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Central Iowa BuildBlock Insulating Forms for
ICF Home and Commercial Construction
Whether you're building a home or a multi-level commercial structure, you can't beat the rewards of building with BuildBlock® Insulating Concrete Forms. BuildBlock insulating concrete forms provide a lightweight, high-strength alternative to using steel or wood frame. |
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 What are insulating concrete forms?
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are hollow foam blocks which are stacked into the shape of the exterior walls of a building, reinforced with steel rebar, and then filled with concrete. ICFs combine one of the finest insulating materials, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), with one of the strongest structural building materials, steel reinforced concrete. The result is a wall system of unmatched comfort, energy efficiency, strength and noise reduction.
What's the difference between insulating concrete forms and insulated concrete forms?
They typically refer to the same thing and you'll see both phrases throughout our website. However, the term insulating concrete form is more precise because it indicates that the insulating characteristic of the form is continuous and ongoing. |
Comfortable & Quiet |
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| When planning a new house, consider the greater well-being that comes from living with more even temperature, sharply reduced drafts, and noticeably greater quiet. That's what you get with an insulating concrete form home.
When surveyed, over 80% of ICF home owners mentioned the great comfort of their home, compared with just 22% of frame home owners.* |
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Greater Comfort
The high thermal mass and minimal air infiltration of insulating concrete form walls create a more uniform and stable temperature throughout your home. You'll have no more hot spots or cold drafts. |
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| Healthier Air
ICF walls reduce air infiltration by 75%: The effects of hay fever, asthma, and other airborne allergies can be greatly alleviated as a direct result of the reduced leakage of outside air, which brings dust, pollen, and other pollutants.
Indoor air pollution is a great health concern today. ICF walls are non-toxic. The measurement of air contents of actual ICF houses shows an almost complete absence of any emissions. |
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Quieter
Insulating concrete form homes provide unparalleled peace and quiet and true protection from outside noise. In sound transmission tests, ICF walls allow less than one-third as much sound to pass through than regular frame walls.
Sound rating: 51 |
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Energy Efficient |
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| Energy efficiency is the core feature of insulating concrete form construction because so many owner/occupant benefits stem from it.
Actual studies show that homes built with ICF exterior walls require an estimated 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than comparable wood frame houses.* However, homes and structures built with the proper complement of windows, doors, HVAC systems, and methods, generally accomplish at least a 50% savings in heating and cooling. And in some cases, depending on the area and climate, homeowners experience as much as an 80% decrease in energy use and costs.
At a time when energy costs are soaring, many building owners are deciding it makes more sense to spend money on a safer, longer lasting, and more energy efficient structure than to spend that same money on utility bills.
*Portland Cement Association, Technology Brief 1 |
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Charts: Portland Cement Association |
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Affordable |
A home built with insulating concrete forms is more affordable than you may think!
The old saying goes: “It takes money to make money.” It also takes money to save money. Insulating concrete forms cost a little more — about 3-5% on average — than traditional stick wall construction, but that additional investment is quickly recouped by the tremendous savings in energy, interest, and insurance costs. Then consider the reduced maintenance costs and higher resell value and you can see why insulating concrete home structures are actually more affordable than wood construction.
 How much does an ICF house cost?*
Typical new U.S. homes cost $60-100 per square foot. Building walls of ICFs adds $1.00-$4.00 to this figure. But since ICF houses are more energy-efficient, the heating and cooling equipment can be smaller than in a frame house. This can cut the cost of the final house by an estimated $.75 per square foot. So the net extra cost is about $.25-$3.25.
Increased Home Value
Not planning on staying in your home for more a than few years? A recent study conducted for the EPA Energy Star Homes Program concludes that home value increases by about $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills. This means you can profit by investing in energy efficient homes even if you're uncertain about how long you might stay in the home. You'll enjoy positive cash flow for as long as you live in your home and can also expect to recover your investment when you sell the home. Visit the Residential Energy Service Network website for more details.
Insurance Savings
Because ICFs are included in the masonry construction class, they qualify for a lower premium than a home in the traditional wood frame class. Also, more and more insurance providers are recognizing the fire and natural disaster-resistance of insulating concrete form structures and are offering special discounts on top of those lower premiums. (Check with local agents for availability in your area.)
Mortgage Qualification
Because of the proven energy savings, certain mortgage companies offer "Energy Efficiency" Home Mortgages which take into consideration the decrease in energy costs. This allows you to qualify for a higher mortgage payment. That means you're taking that same money which would be going to the utility companies and instead putting into your home!
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*Portland Concrete Assoc. Concrete Homes Technology Brief 5. |
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Call us at 515-963-1884 or fill out our online contact form.
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