often rising above 100° F. For this reason it was essential that the buildings maintained consistent and comfortable temperatures year round without the use of air conditioning. The houses have been incredibly well received by mine management and their families due to ‘green’ credentials that they represented, the most popular being solar water heaters. Angus Ferguson, of Comstruct Corporation in Zimbabwe, stated in an interview with ToolCrete™ that “the mine itself has its own objectives as being as environmentally friendly as possible”.

When the project first began, a specialized crew was sent in from South Africa by Imison to train local foremen and builders on the erection process for the first frames of the structures. They then came back with suggestion for improvement, which is where the ToolCrete Sprayer Guns came into play by providing stucco as an easy, eco-friendly alternative that creates a comfortable living space given the harsh climate.

The Comstruct crews worked in teams for spraying the stucco onto the Imison SCIP Panel system. Each house had 2 to 3 spray crews going at once to get the job done fast and efficiently. The first crew member mixed the stucco while the second supplied fresh mix to the third who used the sprayer to apply the stucco onto the Imison SCIP Panels.

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This technique in turn influenced other construction companies in surrounding towns. Developers in Solwezi and Kansanshi specifically, conveyed huge interest in this alternate way of development along with contributing positive feedback. In the end Imison declared they were far happier with the stucco sprayers compared to what they had originally started with. Continue reading about SCIP Panel Construction…

Posted on July 24, 2013September 15, 2014 by Nolan Scheid — Leave a comment

SCIP Construction- Stucco Sprayer VS. Stucco Pump VS. Dry Gunite

Stucco sprayer VS. Stucco Pump VS. Dry Gunite, what’s best for your application?

by Nolan Scheid

For a DIY project or for a contractor who doesn’t focus on shotcrete full time, the stucco sprayer is the most affordable and efficient choice. Learning to use a Stucco Sprayer is fast and a team with little or no experience can be up and running much quicker than any pump device. Also, in countries with abundant and affordable labor the Stucco Sprayer is generally hands down the best option.

(One customer used more than 30 guns at the same time on a remote housing project).
Plan on ½ to 1 yard per hour as a spray rate per sprayer. More is possible but always plan on the short side to give yourself some extra time.

On a larger scale with a trained crew and ready mix, the Blastcrete 2” squeeze pump can be successful, but only after the initial $15,000 to $20,000 investment and the large, specialty trained crew (4-6 people).

I have limited experience with the dry gun rigs for a reason, the health of my family and coworkers is more important. I did not like the dust and don’t see it as a good choice if there are other people or buildings nearby. (watch this video to see what I mean)

While setting up to spray stucco the whole project picture needs to be considered.

Equipment scale: mixer, sprayer, delivery. Can the mixer keep up to the delivery and the spray rate? Can the people keep up with the spray rate?

People scale: 1-3 2-4, 6 or more. Look at the combinations in the work cycle to get everyone moving in sync. If you get a bunch of material on the wall is there someone to follow up and rod it smooth?

Coordinating the workflow of men and machines can lead to much higher and greater efficiency than setting up piecemeal.