Icf Vs Poured Concrete Walls

Icf foundations are more energy efficient less prone to moisture intrusion less sensitive to cold temperatures than poured concrete foundations.

Icf vs poured concrete walls.

I have been following icf construction for about 25 years. However in the one step that would have produced a bare concrete wall an icf wall provides a furred out and insulated wall with a vapor barrier all the way up to the floor joist. The time frame for reapplication of the sealant and surface protection systems varies but typically is needed every 7 to 20 years. The poured concrete wall has more mass or interlocking cement paste crystals to resist the cracking force.

Insulated concrete forms icfs. 1 exact type and features of the icf products standard vs. Insulated concrete form vs. While the icf s do have the advantage of instant insulation the initial cost is appearing to be far more.

Once the forms are all put in place concrete is poured in the middle. Now that i am getting ready to build i am concentrating more on costs. Icf construction costs depend on the. In their 2004 study insulating concrete forms construction cost analysis the portland cement association found that icf walls cost double what a conventional 2x6 insulated wall cost.

I used 4 eps on the outside of the concrete walls for insulation. The concrete and the eps bond extremely well and my walls have the insulation on the outside where it counts the most. Icfs are prefabricated products for home construction. Not icf which i think are a very good product.

While traditional concrete foundations are poured using plywood forms that are then removed the polystyrene forms stick to the concrete causing a built in immovable insulated layer. I have been trying to make the decision of icf s or poured basement walls for a house in the mountains. Icf vs superior walls. The eps was placed inside the concrete forms before the concrete was poured.

For example you can make a concrete block wall. Homes constructed with insulated concrete forms commonly called icf in the trade offer some important advantages over traditional wood frame structures. Icf foundations have an r value of greater than 20. Problems with insulated concrete form walls.

Foundation walls built with icfs are easier and faster to construct than either concrete masonry unit or cast in place concrete foundations. The hollow block wall is depending solely on the strength of the thin mortar bed between each concrete block. The addition of reinforcing steel to either wall system complicates the issue. Poured concrete foundations have r values of less than 3.