What is ICF?
Why build with sticks when
you can build with stone?
We use ICF to build all of your exterior walls with insulated concrete instead of wood framing.
An ICF house under construction
How others build
Most homes is the US are built with light wood framing.
While it is the cheapest way to build, wood homes lack disaster resistance, comfort, and are susceptible to mold and deterioration.
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Most wood homes are poorly insulated and therefore uncomfortable. According to the US Department of Energy, a wood framed wall has an effective R- value of around R-13.
A cross section of a wood framed wall
How we build
Insulated Concrete Forms are an engineered system made of durable EPS foam and contain polypropylene studs for siding and drywall.
The blocks have a hollow core that is filled with concrete. For most applications a 6-8" core is used, but can go as thick as 12".
ICF walls are extremely well insulated. ICF walls have both interior and exterior insulation. The insulation is continuous and the concrete core creates thermal mass which also improves efficiency and comfort. According to testing data, An ICF wall performs around R-50 while a traditional wood wall is around R-13. This results in superior comfort, and lower energy usage.
A cross section of an ICF wall
An ICF house under construction
Thermal scans comparing wood and ICF homes
Comfort
ICF buildings offer much greater comfort.
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Wood homes have dramatic temperature fluctuations and are often a different temperature on every floor. ​
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ICF homes also dramatically reduce sound from the outside world due to their robust construction.
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In addition to this, ICF homes offer superior air quality. An airtight design combined with fresh, filtered air intake delivers unparelled air quality: filtering out dust, dirt, mold, and pollutants.
Safety
Reinforced concrete makes for a safer home, able to withstand almost any natural or manmade disaster
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The top of an ICF wall, before the next course is stacked
Vehicle collisions
According to the Storefront Safety Council (SSC), there are around 36,000 instances per year of cars crashing into buildings.
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An ICF home will keep you safe from vehicle collisions, a wood house will not.
ICF house survives high speed crash
Wood house destroyed by vehicle impact
Gunfire and explosions
While bullets often go right through wood homes, ICF homes can stop bullets in their tracks.
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Tim Pinter of Crown ICF showcases an ICF wall assembly surviving a .50 Cal round
An ICF box survives a blast from 50 lbs of TNT
Storms
ICF homes are also able to withstand hurricanes and tornadoes.
ICF house survives 200 mph winds from hurricane
Photo caption
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ICF home stands amongst the ruins of wood frame homes after hurricane Katrina
Fire
ICF homes are made of concrete which is non combustible. Combined with fire resistant design, ICF homes will not burn down.
ICF home survives arson
ICF homes survive California wildfires
Bulletproofing
A piece of bulletproof glass stops a high caliber round
Turn your ICF home into an impenetrable fortress by adding:
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Bulletproof glass and window frames
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Bulletproof doors
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Saferooms
A level-3 bulletproof door survives several gunshots
A bathroom that doubles as an ICF saferoom
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Sustainability
Our homes use sustainable building technology and are built to last more than a century.
With an emphasis on energy efficiency, health, and longevity, you're helping to build a better future.