What are Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs)?
Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are hollow foam blocks which are stacked into the shape of the exterior walls of a building, reinforced with steel rebar, and then filled with concrete. Insulated concrete forms combine one of the finest insulating materials, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), with one of the strongest structural building materials, steel reinforced concrete. The result is a wall system of unmatched comfort, energy efficiency, strength and noise reduction.
The model below shows you how the outside walls of your home look when you build with ICFs. The blocks are stacked to the height of your walls, reinforced with steel rebar, filled with concrete and then brick, stucco, rock, or siding it attached to the outside. On the inside your plumbing and electrical are run through the foam itself after the walls is poured. Drywall, plaster or stucco is attached to the inside, then finished with trim, flooring, and other finishes. In the end your home looks like any other, but performs 1,000% better.
Insulated and insulating concrete forms are the same. We generally use insulating because the insulation is continuous and ongoing throughout the life of the home.
Insulated Concrete form structures are much more comfortable, quiet, and energy-efficient than those built with traditional construction methods. Use the menu on the right for more details about the advantages of insulated concrete form homes and buildings. Congratulations on deciding to build your new home. As you begin formulating the plans for your new home, there seems to be no end to the number of choices you have to make. It’s natural to pour hours of time and effort into choosing the right paint, wall coverings, exterior finish and other aesthetics for your new home. But first take some time to decide what will be inside those walls. Traditional wood-frame construction can’t compare to the safety, permanence, and energy efficiency of walls built with insulating concrete forms.
