Choosing ICF Construction For Energy Efficiency And More

I have been working on a Lakefront here in Southeastern Michigan -- the Water Winter Wonderland -- tough site issues, flood plain, and wetland issues. The design of the foundation needed some innovative solution to take care of the site-civil issues. The house has been designed with ICF walls all the way through, concrete floors, steel joists, metal roof, Geothermal, and all the good stuff for a thoroughly energy efficient house.

The whole team's attention was focussed on getting the site-civil issues resolved and pass the review and the scrutiny of the Building Department and the authorities. Just as soon as we got the site-civil approval, we applied for the building permit.

Now, here is beginning of August 2008 and plans are to start construction say beginning of September 2008. Now, as the owners are beginning to look at their financing and what they have budgeted for the house construction, and the potential contractors experience or lack of it with ICF construction, question has come up why choose ICF ... can't we build with 2x4 or 2x6 studs with styrofoam on both sides ... that would be less expensive -- isn't that right?

Well, yes building with 2x4 or 2x6 studs with styrofoam on both sides would be less expensive, but more important it would be cheaper too ...

because, on top of that comparing with ICF construction, it would not

• be as energy efficient
• stop air infiltration
• have the thermal mass
• have as effective sound insulation
• have low bacterial and fungus growth
• have as good a resistance to mold and mildew
• be as strong
• ...

and of course I could go on and on.

If you want a cadillac, don't take just the body of the cadillac and fit it with a yugo engine -- you may end up with some thing that looks like a cadillac, but would it drive like a cadillac?, would it perform like a cadillac? -- and if you said no, it would not drive like a cadillac, and it would not perform like a cadillac, I Would Have To Agree With You.

I am also thinking ... if you want to buy a cadillac, would you want to go to a yugo dealer ... of course not -- you will go to a cadillac dealer... now that's SMART!

And those of us who are wondering what a yugo is -- well we will have to pick that up another time.

I also want to leave you with the thinking of some of the real ICF enthusisats ...

If You Are Not Building With ICF ... Why Are You Building?

Oh Yes, and do visit with me via my website http://www.energyefficientbuild.com where I cover my recent projects and a whole lot more.