about dwellings that use insulating concrete forms

In the design of this French Manor home, ICF construction offered many advantages over traditional wood construction.

....taking a modern approach to icf construction

.... add natural illumination your icf interiors

Concrete Show Homes have been seen at the International Builder's Show

"Information on ICFs excerpted and reproduced with permission by Builders Websource. For full paid article, visit http://www.builderswebsource.com."

about ICF.........

The insulating Concrete Form, or ICF, is among the fastest growing segments of the residential and commercial market for foundations and wall systems. Although ICF’s represent less than 1% of the residential market today, acceptance is accelerating. By 2005, ICF’s will represent as much as 5% or more of the residential market, seriously challenging traditional stick-frame wall construction. Every year the number of homes built with ICF's doubles. Significant performance advantages coupled with rising lumber and energy prices makes ICF's an attractive alternative for new construction throughout North America.

Made of expanded polystyrene, or EPS, ICF’s are an insulating forming system for poured-in-place concrete walls and foundations. Introduced in Europe, ICF's have been in use around the world for over 30 years. Over 50 manufacturers in the US and Canada make ICF’s in a variety of shapes and sizes for use in foundations, basements, multiple-story dwellings, and commercial facilities. Rather than using traditional plywood or 2-by forms, lightweight ICF’s stack in a running bond pattern forming both an exterior and interior insulated wall. Installers lay re-bars horizontally and vertically inside the ICF’s to create a structurally sound unit designed for the expected vertical and lateral loading conditions. After proper installation and bracing, the ICF’s are pumped full with a concrete mixture held to a 5"-6" slump. Pre-manufactured 45- and 90-degree corners coupled with a precision alignment system helps to adjust the walls to ensure a perfectly square and plumb structure.

Once the walls have cured, they form an incredibly strong monolithic structure that is permanent and non-deteriorating. Since the protective insulation provides an ideal curing environment, tests conducted by the Portland Cement Association have shown that concrete is up to 50% stronger than concrete cured in traditional wood form systems.

- WIKIPEDIA defines insulated concrete forms ( ICF's ) as:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated_concrete_forms

C O N S T R U C I N G W I T H B L O C K :

... preparing for pumping in of concrete

... placement of re-bars inside the icf blocks

...using a boom truck to pour concrete and to reach up high

... vibraters are used to help compact and finish concrete

... the placement of structural steel members

.... placement of the floor system

VIDEO of owner benefits presented by QUADLOCK:

http://www.quadlock.com/insulated_concrete_forms/icf_owner_benefits_video.htm

An article found in: HGTVpro called .... "The Solid Advantage of Concrete Homes" :

http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/di_design_trends/article/0,2618,HPRO_20174_5151909,00.html

The Client Design Process -

I work with out of state clients by transmitting plans to review in pdf format along with 3D renderings to show exterior and interior details in order to understand details of each design concepts. - Rick Smith

"Home Designs the Way You Want to Live"

N e w D e s i g n S t u d i o s