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ICF construction costs more. Jberks has poked into a similar question—how wood-frame construction compares with insulating composite concrete forms (ICCF), which are roughly the same in cost as ICFs. “I’m not going to get into the merits and greenery of ICCF vs. ICF,” he writes. “I’ll let you guys on this post squabble about that.
Assume your windows and doors are R-4 (U=0.25) if you don’t know. The ICF walls covered by T&G wood might be R-20 or your builder would know. The roof would be about R-2 as planned, or about R-40 if you add R-38 insulation. (Do this once for ceiling = R-2, and again for ceiling = R-40, and compare the difference.
I've built both with ICF and wood frame. I believe ICF is the way to go in the desert southwest (Zone 4B) and will build with ICF for my future house. Main reasons: 1 - Fire resistance. Living in a wildfire area, the 6-8 inch thick concrete walls provide better fire/heat resistance than wood frame walls. 15-30 minutes (wood) vs 4 hours (ICF ...
We specify a standard R-22 ICF, but a higher R-value ICF could be used without having to change the overall assembly details. We call for the inner layer of the ICF insulation to be cut down 4 in. (pictured left), allowing the slab to extend over the core to provide a flat working surface for wall framing, and to make the continuity of the air ...
I guess building wood homes and having them burn down in wildfires and blown to bits in tornadoes, only to have them rebuilt again and again, is considered "green" ? A Zone 7 climate in Northern America won't see the full benefits of the thermal mass as an ICF home would see in the desert southwest with diurnal temp swings of 40 degrees per day.
Proponents of ICF walls tout at least two energy benefits: low rates of air leakage; and a thermal mass benefit. In many climates, an ICF wall provides no thermal mass benefit. Whether an ICF wall saves energy depends upon what the wall is being compared to. Most homes with ICF walls have lower levels of air leakage than typical wood-framed homes.
ICF and pests I have been building ICF homes in Michigan for 12 years. About 80 completed homes now. We have not experienced a problem with ants, termites, birds, or rodents (yet.) All foam must be completely covered from footing to truss. Below grade, we use a combination of Delta-MS and the manufacturer's own peel and stick.
If I won a contest with my choice of two grand prizes -- a 1,200 square-foot house with R-40 double stud walls, or a 1,200 square-foot house with R-40 ICF walls -- I might choose the ICF house. But be careful: very few (if any) ICF homes actually have R-40 walls. And an ICF home with R-40 walls would be very expensive to build.
ICF are basically a concrete structure that uses foam forms which are left in place. If they can use a 6" core, so can a conventionally formed concrete foundation. Most codes have prescriptive minimums for the width of concrete foundation walls. ICF structures don't have to follow those because they have been engineered.
Hello, I am building a ICF foundation and SIP home in VT. I am looking for suggestions on the best affordable system to Heat / cool and vent this home. Right now I am leaning towards a HTP Versa Hydro Heating system PHE-130-80S I was planning on putting radiant in the slab, and have a forced hot air system for the 1st and second floor and prep for future solar hot water and prep for running a ...