วันเสาร์ที่ 5 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2561

Home Building Materials - Are ICF Concrete Homes Worth the Extra Money?

You can build a quality, comfortable home that uses much ฝากขายคอนโด less energy to heat and cool. An ICF home is one way to do that.

Question: What is an ICF home and should I build one?

Answer: ICF stands for Insulated Concrete Forms. But what is that?

In some ways, an ICF home is just like any other traditional "stick built" or "site built" home. You would never know, just by its outward appearance, that it was an insulated concrete home once it's finished. There's nothing magical or strange about it. But, it certainly is different in its structure and ability to save energy.

An ICF home is a concrete wall home, made from cement and foam blocks. That's the principle and material difference between them and traditional wood framed homes.

How are Insulated Concrete Forms Used?

The exterior walls are built by stacking up foam blocks for the entire "envelope" of the home or exterior wall portions. These foam blocks are hollow. In the hollows, steel is placed before concrete is poured down into cavities of the entire foam block wall assemblies. They are often also used for the foundation of the home.

The ICF blocks act as forms for the concrete while it hardens, then remain in place acting as insulation for the walls forever. They are considered "green building approaches" because of the fact that they reduce the use of wood in construction and typically allow the home to use much less energy for heating and cooling.

Are They Worth Your Investment?

Depending on the cost of labor and materials in your area, ICF homes can cost between 3 and 8 percent more than the traditional stick built home. But, you can often cut energy consumption in the home by 30 to 60% resulting in lower heating and air conditioning bills. And, as costs for fuels rise, the benefit only grows over time.

Because of the extra building cost, it makes the most sense if you can live in the home for a few years to maximize the economic value you receive.

Keep up your researching and be sure to check various ICF styles and options.


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