Systems and methods for providing stem walls and integrated forms therefor

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing reinforced insulating stem walls are disclosed herein. Some implementations of the systems and methods include one or more stem wall assemblies. In some cases, the stem wall assembly has one or more first panels, one or more second panels, and one or more couplers. In some cases, the first panel is configured to be joined to the second panel by the coupler such that the first panel is separated from the second panel by a core cavity, which, in some cases, is configured to be filled with a filler material to form a core that becomes integral with the stem wall assembly. Other implementations are also described.

1 . A stem wall assembly, comprising:
 a first panel;   a second panel; and   a coupler,   wherein the first panel is configured to be joined to the second panel by the coupler such that the first panel is separated from the second panel by a cavity configured to be filled with a filler material to form a core integral with the stem wall assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the first panel is greater than a height of the second panel. 
     
     
         3 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a first rail having a first retainer, a second rail having a second retainer, and a connector coupling the first rail to the second rail. 
     
     
         4 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first rail is configured to be selectively disposed within the first panel and the second rail is configured to be selectively disposed within the second panel. 
     
     
         5 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the first retainer and the second retainer comprises a J-hook. 
     
     
         6 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the coupler comprises a second connector spaced apart from the connector. 
     
     
         7 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second coupler spaced apart from the coupler. 
     
     
         8 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener configured to coupler the stem wall assembly to a second stem wall assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a track disposed on an edge of the first panel. 
     
     
         10 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a wall assembly configured to couple to the stem wall assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The stem wall assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wall assembly comprises:
 a first wall panel;   a second wall panel; and   a wall coupler,   wherein the first wall panel is configured to be joined to the second wall panel by the wall coupler such that the first wall panel is separated from the second wall panel by a wall cavity configured to be filled with a filler material to form a wall core integral with the wall assembly.   
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a stem wall, the method comprising:
 obtaining a stem wall assembly comprising a first panel, a second panel, and a coupler;   joining the first panel to the second panel using the coupler such that the first panel is separated from the second panel by a cavity;   filling the cavity with a filler material; and   allowing the filler material to cure, thereby forming a core integral with the stem wall assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the coupler comprises:
 a first rail having a first retainer;   a second rail having a second retainer; and   a connector coupling the first rail to the second rail,   wherein the joining the first panel to the second panel using the coupler comprises inserting the first rail into a receptacle of the first panel and inserting the second rail into a receptacle of the second panel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a height of the first panel is greater than a height of the second panel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the filling the cavity with the filler material comprises filling the cavity at least to the height of the second panel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising anchoring the stem wall assembly to a footing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising coupling a wall assembly to the stem wall assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the wall assembly comprises:
 a first wall panel;   a second wall panel; and   a wall coupler,   wherein the first wall panel is configured to be joined to the second wall panel by the wall coupler such that the first wall panel is separated from the second wall panel by a wall cavity configured to be filled with a filler material to form a wall core integral with the wall assembly.   
     
     
         19 . A stem wall comprising:
 a stem wall assembly, comprising:
 a first panel, 
 a second panel, 
 a coupler joining the first panel to the second panel, and 
 a cavity disposed between the first panel and the second panel; and 
   a core comprising filler material disposed within the cavity.   
     
     
         20 . The stem wall of  claim 19 , wherein the core is integrally formed with at least one of a footing and a wall core of a wall assembly.