ICF Photo Area

ICF Photo Area

Structures provide much warmer floors and a more uniform temperature throughout the interior of your home.

With a sound rating of 48, walls create a sound barrier that virtually eliminates outside noises for unparalleled peace and quiet.

Forms minimize mildew and the damp smells of normal basements.

Reduces air infiltration by 75%, eliminating drafts and halting the "invasion" of dust and pollen.

The solid mass and sheer strength of a wall provides a comforting sense of security.

In most parts of the country, your home can be insured for 15 - 25% less than conventional homes because of its resistance to fire, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Be sure to ask your insurance provider for an ICF discount rate.

Homes typically appraise higher than wood-framed homes.

Questions and Answer Section:

1. Why should I build my home using ICFs? ICFs create homes and buildings that are more energy efficient, stronger, more sound resistant, and more environmentally sustainable than any other construction method.

2. How energy efficient are ICFs? Based on research performed by Building Works, Inc, houses built with ICF exterior walls require an estimated 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than comparable wood-frame houses.

3. Are ICFs code approved? Yes. Every major code body in North America, including ICC and CCMC, has approved ICFs. Also, ICFs are listed as a prescriptive method of building in the International Residential Code and can be built to commercial and residential design specifications.

4. Are ICF buildings safer than wood framed buildings? Yes. ICF buildings are up to 8.5 times stronger than wood framed buildings. As a result, ICF walls are more able to withstand severe weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Most ICF walls have a 4-hour fire rating as opposed to 15 minutes for a comparable wood framed wall.

5. Where have ICF homes been built? ICF homes have been built all across North America, in every region, and virtually every state and province. ICF homes are prized in the Northeast, Upper Midwest and Canada for their energy efficiency and comfortable indoor climate. Along the hurricane-plagued Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast, ICF homes are similarly valued for their durability and resistance to storms. In the Southwest, ICF homes keep their occupants much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. On the West Coast, ICF homes provide safety from earthquakes and fires.

6. Are ICFs a green building material? Green building, or sustainability, is a method of designing and building the most high performance building or home inside and out by maximizing the benefits of building materials and resources. Energy, being one of the world’s most valuable resources ,is a leading criteria of green building. Given that ICFs are extremely energy efficient, ICFs can easily be incorporated into green building designs to maximize its performance.

7. Isn't it hard to remodel an ICF home? Most remodeling contractors have the ability to cut openings into an ICF wall. Most tool rental stores have concrete cutting saws for rent for cutting openings.

8. Are there different types of ICFs? There are three different types of configurations: 1). flat wall, 2). waffle-grid and 3). screen-grid. Flat wall systems yield a continuous thickness of concrete, like a conventional poured wall. Grid wall systems have a waffle pattern where the concrete is thicker at some points than others. Screen grid systems have widely spaced horizontal and vertical columns of concrete, which are completely encapsulated in foam. Whatever the differences among ICF brands, all major ICF systems are engineer-designed, code-accepted, and field-proven.

The Floor Plan Collections Read more

home | about us | contact us| privacy statement