Formtech › ICF information › For home owners

For home owners

What insulated concrete form construction offers the owner of the finished building.

The construction industry has made steady advances in recent years in terms of improved building materials, better construction methods, and environmental friendliness. Products such as pre-fabricated joist hangers and waterproofing membranes are examples of items that have been tailor-made for ICF construction.

Affordability

Building with Formtech ICFs is competitive with traditional wood forming in terms of building costs. Reduced heat and air conditioning bills add up over the lifetime of the home.

Energy efficiency

The insulation value of stay-in-place EPS foam blocks, combined with the thermal mass of concrete and reduced air infiltration, allows homes to stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. ICF homes have a higher R-value, keep temperatures throughout the home more consistent, and have virtually no drafts. Heating systems do not have to work as hard, so utility bills are lower than in a similarly sized wood-frame home.

Safety and security

The use of ICF blocks filled with concrete and reinforcing steel gives foundations and walls superior strength; concrete provides ten times greater strength than wood. ICF homes have a track record of withstanding hurricanes, tornadoes and fires, and ICFs have been tested at a three to four hour fire resistant rating against twenty minutes for wood frame.

Environmental responsibility

• ICF homes reduce demand on forestry: the Cement Association of Canada estimates a 3,800 sq ft ICF home saves 25 large trees compared to conventional construction
• EPS contains no CFCs, HCFCs or formaldehyde, earning a zero ozone-depletion rating
• The energy efficiency of ICFs decreases demand for fossil fuels and in turn lessens greenhouse gas emissions

Built-in vapor and air barriers

The insulating property of ICFs seals a building's envelope and protects it from air leakage, not only improving energy efficiency but also protecting air quality by eliminating mould and mildew caused by moisture, and largely keeping out unwanted allergens and pollen.

Soundproofing

Formtech homes are quieter since ICFs help reduce exterior noise. According to the ICFA, sound transmission tests on ICF homes allowed less than one-third as much sound to pass through as compared to wood-framed walls with fiberglass insulation.