"If I built another house I'd probably use the blocks all the way-because of the speed and there is less shagging around. I liked the insulwall too but the learning process was a bit more involved. Also there is less flexibility in that you have to plan ahead for backing boards," Says Hank Dinn of Kippens, NF.
Testimonial #2
Iceblock and Insulwall Combination
Says Mike Penton of Badger Lake, NF..."If I was building again I would use the blocks from the footing to the roof. It's a great system...I'd use it again in a minute...I'm more than satisfied."
Testimonial #3
After losing their house to a fire, Larry and Loni Parker, of Revelstoke BC, decided to build their new home, a 17 sided round structure, using insulated concrete forms. The house illustrates a trend - the selection of concrete for a growing number of new buildings. Although up-front costs may be higher, the finished home is energy efficient and strong - an added advantage in the Parkers neighborhood where grizzly bears roam.
Building houses using insulated concrete forms (ICF's) began in the early 1990's as the cost of wood climbed and builders looked for alternative building materials. They discovered concrete and concrete wall systems using interlocking polystyrene blocks, reinforced with expanded steel, that stacked on top of one another. The hollow blocks are then filled with concrete to create solid 10-inch-thick walls.
Builders using ICF's for homes and buildings cite a number of advantages including:
1. Reduced air infiltration with an average .1 air exchanges per hour (ACH). This means that air inside the building is completely replaced every 10 hours, compared to other building materials where the ACH is higher. The result is less dust, pollen and heat loss.
2. Superior insulation with the polystyrene insulation having an R-Value of 20. Combined with the thermal mass benefits of the concrete and the reduction in the air infiltration, homes and buildings constructed using ICF's have a value of from R-30 to R-50. According to a study conducted by Boston University, concrete homes require 32-44 per cent less energy for heating and cooling than wood framed houses. The walls also create a thermal mass that reduces temperature variances from room to room.
3. Efficient sound barrier with only one half inch drywall, walls have a laboratory-tested Sound Class Rating of 48.
4. Fire resistance with walls that have a low toxicity, smoke development and flame spread. The airtight feature of ICF's also inhibit the oxygen needed to allow a fire to spread rapidly.
The walls can be clad with all finishes or left as is. One of the advantages of concrete is its flexibility, says a Madison, Conn. Architect who has designed concrete homes. The material can be molded and colored to mimic natural products with the advantage of having control over it.
If finishes are preferred, materials such as drywall, plaster, lathe and paneling can be used inside and stucco, wood, vinyl, aluminum siding, brick, stone, veneer and masonry are applicable outside.
Aside from being environmentally safe and cost effective - buildings using ICF's have lower insurance rates and appraise higher than conventional wood framing buildings - they also provide a sense of living comfort.
Says Loni Parker, "We were greeted by skeptics as we were building. You should hear their comments now. Before it was, ‘you can't be serious.' Now it is, ‘this is incredible.'"
She says everyone wants to know how much it costs to heat the house and adds that costs are extremely reasonable.
"But more than that, the house is completely without drafts. But not without air. Our HRV works like a charm, completely exchanging the inside air with outside air. I cannot understand why anyone would want to build a house by any other method."
The Parkers are so pleased with their new home that they now schedule tours for those interested in building with concrete.
(1997), A Concrete Solution, Building, October/November 1997
End of Testimonials
Newfoundland Styro Inc.
12 Dominic Place Bishop's Falls NF A0H 1C0 Tel:709-258-5890 Fax:709-258-6015
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