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Material World – Insulating Concrete Forms

Do you know children who love to build things with those colorful, little Lego® blocks? Most kids eventually outgrow this pastime, but those assembly skills are useful to builders across the nation who are turning to a unique wall system called insulating concrete forms.

Concrete has proven a flexible – yet solid – building material throughout history. Its first use dates back thousands of years. It has been a reliable material because of its high strength and ability to resist the elements. However there are several disadvantages to extensive use in residential construction – it is rarely found anywhere other than the foundation.

One major disadvantage is its high heat conductivity, i.e. concrete doesn’t hold heat in very well, an obvious disadvantage when heating and cooling a home. Additionally, concrete is most affordable in large batches, however, preparation for large pours is often time consuming and labor intensive. Expensive reusable forms must be erected to hold the concrete in place until it hardens and these forms must then be removed.

Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) eliminate these disadvantages. The ICF brings together the insulation and the form into one piece – they hold the concrete until it cures and stay in place. Obviously, lightweight foam can’t support a house on its own, but it offers the much needed high R-value that the structural concrete lacks.

Winter 2003
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Material World – Insulating Concrete Forms

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Q & A with
Dennis Walsh
   

ICF’s come in various shapes and sizes but the principle is the same: foam is sandwiched together into large, Lego®-like blocks that provide a cavity area for filling with concrete. The blocks of foam are stacked into the shape of the house and braced. With an experienced crew, the blocks are quickly assembled because of their light weight. Most installations involve inserting metal rod, or rebar, into the cores of the blocks for additional strength. Once the blocks are stacked, braced, and rebar is in place, concrete is carefully pumped into the cores of the blocks. The walls are typically vibrated to ensure there are no air pockets formed in the wet concrete.

When the concrete is finished curing the foam stays in place as insulation on the outside and inside of the home. Wall coverings are installed over the foam and there is nothing to the eye shows that this home is any different from a stick built home. However, ICF homeowners notice the difference: there are fewer worries when it comes to pests such as termites, lower heating and cooling bills and increased soundproofing in the home.

According to the Insulating Concrete Form Association the typical ICF home costs between $.25 and $3.25 more per square foot than a stick built home. Insulating concrete forms are an example of an old building material doing new tricks. As for the Lego® assembly skills, get the neighborhood kids together and they may have your house stacked and ready to pour in a day or two...

More information can be found at www.forms.org (Photos courtesy of www.forms.org).

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