Frequently Asked Questions

ICFs offer multiple money-saving opportunities for both builders and homeowners! During construction, builders save money through the faster building process, smaller crew size, fewer required materials, and drastically reduced waste. Homeowners enjoy reduced energy costs, better energy efficiency, and insulating performance, resulting in greatly decreased energy and operating costs to save money month after month. On top of that, ICF homes have much fewer HVAC requirements to create money-saving opportunities on construction costs.

No, you can build virtually any design! ICFs are incredibly adaptable and can be used for virtually any design. Each block is easy to cut and alter to meet design specifications. Preformed corner and radius blocks are available in varying sizes, which makes forming angles and curves an easy task! In addition, traditional interior and exterior finishes can be easily applied so that your home looks exactly the way you want.

No, while wood structures can be built with high energy-efficiency ratings, they cannot achieve the same low level of air infiltration or thermal mass ICF walls provide. ICFs also resist natural disasters like fire, earthquakes, tornadoes, high winds, and hurricanes, unlike wood structures.

Yes! The strength and durability of steel-reinforced concrete walls formed with ICFs offer unmatched high-wind resistance, which means better protection from severe weather. Unlike wood-framed buildings, concrete structures are proven to withstand unnaturally strong winds and major damage from debris. This greater measure of built-in safety makes ICF construction the quality choice for your new home, safe room, or commercial building.

Yes! Concrete walls have also proven more resistant to allowing any fire to pass through at any point. This is especially important for buildings located in areas with brush fires that could spread indoors. ICFs have been tested by a third party, proven to resist the spread of flames, and have been rated to provide four hours of fire resistance.

No, while wood structures can be built with high energy-efficiency ratings, they cannot achieve the same low level of air infiltration or thermal mass ICF walls provide. ICFs also resist natural disasters like fire, earthquakes, tornadoes, high winds, and hurricanes, unlike wood structures.

Absolutely! ICF walls are formed using solid concrete, which creates an excellent thermal barrier to prevent both exterior temperature changes or interior heating and cooling from affecting the wall temperature on the other side.