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Why ICFs |
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ICFs...
Easy, Affordable, Unbeatable.
Whether you're building a home or a multi-level commercial structure, you can't beat the rewards of building with BuildBlock® Insulating Concrete Forms. BuildBlock insulating concrete forms provide a lightweight, high-strength alternative to using steel or wood frame. |
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Comfortable & Quiet
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High thermal mass and minimal air infiltration create a more uniform and stable temperature throughout your home.
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ICF walls reduce air infiltration by 75%: hay fever, asthma, and other airborne allergens can be greatly alleviated by the use of ICF walls.
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ICF homes provide unparalleled peace and quiet and true protection from outside noise.
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Sound rating: 51 |
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Energy Efficient
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Energy efficiency is the core feature of insulating concrete form construction.
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Studies show homes built with ICFs require an estimated 44% less energy to heat than comparable wood frame houses.*
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Building owners are deciding it makes more sense to spend on safer, longer lasting, and more energy efficient structure than to spend that same money on utility bills.
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The R-Value of BuildBlock's polystyrene alone is R-22, compared to wood frame's R-9 to R-15.
*Portland Cement Association, Technology Brief
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Affordable
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ICFs cost a little more — about 3-5% on average, but the investment is quickly recouped by the tremendous savings in energy, interest, and insurance costs.
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Consider the reduced maintenance costs and higher resell value and you can see why insulating concrete home structures are actually more affordable than wood construction.
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New U.S. homes cost $60-100 per square foot. Walls of ICFs adds $1.00-$4.00 to this figure. But since ICF houses are more energy-efficient, the heating and cooling equipment can be smaller than in a frame house. This can cut the cost of the final house by an estimated $.75 per square foot. So the net extra cost is about $.25-$3.25.
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Safe
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Fire Resistant - In fire wall tests, ICFs stood exposure to intense flame without structural failure longer than did common frame walls.
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Earthquake Resistant - Concrete homes can be among the safest and most durable types of structures in an earthquake.
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Permanent
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While wood structures only last for decades, it makes sense that a building made from steel reinforced concrete and high-density foam will last centuries.
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Neither polystyrene nor concrete will ever rot or rust. Reinforcing steel, buried deep inside and protected by concrete's alkalinity, does not corrode. |
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Adaptable
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ICFs are extremely adaptable to your design, making them an architect’s dream!
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Because of the innate flexibility of the foam, you can have unique footprints, arches, angles and curves as part of your design at a lower construction cost than with traditional building methods.
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ICF homes can be designed in any style, and will accept any traditional exterior finish including vinyl or wood siding, stucco, rock, and brick. |
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Earth-Friendly
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Building an ICF home instead of traditional stick frame home saves at least 10 trees.
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The enormous reduction in energy use — 32% to 44%* — saves our natural resources.
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The energy savings also result in less carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere on an ongoing basis.
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ICF blocks — especially BuildBlock ICFs — result in less construction waste.
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BuildBlock ICFs contain no HCFC, formaldehyde, asbestos, or fiberglass, and no harmful CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) are used in their manufacture, nor is there any degree of "off-gassing."
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