The costs of fuel consumption and extreme-storm damage, plus costs in the way of carbon footprints, are making all of us insist on far more property benefits, including superior durability and resilience from pending disasters.
“In that case, open the door to a home built with concrete reinforced walls, instead of wood, and see how you will receive greater safety, comfort, investment value, and energy efficiency,” says Todd Blyth, a leading name in building technology.
“Concrete is a major solution for weather extremes – and for more than a decade now, the building system using ICFs (insulated concrete forms) has proven to deliver the most durable building frame.”
The ICF principle is simple, he says.
The walls are constructed with pre-assembled, interlocking units (similar to Lego), so they’re easily transported to any building site. Each form consists of two panels of thick foam (expanded polystyrene) connected with a patented web system. Guided by the architectural design and beauty aspects you request, the ICFs are stacked, steel reinforced, and filled with concrete until the entire building envelope is complete.
Other benefits include:
– ICF walls withstand winds of up to 402 km per hour and have a fire protection rating for as much as 4 hours;
– Premium insulation delivers an energy-efficiency rating as high as R-50 due to the thermal mass of the concrete (compared to an average R20 in wood structures) and that equates to reducing household energy bills up to 70 per cent. Optional inserts added to the ICF forms, improve efficiency even more;
– Outside cold can easily travel through wood-framed walls, causing uneven temperatures inside the home. The ICF wall eliminates drafts and is an effective sound barrier;
– Concrete is a sustainable material; trees are not needed; the system uses only recycled polymers and steel; the building process creates less waste and occupants use fewer fossil fuels; and
– A concrete home is built to last, and to retain its value longer. Immediately as well, the superior durability requires less maintenance, repair, and budget, as compared to wood structures.
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