Concrete Homes
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There are many reasons why Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Homes have been gaining in popularity over the last decade throughout the nation as a versatile, energy-efficient and disaster resistant building envelope for residential construction. For owners, designers and engineers who are constantly pursuing the best and most cost-effective solutions amongst today’s construction technologies, ICF is a stand out option.
This technology couples the age-old sustainable, structural and thermal poperties of the world’s most used construction material with versatile polystyrene insulated stay-in-place forms.
What benefits does such a combination of materials offer?
Energy-efficiency and Comfort:
With the ever-increasing pressure on our energy resources, consumers are clearly acting to be part of the solution by recognizing the advantages of building with this system:
Thermal Mass:
o After ready mixed concrete is placed in the stay-in-place polystyrene forms, their insulating properties enhance the natural thermal properties of concrete so a steady temperature is maintained within the home with very little energy input required.
§ The “thermal mass” of the concrete core stabilizes the temperature not only in the basement, but also in the upper story walls to assure even comfort, all year round.
ICF Wood Frame
§ Simply put, the insulated concrete wall acts like a storage battery for energy allowing the interior environment to be cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Reduced Air Infiltration:
o Because the home is wrapped in a continuous layer of foam insulation with a dense concrete core, an ICF home has much less air infiltration and fewer drafts than a conventional frame house.
o With its high R-values, low air infiltration, and high thermal mass, ICF construction will save up to 50% of energy costs compared to conventional construction, and your overall operating and maintenance costs will be much lower.
Quietness:
o “Quietness” is the benefit most often cited by families who live in ICF homes. They say that after living in a home built with insulated concrete walls, they would never live in a conventional wood frame again.
§ The actual fact is that the massive concrete core of the wall resists external noise and reduces sound transmission by 75% - 85% compared to a conventional wood frame structure. Noisy neighbors, busy streets and jarring lawn mowers are reduced to a whisper.
 ICF Wood Frame
§ With a Sound Transmission Class (STC) of up to 50 or more, many commercial builders use an ICF building envelope when building movie theaters, due to ICF’s extreme sound control. A natural choice of wall for a home theatre.
Peace of Mind and Safety – The Strength of ICF Construction:
o The stay-in-place forms provide the concrete mix an optimum environment for ultimate strength gain: a slow, moist cure.
§ To get a similar concrete strength with conventional forms, your builder would have to leave the temporary forms in place for weeks.
§ This insulated environment also allows concrete placement in extremely cold or hot ambient conditions.
o The insulating foam, which covers both sides of the concrete core is treated with fire retardant. Couple this fact with the natural fire resistance of concrete and it is easy to understand why ICF is the building envelope of choice in wooded areas prone to brush fires.
§ The walls provide UL/ULC rated 2- and 4-hour fire resistance
§ The polystyrene also protects your foundation against mold and mildew because it is inert.
ICF Wood Frame
o ICF walls stand up to the forces of time and nature. The structural integrity of steel reinforced concrete provides exceptional protection from earthquakes as well as wind-blown debris during hurricanes, tornadoes and storms. Laboratory tests simulating hurricane storm damage demonstrate that an ICF home can withstand wind-blown debris travelling at over 100 mph. See case reports here.
o There are a number of varieties of Insulating Concrete Forms being utilized in today’s marketplace and, from a sustainability vantage point, several of these products, known as composite systems, manufacture the forms with a mixture of recycled polystyrene granulates and cement paste. In these variations of the ICF theme, the significant utilization of styrofoam waste is an added benefit to our environment. Just a bit more peace of mind knowing you are doing your part to contribute to the solution in the bigger scheme of things; re-using industrial by-products as well as energy.
Versatility:
 o The light yet strong two-sided forms can be used to construct curved walls as well as angled configurations.
o ICF construction has the strength to create large open spaces, offering you complete design flexibility.
Because these forms are light and stack like lego blocks, from a safety standpoint, they reduce lifting injuries on the worksite. Not to mention that the crew can maintain their strength throughout the day and go home less tired.
 
 
   Cost Competitiveness
o Over the last ten years, concrete prices have been remarkably stable.
§ Recent price increases in other materials have generated interest in concrete building systems as never before. Labor savings and readily available materials make ICFs, feature for feature, one of the most cost competitive wall systems in the U.S. and Canadian housing markets.
o The speed of construction with ICF construction is such that Marriott Hotels recently built with this system in Orlando, Florida due to the cost savings realized.
  A Solid Investment:
Lower Utility Bills
Reduced Insurance Premiums
The Quality Payback
Summary of Advantages
Energy related:
Health related:
Structural related:
Comfort related:
Constructability related:
Other links that will give different generic perspectives on ICF Construction:
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