By: Vicki Connell
In Phoenix Arizona most house foundations consist of poured concrete. Occasionally when the soil is a little less stable, a post-tension slab can be used. There is a definite art to finishing a concrete slab. You will discover how well your slab was finished once you begin installing the flooring.
On an ICF home, the J-bars / Sky hooks in the stem walls are longer than with wood framed walls. This allows the protruding rebar to be centered in the ICF. After 1-2 rows of ICF are stacked, we align our walls making sure they are square. A great way to do this is with the 3-4-5 Rule.
Once the corners are square, we start installing the window bucks. We continue to stack the ICF block, place rebar and repeat. At about the 3rd or 4th row of ICF, we add the scaffolding/alignment system. The Alignment System is what sets ICF installers apart. Anyone can stack ICF block, but it takes a skilled contractor to align the walls and keep them aligned as thousands of pounds of concrete are being pumped into the center. ICF Specialist is a licensed contractor with over 16 years of experience in stacking millions of square feet of Insulated Concrete Forms.
Why I chose ICF:
Energy Efficiency. ICF walls have an R-Value of 23.5+plus compared to typical wood framed homes with batt insulation of R-19.
Sound Rating. ICF walls are much quieter than wood framed homes.
Pest Resistant. Due to the lack of wood in the exterior walls, there isn’t a food source for termites. The ICF walls also create a sealed envelope, making it exceedingly difficult for pests to get in through the walls.
Solid Construction. The ICF block has a 6” solid concrete core in the center, with 2 ¼ “of foam on either side, drywall and stucco, your finished wall ends up being 12” thick. ICF are hurricane and tornado resistant.
Cost. Cost of lumber is on the rise with no end in sight. So why not go with a more efficient building method.
Once the ICF walls are stacked and poured, the framers can begin with the interior walls and trusses.
Every home should start with a solid foundation and walls. When you build an ICF home you can guarantee it will last and provide you with additional benefits you will enjoy for years to come. I couldn’t imagine building my family home any other way!
If you are considering building a custom home, give our office call
Castle Rock Homes (623) 935-5004
See more videos from our "New Build in the Desert" series Click Here