ICF Home Builders Serving Maryland and Delaware

The cost of ICF homes may not be higher than traditionally-built home. ICF cost per square foot comes down to many factors. While all custom homes are likely to cost more than existing homes with the same square-footage and features, there are also some factors that may make ICF homes more affordable. For example, the cost of ICF homes depends on the going market rate of concrete. There are periods when, due to supply, the cost of concrete may be lower than other popular materials. Additionally, you may save on the cost of a home overall because you won’t be charged for features that you don’t want to use.

ICF homes enjoy a significant number of advantages over traditionally-built homes and some features that can be considered ICF home problems depending on need. In the information in the upper sections of this page, you can learn how: ICF home building is more resistant to wear from age, strong winds, insects, mold, and other common threats to the home. ICF homes are naturally fire-resistant because the materials are not flammable ICF homes are more energy-efficient because they naturally trap heat and cold. ICF homes filter more outside noise, leading to superior sound insulation.

Our ICF homes are protected by a warranty. We offer a comprehensive warranty that covers materials and construction quality. You may not be able to receive a warranty of the same quality if you choose a different ICF home builder for your ICF home.

ICF Homes have a significantly longer natural lifespan than traditionally-built homes due to the long natural lifespan of concrete forms compared to wood. Concrete forms should last a century with basic maintenance. Many forms of maintenance that are necessary to preserve timber—such as sealing and termite control—are not necessary with concrete forms.

Yes, all types of standard fixtures can be installed into concrete walls. It is wise to plan electrical and plumbing fixtures in advance so that their paths can be built directly into the concrete. This is a simple process that also allows them to be effectively hidden from view when they are not receiving maintenance. Other fixtures, such as wall hangers, can be installed using web points that are located across the frame. Many different kinds of backing can be installed between the concrete and interior to allow you to screw in items without drilling into the concrete.

Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) are high-performance concrete walls that are cast-in-place between two layers of insulation material. The insulating layers are constructed to match the planned frame of the building, and then concrete is poured between the layers to form the exterior walls and complete the ICF system. Rebar may be used to further reinforce the forms at points along the wall system.

Siding can be applied to the exterior walls to create an identical exterior to other types of construction. Drywall, Stucco, or other materials can be attached to the interior walls to create the same effect indoors.

ICFs provide exceptional thermal insulation that blocks outside heat and cold while preserving indoor temperatures for extended periods of time. This results in stable temperatures and less strain on indoor HVAC systems.

The performance of ICF is due to the material’s thermal mass that is capable of achieving R-value scores of 22 or better. R-value is a measure of the thermal resistance of an insulating material, where a higher number represents greater effectiveness to resist heat flow. Competing home construction materials like wood possesses R-value scores between .70 and 1.41.