ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) Advantages

 

What are the Advantages/Benefits of Building with ICF Insulated Concrete Forms 

 

When it comes to owning real estate in Florida, it’s important to have a home that can stand up to the force of Mother Nature. While it’s easy to see why people choose Florida for a full-time home or even a seasonal home, thanks in part to the all the beaches and warm temperatures, you also need a home that’s built to handle the weather when things take a turn. The state has seen its share of hurricanes in the past, and that’s why building codes are so strong today statewide. New construction homes, especially those in certain parts of Florida, need to be able to better withstand the onslaught of hurricane force winds.

 

 

That’s why it’s so important to consider custom ICF homes. Short for Insulated Concrete Forms, Florida custom ICF homes are not only stronger than traditional homes, but they also have plenty of other benefits and advantages. Florida Custom Homes works with licensed and insured ICF builders in the State of Florida to ensure you are getting a well-built home that can also stand up to some of the state’s worst weather conditions. Custom ICF builders know what they’re doing and are able to deliver homes that are stronger because they’re reinforced to hold up during fierce weather.

 

While there are obviously other ways to construct a home, custom ICF homes have a number of advantages over traditionally built homes. The ICF blocks are extremely durable, so much so that they’re more resistant to such things as moisture, mold, rot, and even potentially destructive insect infestation. In other words, the blocks are strong enough to hold up during bad weather, but they’re also strong enough to handle the other things that we don’t typically think much about but can wreak havoc on a new home. When you build with ICF Insulated Concrete Forms, you can rest assured you’re building with some of the strongest and most durable technology available for new home construction. 

 

ICF blocks use panels of foam insulation, with rebar in between. Concrete is then poured in over the rebar. Altogether, the design means you end up with a steel-reinforced concrete wall with built-in insulation. This is why these types of Florida custom homes are extremely well insulated. You don’t even need to use traditional thermal insulation when you use ICF, because they are that well insulated on their own. Although Florida isn’t exactly known for its cold weather, ICF blocks are capable of efficiently blocking out the cold and the heat. Because of the insulation, ICF blocks help protect the inside of your home from outside temperature fluctuations. That’s good news if you want to save some money on your monthly utility bills. That’s true when it comes to drafty homes too. Although you probably will have less of a problem with a new construction home, an ICF built home is designed to be free of drafts. 

 

Not only that, but Florida custom homes built with ICF construction have the advantage of being better off in the event of a fire. Concrete is a great choice for an exterior wall because it’s fire resistant and can help slow down a spreading fire on its own. This isn’t necessarily the case with a more traditionally built home. The same goes for water resistance. Unlike wood, ICF blocks don’t rot over time. 

 

Of course, hurricane force winds are extremely fierce, but custom ICF builders know how to make your new home stronger, and more resistant to high winds. Not only is concrete extremely strong, but ICF blocks use steel-reinforced concrete. This means your home is in an entirely new category when it comes to storm resistance. High winds may be capable of widespread destruction, but with ICF construction, your new home is much, much more durable. An ICF constructed home has been specially designed to stand up to harsh weather, helping to keep the home intact, even when other, more traditional construction methods don’t stand a chance. 

 

Yet another advantage has to do with helping to insulate your home against nearby traffic and other outside noise. With ICF construction, your home is almost naturally soundproof. These types of walls are thick and solid. This helps create a quieter and more peaceful home, which can be a bonus if you’ve chosen to build a new home in a busier area, especially one that might bring in a lot of tourists. 

 

There’s also the benefit of not having to worry about pests destroying your dream home in the future. The thick concrete barrier of ICF helps keeps pests out, plus insects don’t have anything to feed on, so they won’t be attracted to your home in the first place. This is also an eco-friendlier way to construct a home because most of the materials used in ICF can be recycled.

 

 

While you may think Florida custom ICF homes take longer to construct than more traditionally built homes, that’s not necessarily true at all. In fact, you may find it takes a shorter amount of time to construct a new home with ICF blocks because those blocks are already designed to interlock easily and stack together. It often ends up saving time on construction. Although there is a difference in price, you’ll probably save in labor costs because it likely won’t take as long to complete construction. That’s why it’s best to compare not just the upfront cost, but also the cost you’ll incur if construction takes longer than expected with a traditionally built home. You’ll likely save money on concrete, too, because concrete is just one part of the block.

 

There really are no major drawbacks when it comes to building with Insulated Concrete Forms, or rather ICF. This type of construction if often quicker, plus the benefits are plentiful. You gain a home that’s designed to stand up to the elements, and that’s extremely important when you build in Florida. Constructing with ICF blocks also means you gain a more energy efficient home, a mostly soundproof home, and a more fire-resistant home. These are all great reasons to consider building with ICF, especially if you’re hoping for a custom home in Florida.