If you want an environmentally safe home, unsurpassed peace and quiet, a draft-free environment which reduces dust and pollen, and lower heating and cooling costs, then you found the solution with Insulated Concrete Form construction.
The advantages of Insulated Concrete Forms over concrete block construction are numerous:
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Insulated Concrete Forms are environmentally safe – they do not contain formaldehyde, asbestos or fiberglass.
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Insulated Concrete Forms reduce the lumber used in construction.
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Insulated Concrete Forms provide unsurpassed peace and quiet.
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Insulated Concrete Forms provide a draft-free environment, which reduces dust and pollen for those suffering with allergies.
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Insulated Concrete Form homes are structurally sound and safe – they are capable of withstanding hurricanes and tornadoes, and can be built to meet commercial two-hour fire protection.
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Insulated Concrete Form homes save valuable construction time and lower heating and cooling costs.
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According to a recent EPA study, it was concluded that energy efficiency increases home value by about $20 for every $1 decrease in annual utility costs.
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Insulated Concrete Form homes hold up in fires – unlike wood, concrete does not burn and unlike steel, it does not soften or bend.
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Insulated Concrete Form homes have no wood rotting, mold or mildew issues which affect all wood frame homes.
An Insulated Concrete Form home looks like any conventional new home on the outside and the inside. In Florida, typical new houses are constructed at a cost of $60 to $140 per square foot. Building walls of Insulated Concrete Forms adds $1 to $4 to that figure. But the heating and cooling equipment can be smaller than in a frame house, and reduced maintenance costs and a higher
resale value more than compensate in the long term.
Insulated Concrete Forms 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 Form construction had its beginning in the 1960s. Invented by a contractor who was on a vacation, he had the revelation that if concrete blocks could be
formed using foam plastic, many construction costs and hours of labor could be eliminated.
ICFs are ideal for multi-story residential and are being adopted as the dominant choice in some markets.
If you want a home where the design and construction is superbly energy efficient and environmentally responsible, look no further. |