But University of Nebraska civil engineering students who designed an award-winning precast concrete house say the house saves on utility costs and saves the hapless homeowner needless grief. No more pesky termites, rodents, dry-rot, squeaky floors or loose shingles. Because none of the interior partitions are load-bearing walls, the interior can easily be modified in the future. The design has a precast concrete framing system and a self-supporting concrete spiral staircase winding to a walkout basement. Unlike most concrete houses with a wood truss roof frame, the house features precast concrete roof panels.
Brick facing enhances the aesthetic appearance of the exterior.
Inside, gypsum board attached to concrete wall panels allows pictures to be hung on painted or wallpapered walls. National associations such as PCI are promoting residential concrete housing, according to NU professors Maher Tadros and Sameh Badie, who supervised the students' design project. Tadros and Badie said precast concrete products can reduce construction time while providing durability, sound insulation, fire protection and resistance to tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fire. The relatively air-tight design will likely reduce dust and dirt inside, making it easier to clean. Johnson and El-Hajjar, assisted by a third student, Jenny Lockwood of Omaha, started the project in 1998 as part of an undergraduate engineering course on reinforced concrete design.