Using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) for your home, cottage or commercial structure has a number of advantages that make it a popular choice for homeowners and contractors.
This technology is an alternative to traditional block foundations and wood-form poured concrete foundations where the specially designed form remains in place, becoming part of your foundation wall. The advantages to ICF has many contractors recommending that ICF be used for the walls all the way up to the soffits.
What makes ICF come so highly recommended?
For one, it’s more than just a foundation wall. It’s also the insulation, vapour barrier and studding. This means that although it takes a little longer to install the time savings of not having to install the insulation, vapour barrier and studding separately means it actually saves time.
Secondly, ICF is incredibly strong. It comes in panels called blocks. Each block consists of two separate layers of closed-cell expanded polystyrene that are braced and held apart by high density polypropylene webbing. Once all the blocks are installed and locked the rebar (reinforced steel bar) is then installed and concrete is poured in the middle. The forms remain in place permanently and are, in fact, the absolute ideal curing conditions for concrete that bring it to its fullest possible strength.
Another aspect that is important to Muskoka residents and cottagers is the fact that ICF is environmentally friendly in a number of different ways. ICF has no off-gases commonly found in other new building materials. Using ICF also eliminates the need to use trees for wood forms or studding, and both the webbing and foam are made from 100 percent recycled materials.
If that isn’t enough, here are a few more advantages: mould resistance, moisture repellent and pest resistance (insects, rodents and termites don’t like the foam). Wind and noise are greatly minimized. The R-factor for insulation exceeds building code requirements, so it will save more money on heating and cooling.
Simcoe Building Centre is a family-owned and operated building centre. It is a one-stop shop for everything required to build your house, cottage or commercial building – from the foundation to the doorknobs.
Simcoe Building Centre
645-5296 x 305
[email protected]
Simcoe Building Centre
