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16 10, 2020

ICF Installer Training Series: Introduction

By |2020-10-15T10:52:02-05:00October 16, 2020|Video|

Welcome to the BuildBlock ICF Installer Training Series. This 20 part video series is intended to be an educational walkthrough of the ICF building process. From the early planning phases to pouring concrete and finishing walls, this series will provide the basic knowledge you need to have a successful BuildBlock ICF build. In this brief introduction, we discuss the basic components of ICFs, possible design options, how ICFs are designed and made, and why ICFs are approved as a building material in North American building code. The videos in this series are produced as a companion to the BuildBlock Installation and Technical Manuals available for free download on the Publications Page or for purchase via the BuildBlock Online Store. You can view more videos in this series via the BuildBlock Blog or by subscribing to the BuildBlock YouTube Page. For a more in-depth training experience, you can take the free Online ICF Installer Training Course. Video Transcript Introduction Welcome to the BuildBlock ICFs Installation Training. In this short video, we will learn the basic components of ICFs, possible ICF design options, how ICFs are made, and why ICFs are approved as a building material in North American Building Codes. What are ICFs? Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) [...]

14 10, 2020

ICFs and the Net Zero Design Push

By |2020-10-14T15:30:43-05:00October 14, 2020|Technical|

The Building Science community continues to push for more stringent energy codes. Increases in insulation requirements and airtightness have become the primary mechanism to achieve higher performance. Buildings are required to use less overall energy, and where they require energy are asked to supply it themselves. Net-zero compliance is a hot topic in many North American markets. British Columbia has developed some of the strictest building code standards in the world and is leading the push towards net zero with the BC step code. The Canadian National Code is not far behind and is seeking to accomplish many of the BC step code requirements in a similar timeline. Interior During Blower Door Test The BC step code asks builders to increase the energy efficiency of buildings by a set percentage every few years. The code has a ten-year (10) target goal of every new construction project or retrofit meeting net-zero compliancy. The metric to track compliance is measured using blower door tests and specific product energy usage tests. The data from a blower door test along with utility usage from other appliances and fixtures allow for a complete calculation of energy used by the building. Each structure is then appointed [...]

29 04, 2020

ICF Foundations: Things to Know Before You Build

By |2020-05-01T06:08:17-05:00April 29, 2020|Design|

Are you planning on using ICF to build your concrete foundation? Great choice! Your new basement will outperform the building code and give your buyers a more comfortable living space. To help your ICF project succeed, we’ve jotted down a few helpful tips on planning, design, and installation. Read on to find out more! Space planning with ICF Consider how you’ll plan the space. To be realistic, allot roughly half of the ICF basement to storage and mechanicals, and leave the other half for living space. With this much living space available below grade, explore the option of reducing the square footage of the main floors. This trade-off will optimize the home’s floor areas and save your buyers money. Keep in mind that ICF works above grade too. Upgrading your main floor walls to ICF will speed up installation, reduce your project’s material use, boost the home’s energy efficiency, and free up some floor area.  Design with ICF in mind Regardless of the basement’s intended height, try to design your walls to a 4-inch height increment. This way you can use a combination of our regular 16” tall blocks and our 12” tall V12 blocks and you won’t have to cut [...]

28 04, 2020

Green homes in high demand ICF construction adding the most value in today’s growing market

By |2020-04-07T12:32:25-05:00April 28, 2020|Miscellaneous|

It’s not the beautiful open-spaced chef’s kitchen equipped with the latest high-end appliances nor the opulent, lavish on-suite bathroom with luxurious finishes and fixtures.  The key feature of building a home with the highest potential to increase its long-term property value is none other than insulated concrete form construction.  According to Keven Rector at NUDURA, a leader in building with insulated concrete forms (ICFs), the real estate industry is all a buzz about the rise in popularity of ICF built homes due to the long-term value this building method can bring to a home. As a result, these homes are becoming more lucrative options for buyers, investors, and the real estate industry. What are ICF homes? There are homes built with an ultra-durable insulated building envelope made up of ICF walls, which consist of two panels of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam connected with NUDURA’s patented web system that is made of 100 percent recycled material.  ICFs are then stacked, steel-reinforced, and filled with concrete to complete the home’s building envelope in one efficient building step. Continue reading.

21 04, 2020

Using Custom Forms to Meet Design Requirements

By |2020-04-07T12:27:44-05:00April 21, 2020|Miscellaneous|

At NUDURA, we will still receive questions or comments about how ICFs, as shape-molded forms, can satisfy architects’ custom designs. We know that every building comes with many sets of circumstances and different conditions that may require a specialty block or two. We’ve developed our forms with that knowledge top-of-mind. Here’s a quick breakdown of a few of our different specialty forms and accessories, and when you might use them: CORNER FORMS: Ninety-degree and/or 45-degree corner forms are necessary for almost any design. TAPER-TOP FORMS: If your project requires additional bearing to support a floor system, these forms will allow concrete to flow to the interior and exterior edges. BRICK LEDGE FORMS: Support the heavy loads of brick and nearly any other type of cladding material with these forms. Continue reading here.

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