ICF Homebuilding

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Why should I build my home using ICFs?
ICFs create homes and buildings that are more energy efficient, stronger, more

sound resistant, and more environmentally sustainable than any other

construction method.

2. Exactly how does the home owner benefit from using ICFs?

► Comfort. Houses built with ICF walls have a much more even temperature

throughout the day and night. They have virtually no “cold spots," and far

fewer drafts.

► Durability. The rigidity of concrete construction reduces the flex in floors and

cuts shifting and vibration from the force of the wind or the slamming of a door.

Concrete houses survive high-force winds like hurricanes far better than wood

homes. When properly reinforced, they should also withstand earthquakes well.

► Quiet. About one-sixth as much sound gets through an ICF wall as compared to

an ordinary frame wall. This sharply cuts the intrusion of noise from outside.

► Energy efficiency. The superior insulation, air tightness, and mass of ICF walls

cuts the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling by 30-40%. This can

save $200-300 per year in a typical home. In addition, it allows the installation of

smaller heating and cooling equipment, which can reduce the initial cost of a

house by over a thousand dollars.

► Design flexibility. ICF houses can be completed with almost any interior and

exterior finishes, and can take any shape as easily as wood-frame homes. In

fact, some interesting effects, such as curved walls and frequent corners, can be

less expensive to build into an ICF home

3. Isn't it hard to remodel an ICF home?
Most remodeling contractors have the ability to cut openings into an ICF wall.

Most tool rental stores rent out concrete cutting saws for cutting openings.

4. Where have ICF homes been built?
ICF homes have been built all across North America, in every region, and

virtually every state and province. ICF homes are prized in the Northeast, Upper

Midwest and Canada for their energy efficiency and comfortable indoor climate.

Along the hurricane-plagued Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast, ICF homes are

similarly valued for their durability and resistance to storms. In the Southwest,

ICF homes keep their occupants much cooler in the summer and warmer in the

winter. On the West Coast, ICF homes provide safety from earthquakes and

fires. In the provinces of Canada, the growth rate of ICF homes has exceeded

even that of the United States. Spurred by government programs to encourage

the construction of energy-efficient housing, more Canadian builders already

know what their U.S. counterparts are just now discovering: It is often less

expensive to build with ICFs from footing to eaves than it is to build a stick-frame

house to the same insulation standard.

5. How energy-efficient are ICFs for my home?
Based on research performed by Building Works Inc., houses built with ICF

exterior walls require an estimated 44% less energy to heat and 32% less

energy to cool than comparable wood-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. The bigger the house, the

bigger the savings. In colder areas of the U.S. and Canada, heating savings will

be more and cooling savings less. In hotter areas, heating savings will be less

and cooling savings more. Such energy-efficient performance comes in large

part from the polystyrene foam on the interior and exterior of ICF walls, which

range from R-17 to R-26, compared to wood frame’s R-9 to R-15 walls. Also, ICF

walls are tighter, reducing infiltration (air leakage) by 50% over wood-frame

homes.

6. Are ICF buildings safer than wood-framed buildings?
Yes. ICF buildings are up to 8.5 times stronger than wood-framed buildings. As

a result, ICF walls are more able to withstand severe weather such as

hurricanes and tornadoes. Most ICF walls have a 2-hour fire rating, as opposed

to 15 minutes for a comparable wood-framed wall.

7. Why are ICFs better than stick framing at dealing with rot and

mold issues?
Over the past 20 years, builders have been asked to build tighter wood homes

using house wraps, seals, caulk, tapes, and gaskets in order to reduce the

amount of air infiltration/loss in the home. When these products fail, moisture

gets trapped inside the open cavity of a wood stud wall, causing mold and

mildew problems and rot. ICFs are closed-cavity construction, with the concrete

filling the entire cavity of the wall. Given that there is no place for moisture to

travel in the wall, and that foam, steel reinforcing bar and concrete are all three

inorganic material, ICFs are resistant to mold and mildew problems.

8. How much do ICF walls cost?
Because of low labor requirements, total construction cost is only slightly above

the cost of wood-frame, despite the use of high-quality materials. When built by

crews experienced with ICF construction, completed ICF homes cost about 0.5

to 4% more than they would if they had been built of frame.

Putting the numbers differently, building a house of ICFs adds approximately

$0.25-3.25 per square foot to the total cost. Simply building the walls adds

about $1.00-4.00. But one can then subtract as much as $.75 in savings from

smaller heating and cooling equipment.

9. How can I build my next house using concrete and ICFs?
The companies that make ICFs provide extensive information. Home buyers can

get the names of experienced nearby contractors. Builders can get product

specifications, instructions, and training. Contact the ICFA at 888-864-4232.

You can also search for an ICF contractor at www.forms.org, beginning on the

home page. Ask all the questions and see for yourself how concrete walls with

ICFs provide a superior house for a modest price.

More Information?

Concrete Homes Hotline: 1-888-333-4840

Concrete Homes Online: www.concretehomes.com