Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They
are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

We are fans of ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Forms).

ICF’s are large hollow forms or molds that are lightweight,  easy to stack and pre-insulated.

Combined with re-bar, concrete, a specialist and a great crew, the end result is a high performance wall that is structurally sound, insulated, strapped and ready to accept interior and exterior finishes.

Impressive!

Other reasons to use ICF’s include;

  • Comfort: Nothing blows through reinforced concrete.  Temperatures stay constant. There are no drafts or cold spots.  Because of the tremendous thermal mass of the exterior wall envelope, temperature peaks are smoothed, and therefore homes are noticeably warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
  • Safe & Healthy – There are no CFCs, HCFCs, or formaldehydes,  with no wood to rot and mold.  ICFs are the answer for allergy and asthma sufferers.  They have a two-hour fire rating, are termite and are storm and pest resistant.
  • Flexibility in Design – ICF’s and the unique faceted Mandala shape are a great match. Using ICF’s speeds up the foundation process considerably.
  • Quiet – Outside noises are virtually eliminated.
  • Energy Efficiency – Homes built with ICF foundations have higher R values and lower costs to heat and cool.

We are also fans of a product called FastFoot; a fabric footing form that is quick, simple and easy to use (see below).