![]() ICF construction has two advantages in terms of the energy performance of the building. What is the Maximum R-Value of an ICF Wall? But, again, this is dependent on a variety of factors. Industry leaders share that if you compare the initial cost of an ICF home to the utility savings over time, it ends up costing the same as a wood-frame home. While you will probably pay 5% – 10% more upfront for an ICF home, your energy bills will be lower each month than if you were to build a wood-frame home built to typical standards. If you have a home with an extremely tight building envelope, you will likely experience more considerable savings. The savings and payback of an ICF home are primarily dependent on what you are comparing to and how well the home is built. And, for those DIYers out there, ICF homes is not something that we would recommend attempting yourself if you are not a licensed professional. A licensed builder will likely be familiar with this process to make it a smoother (and hopefully quicker) experience. Since this is not the standard in the residential construction industry, the permitting process can be a bit more arduous. ![]() It is also important to remember that the amount of time required to compile all of the necessary permits for an ICF home will likely take longer than for a conventional home. Do keep in mind that the price of concrete can fluctuate, and the price of your home is also dependent on the design, local construction labor costs, and additional factors. Overall, you’ll likely end up spending about 5% to 10% more in total construction costs than you would for a conventional wood-frame home. The Lusinks say they hope to move into their completed house by February or March.Insulated concrete forms cost about $150 per square foot, which is 2% to 7% more than standard wood-frame construction. It’s a partnership that grows stronger with every nail and every piece of Styrofoam that’s installed in the Lusink’s dream home.Īccording to Fox Blocks, one of the companies that makes ICF, this product can cost about 18 to 32 dollars a square foot, which totals to around 30,000 dollars for average sized homes. ![]() This whole thing has been designed and built by these two who have been married over 30 years. “I think it’s something to be proud of and the end result will be awesome,” Andre Lusink said. It’s a unique way to build their unique home that will have an elevator and a giant garage to house a RV. “So, it’s building to the highest code, basically.” Sylvia and Andre will be using this in reverse so that cold air stays inside when temperatures are unbearable outside. ICF is mainly used up north in places like Canada because the insulation is so good that it keeps the warm air inside. “So, I say, well, as long as you bring your own drinks, then we’re fine with it.” “Now, everybody in the community wants to stay with us when a hurricane comes,” Sylvia Lusink, said jokingly. They discovered the material at a trade show in Orlando and haven’t looked back. “There’s basically no weak spots,” Andre Lusink said. “We saw this and we were like, ‘This is the way to go,’” Sylvia Lusink said.īecause if a hurricane were to impact the bay area, the ICF can absorb any strong wind or water coming its way, ultimately protecting the concrete that’s inside. ICF is essentially Styrofoam and is some of the most durable material to use if you’re looking to build a structure that can stand up against hurricanes and floods. ![]() The couple is using insulated concrete forms, or ICF, to build their house. “But this, we call it Lego, just because, you know, it has the knobs.” “This is like this half a block,” she said. This project isn’t easy, but what makes it intriguing, Is what they’re using to build their walls. “We were hoping not to build in the warmest time in the year, but that didn’t work out,” Sylvia Lusink said.Įven with the humid heat permeating their work, they still have as much fun as they can when trying to build something from scratch. She and her husband, Andre, moved to Tierra Verde from the Netherlands in 2006, and over the last year and a half, they have spent every day outside their actual jobs working on their dream house. So, you know, we can move in,” said Sylvia Lusink, one of the homeowners. “It would be great if we had more people, so it would be faster.
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