Do the steadfast walls need to breath?
No. Walls needing to breath are just a nice way to say they need to dry out. Timber frame walls need to breathe because the timber constantly absorbs moisture and it needs to constantly dry out or it will rot, even if its treated, resulting in serious structural issues. This drying out process sucks the warm air out of the house, creating drafts and contributing up to 50% of heat loss. Just because a house is new, does not mean that it is warm!  New Zealand houses are considered cold, damp and drafty, ask anyone who has lived in Europe or has emigrated from there. The Steadfast concrete wall does not rot, has no gaps, has high continuous insulation and is not only up to European standards, it surpasses them.

Do you need a cavity?
No. Concrete walls are considered solid construction. The New Zealand building code recognises that concrete does not rot and has superior water and air tightness properties. Cavities are required for all claddings that are not watertight (brick, polystyrene and various other plaster systems). Cavities are necessary to assist in preventing moisture reaching the timber frame. These cavities need to be free of mortar, battens and other obstacles for them to actually work properly and allow the water to drain to the outside

What’s the problem with cavities?
Cavities are an essential element in timber frame construction. They are design to allow water to get out. The problem, as logic dictates, is that if water can get out, then cold air and other undesirables can get in. Many cladding systems claim they have an insulation value; the material may have an insulating factor, but if it is used on a timber frame cavity system, then that same insulation means and does nothing, as the cold simply bypasses that insulation through where the water comes out. FACT- if water can get out—then cold air can get in.

Is timber a thermal break?
No-Timber may be a break, but it certainly not thermal. For timber to be thermal it must have thermal properties, which it does not. Timber is not an insulator. In fact in timber frame housing timber is the break (cold point) in a thermal wall.

Do Steadfast have a plaster over polystyrene system?
No

What makes steadfast plaster different?
Plaster is only as good as what you plaster on to. The Steadfast structural wall requires no joints up to twelve meters long. It is of the same material (substrate), concrete, and concrete unlike other materials has virtually no thermal expansion. Steadfast has a ninety day stand-down period before plaster is applied. This allows the building to settle, it is a luxury that other systems do not have. Other systems need to plaster early to protect the substrate or water proof the building,- plaster to early and cracks will appear!
How good the substrate is and how long will it last is of prime importance, unlike the others, concrete actually gets stronger as it ages. The older the house, the better it becomes, how many other systems can say that?

What makes Steadfast Insulation Different?
Steadfast insulation is continuous and is not interrupted by a structural element. The Steadfast system has two separate walls one for insulation and the other for structural integrity. As wet concrete dries it laminates with the polystyrene and they essentially become one.  Steadfast recognises that the materials used in a structural element (Concrete, Steel, Timber) are not insulators and cause serious thermal bridging. This is why Steadfast separates the two instead of trying to jamb them together. Having a separate structural wall makes adding additional insulation an easy and cost effective procedure.

What makes Steadfast thermal mass different?
The thermal mass in the Steadfast systems is actually insulated, not only is it highly insulated, it is continuous.

What makes the Steadfast concrete wall different?
Tilt slab concrete walls require gaps at each corner. These gaps are filled with sealant, which will need replacing and remain visible after plastering, or filled, creating a vertical cold joint. As a structural lintel, it is restrictive and may require costly steel beams. 
Concrete block requires a wider wall, taking up valuable insulation space. As a structural lintel, it is also restrictive and may require costly steel beams. Plaster is applied over joins and two separate substrates.