We just got back from the
World of Concrete
show in Las Vegas and again the ICF booths were booming with business.
Contractors like the fact that they are easy to install and homeowners
go for them because they save money...read on!
WHAT ARE THEY?
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are forms for poured concrete walls that
stay in place as a permanent part of the wall assembly. They are made of
foam insulation or other insulating material, are either pre-formed
interlocking blocks or separate panels connected with plastic ties. The
left-in-place forms not only provide a continuous insulation and sound
barrier, but also a backing for drywall on the inside, and stucco, lap
siding, or brick on the outside.
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ICF Advantages for Homeowners |
 Saves
on Energy
Energy savings is the key benefit. ICFs have a high it-Value. Four inches
of ASTM C 578 polystyrene foam insulation, combined with a five inch
concrete are rated above R-17 at 75* mean test temperature.
Greater insulation, tighter construction, and
temperature-smoothing mass of the walls conserves heat and cooling much
better than conventional wood-frame walls. Houses built with ICF exterior
walls require an estimated 44% less
energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than comparable frame houses. A typical 2000 square foot home in the
center of the U.S. will save approximately $200 in heating costs each
year and $65 in air conditioning each year.
Quiet & Comfortable
In sound transmission tests, ICF walls allowed less than one-third as
much sound to pass through as do ordinary frame walls filled with
fiberglass. With double-glazed windows in ICF walls and beefed-up roof
insulation, home owners rarely hear street noises or airport traffic.
Fire Protection
In fire wall tests, ICF's stood exposure to intense flame without
structural failure longer than did common frame walls. The polystyrene
foam used in most ICF forms is treated so it will not support combustion.
Also, tests show that its tendency to transmit an outside flame source is
less than that of most wood products.
Long Lasting
Neither polystyrene nor concrete will ever rot or rust. Concrete can even
be exposed to the elements for centuries with few ill effects.
Reinforcing steel, buried deep inside and protected by concrete's
alkalinity, does not corrode.
 Non-toxic
Nothing held within or ordinarily emitted by an ICF wall is toxic. The
measurement of the air contents of actual ICF houses shows an almost
complete absence of any emissions.
Design Flexibility
ICF homes can be designed in any style, and will accept any exterior
finish including vinyl or wood siding, stucco and brick. Custom angles
and curves are easily created, it's simple to build in bows, bays and
radiuses.
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"There is no other way to build." |
Contractor Requirements
Although it looks new and different, anyone with construction experience
can quickly get up to speed with ICF's. An ideal crew has a mix of
concrete placement and carpentry experience. ICF's are very lightweight,
so crews stay fresh through the day. Likewise, ICF's
present no problem for the sub-contractors who come after the walls are
poured. Since holes, chases and rectangles are easily cut into ICF's with
a knife or saw, installation of mechanical systems is a snap The
fastening of drywall and lap siding is just as fast and easy. And
mid-course corrections, such as moving an opening, are no big deal - just
saw it out and re-form. It's not more difficult to make changes to an ICF
wall - it's just different.
Costs
The cost is only slightly more than the cost
of ordinary wood frame. The walls can be economical despite the use of
high-quality materials. Houses built by experienced contractors cost
about .5-4% more than wood frame houses of the same design.
Typical new U.S. homes cost $60-100 per square
foot. Building 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.
“Working with Amvic
ICF has been marvelous for my practice. We’ve attracted additional
clients, are able to offer them a better value, and in turn have clients
who are so pleased that they are actively marketing for us. Our
relationship with Amvic and the Amvic distribution network has been
superb and supportive. It has been a win-win four-way relationship
between us, our clients, our builders and Amvic.”
Tony Rosas
Architect
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 Sources:
www.forms.org
www.consumerenergycenter.org |
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