What is ICF?
ICF is the sustainable solution for your Muskoka home or cottage
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF), first developed in the late 60’s, is a revolutionary building material used to construct foundations, exterior walls, and other structures that benefit from an insulated wall.
Permanent Lego-like blocks are interlocked and can be stacked into any length or height. Each block is made of two pieces of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam that is attached together with plastic webbing, providing a cavity where rebar is placed and concrete can be poured. The result of this combination provides a wall with incredible structural integrity as well as an energy efficient insulation.
Our Process
Plan and Outline
Every strong home starts with a plan. We work with contractors and homeowners to finalize the location of the building and prepare to build.
Form and Pour Footings
A strong foundation starts with strong footings. This is the structural base that supports the foundation of your home, and the foundation, in turn, supports the entire structure.
Assemble ICF Blocks
ICF blocks are interlocked and stacked into the desired length and height.
Install Rebar
Rebar, also known as steel reinforcement bars, are placed within the cavities of the ICF walls to provide strength and support.
Pour Concrete
Concrete is poured into the cavities of the ICF walls. This is accomplished using a pump truck. During and after pouring, vibrating equipment is used to ensure the concrete fills the voids and eliminates any air pockets.
Handoff
After the concrete is cured, the house is ready for the next building stage. We collaborate with trades who will ensure a smooth transition.
Benefits of ICF
Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) systems provide excellent curing environments for concrete due to the forms themselves, resulting in a foundation that is much stronger than traditionally poured concrete foundations. This increased strength means that ICF foundations are less likely to crack due to seasonal factors.
Moreover, ICF foundations and walls, with their unique combination of concrete and steel, offer unparalleled resistance to disasters such as fire, storms, wind, and earthquakes. Additionally, they provide increased resistance to pests and mold.
Studies have found that walls constructed using ICF blocks had up to 60% less energy loss compared to traditionally constructed wood-framed walls. With thermal mass, heat absorbed during the day by the concrete walls will be radiated back into the house when the temperature drops.
Moreover, ICF walls can save homeowners 20% to 25% on heating and cooling costs annually, making them a cost effective and energy efficient choice.
The energy saved in a house using ICF walls compared to its wood-framed counterpart not only demonstrates the energy efficiency of ICF, but also its greater positive impact on the environment. Compared to ICF, wood-framed houses consume more energy to heat and cool, resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that 60% of an ICF block’s weight is composed of recycled material, further contributing to its environmentally friendly characteristics.
When building your dream home, a top priority is ensuring the safety of your family. The steel-reinforced walls that ICF provides offer protection against fires, storms/wind, and earthquakes. It’s widely recognized that ICF-built homes are often the only ones left standing after natural disasters, underscoring their exceptional resilience and ability to keep occupants safe.
An overlooked benefit of ICF is the comfort and reduction of outside noise ICF homeowners experience. A recent survey found noise reduction and quiet was a top reason for homeowners’ satisfaction with their choice of ICF foundation and walls.
By their very nature, ICF foundations and walls reduce the risk of pests, mold, and other toxins commonly found in wood-framed buildings that could potentially affect the air quality in your home. ICF blocks are made of allergen-free materials and provide no nutritional benefits to pests such as rats and termites. This feature helps maintain a healthier indoor environment by minimizing the presence of allergens and contaminants.
ICF foundations are efficient to build because multiple steps are completed at once, reducing the amount of time needed to complete this phase of a build.
An added bonus when building ICF to the roof are the built-in fastening strips which allow drywall on the outer walls of the interior, and siding on the exterior, to be fastened directly onto the ICF.
Amvic is committed to cost-effectiveness, resilience, and minimizing environmental impact, which is why we choose Amvic products for all the ICF foundations we build. We are proudly certified Amvic installers.
