In the mid-1990s at Myles Nelson McKenzie Design, we developed foundation designs for our custom home projects using Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs). They worked exceptionally well for our custom home projects in Park City, Utah. They were used to construct the stem walls and basement foundation walls.
Pros/Cons of using Insulating Concrete Forms for Custom Home
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) are a great product to speed up the construction time for residential stem and basement walls with several additional advantages, such as;
- Energy-Efficient
ICFs are very energy-efficient, with a minimum of an R-22 insulation factor. This results from continuous EPS insulation (higher & uniform R-value), significantly reduced air infiltration, and the thermal mass effect of concrete as Quad-Lock, manufacture of Insulating Concrete Forms mentioned. (Click here for additional energy-efficient information from Quad-Lock) With Insulating Concrete Forms, you will find no drafts or cold spots, thus significantly reducing the amount of fuel needed for heating and cooling. - Quick Construction Time
The product’s versatility allows quick assembly of the Insulating Concrete Form Blocks. A four-man crew can assemble a 1600-square-foot ranch-style house in a day. - Construction Strength
With the construction assembly of ICFs, the walls are “cast-in-place,” monolithic, continuous reinforced concrete. Quad-Lock ICFs forms offer various wall widths (4″- 12″) for different applications. - Fire Resistant
ICFs can have up to a four-hour Fire-Resistant Rating. Quad-Lock mentions that their black assembly with 8″ concrete thickness is 4 hours per UL tests. This is great for mountain projects with high-fire issues! - Mold and Moisture-Resistant
Unlike most ICFs, walls made with Insulated Concrete, which is inorganic, do not support mold growth, ensuring unwanted allergens, pollutants, and mold. - Green Product
ICFs are made from recycled material. With minimal construction site waste, which can be recycled, it is a tremendous environmental product for residential and commercial construction. - LEED
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a U.S. Green Building Council program, evaluates a building’s total environmental performance over its life cycle. Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) contribute significantly to the credits in several LEED certification areas. - Property Insurances
Many companies will offer disaster and fire insurance discounts to ICF building owners, which is an excellent benefit!
So, what are the pros/cons of using Insulating Concrete Forms for residential and commercial projects?
From our viewpoint, there are no cons! There are just a great many advantages to using Insulating Concrete Forms. The benefits outweigh the initial cost for any new residential or commercial construction project in the long term.
For further information, click on our link to the US Department of Energy. They provide a great source of information regarding Insulated Concrete Forms, such as product scope, description, compliance, and further reference information.
Contact Us
Contact us today at Myles Nelson McKenzie Design. We would happily design your next custom home using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs).