There is a new and emerging construction method being used commercially and for residential homes that is shaping building design today. It is called ICF or Insulated Concrete Forms. The ICF construction process uses foam blocks that are stacked to form the exterior walls of a building; imagine ‘people’ playing with a giant set of Lego toy blocks.
While this construction process is becoming more popular, it is not a recent construction innovation in the U.S. It has been around since the 1960’s and historically this type of foam block construction with cement began in Belgium around 1937.
ICF construction vs. traditional wood frame
The process of wood frame construction of homes and commercial buildings has been a part of the construction industry and serving homeowners for over 100 years. Wood frame construction uses less heavy construction equipment, fewer tools, and wood frame construction techniques are easier to handle as they are lightweight, yet durable, and can be cut and molded into different shapes.
Some environmentalists say that felling forests for wood causes an imbalance in forest ecosystems. Others argue that wood is an important renewable energy material in home and commercial construction.
Primary forests in Germany and other central European regions are very dense and with some planning of deforestation for construction purposes, new secondary young forests have grown in these areas because the resources used do not exceed the limit that is put in place for regrowth. We will not debate the ecological debate for timber frame houses, nor will we dispute that wood has shown its advantages for construction over the years.
However, we would like to point out in this article that architects and builders are reconsidering the efficiency of wood as a building material source for ICF home construction, for obvious reasons:
- fire hazard
- Labor Expenses
- increased cost of wood
- Termite infestation
- Wood moisture
- Low energy efficiency
ICF Construction Benefits
When you look at wood frame construction versus insulated concrete forms, it’s easy to see the benefits of ICF construction, such as the following: Consolidated building process More energy efficient Higher thermal mass Stronger Less organic matter Controls moisture Lower lumber costs
Benefits of owning ICF homes
While the benefits of ICF homes and commercial buildings are clear to the construction industry, the benefits are just as clear to the end user, the home or business owner who owns an ICF home compared to a wood-frame home or commercial business. Those benefits include: Cost efficiency of heating and cooling bills Compatibility with all home siding finishes Better return on investment Lower insurance costs Reduced home maintenance costs Special low-cost mortgages
Select ICF Materials and ICF Construction
We hope this article has brought clarity about the latest innovation in commercial and home construction, known as ICF – Insulated Concrete Form Construction. Some people confuse ICF home construction with modular or prefabricated homes that are built in a factory setting and brought to the lot site. We emphasize that ICF construction is done entirely on site.
Because of the thickness of the exterior walls, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical installation, as well as windows and doors, require more time and attention to be installed correctly. These construction challenges increase the purchase price and extend the length of time, typically two or three weeks, for the ICF home to be completed.
The quality of the ICF construction process and the resulting lower cost of living for the end user of such homes make ICF homes worth the price and wait time.