What are ICF’s?
Your Bare Feet Will Love You... Imagine the warm floors and constant warmth throughout the house on a cold winter morning... no cold drafts passing through to make you shiver.
Listen to the silence... Because of the thick walls, annoying neighborhood noises like planes flying overhead, barking dogs and early morning lawn mowers are reduced to a whisper. Just imagine your family sleeping peacefully through the noisiest of thunderstorms.
Breathe the clean air... No mold and air infiltration means dust and allergens are drastically reduced. Think of how much less dusting you will have to do, or how you or someone in your family will be protected from asthma attacks.
Relax more... The utility bills arrive in the mail. Suprised, you find they are half of what you were expecting. With the extra money left over at the end of the month, you can finally save for that vacation your family has been wanting.
An ICF Home is truly a decision that will please you for years to come.
1. What are ICF's?
Insulated concrete forms are made from polystyrene. They are designed to hold concrete in place during the initial pour and remain in place to provide thermal insulation. The forms are stacked, much like Legos, to form the exterior walls. Then the concrete is poured between the foam panels and rebar is added to give the walls strength.
The insulating capacity of expanded polystyrene coupled with the structural integrity of reinforced concrete is a powerful combination. These walls are stronger, safer, quieter and highly energy-efficient. It is the perfect replacement for wood framing, concrete block, traditional poured concrete walls and any other typical material used in construction. It complies and exceeds all applicable building standards, not to mention, environmentally friendly.
2. Why should I build my house with ICF's?
It’s a Sunday morning in January. You stretch under your comforter, ready for your morning coffee. Your eyes are drawn to your icy bedroom window by the sound of the howling wind. You wrap yourself in your blanket... the thought of having to make your way to the cold kitchen floor, sends shivers down your spine. As you start to make your way, it almost seems as if the wind is blowing “inside” the house. The constant noise of the furnace coming from the basement makes you shiver even more, just thinking about next month’s heating bill.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, someone else is waking up and stretches out in their bed. The automatic coffee maker is brewing – and the smell of fresh brewed coffee fills the air. As he walks into the kitchen he smiles, feeling the warmth of his floors – thank goodness for radiant floor heat! Through his kitchen window he notices the cold wind blowing..... wow! it must be cold outside, but he knows the weather outside will never disturb his family’s comfort inside... He smiles again, complimenting himself on making the right decision to build his home with Insulated Concrete Forms.
3. People everywhere are raving about ICF homes! Why?
Once you have lived in an ICF home, you will undoubtedly never dream of going back to the flimsiness of a wood-framed house. The difference in quality is like comparing a Mercedes to a Kia. There are so many more reasons not to settle for just any home:
4. Can I still build my dream house?
Your ICF home can look exactly like you want it to, like any other home, and it will cost almost the same money as the wood house “Bob the Builder” wants to build for you. From the outside, ICF homes look the same as wood framed homes since all finishes such as brick, stucco and siding can be used. On the inside, homeowners like the thicker walls that provide deep interior window sills for use as window display areas.
Something to think about... With the way utility costs are steadily increasing, existing wood houses, and those being built today will, in 10 years, have monthly utility payments that exceed the monthly house payment.