ICF’s are not just for foundations. Many of our whole building projects use ICFs for all the exterior wall construction, both above ground and below. Reinforced concrete is one of the strongest building products available.

Coupled with the EPS foam insulation, it is also one of the most energy-efficient. ICF Construction is in line with the cost of traditional construction. ICFs are used to build small and large homes, schools, churches, and other commercial buildings.

With the thermal mass of the concrete and the high insulating properties of the EPS foam, your ICF home can reduce heating and cooling costs by over 50% compared to conventional construction.

All the above categories work together to achieve an “effective R” of around a 45 in our Maine climate for the whole structure. What this means, is that a traditional stick-built home would have to be insulated to an R-45 to achieve the same energy-efficiency as an ICF structure. This makes ICF costs comparable to traditional building methods with better results.

ICF structures will stand the test of time. The EPS foam will not break down over time, which provides the whole building with consistent insulation protection for the life of the structure. ICF structures can withstand fire for up to four hours, winds up to 200+ MPH, and seismic activity.

Insects, such as ants, are not attracted to the foam as a food source. There is no food value in the foam. With the foam properly covered, there are not any access points for insects or ants.