Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association

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24 07, 2019

ICF Home Survives Hurricane Michael

By |2019-07-24T17:31:31-05:00July 24, 2019|Design, Featured, ICF Projects|

The "Sand Palace" a model of resilient architecture It was easily the most noticeable house on the oceanfront of Mexico Beach, Florida…simply because it was still standing. On October 10, 2018, Mexico Beach was flattened by Hurricane Michael and amongst the devastating destruction, one home stood upright on stilts above all the apocalyptic destruction, appearing largely unscathed and shining majestically in the sun. The home, known as the "Sand Palace", would garner the attention of countless national and local media outlets fascinated by its story of incredible resilience faced with such a powerful destructive force.  The New York Times, CNN, Weather Network, Fox News and several others all clamored to find out why the three-story, four-bedroom, 4½ bath vacation rental was able to withstand the sustained 155 miles per hour winds that wreaked havoc on all that surrounded it.  And what they found according to its owners, Dr. Lebron Lackey and his uncle, Russell King, was that the home was specifically designed to do just that – survive "the big one". "At every point, from pilings to the roof and everything in between, when it came time to make a decision about what level of material or what to use, [...]

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10 07, 2019

Building With Wood Instead of Concrete Could be Costing Your Business Time AND Money

By |2019-07-10T20:27:50-05:00July 10, 2019|Design, Technical|

Do you think building with wood is both faster and less expensive than building with concrete (insulated concrete forms)? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people think that this is true, especially when it comes to 4-6 story mid-rise buildings. However, it’s not actually the case. In fact, this blog post will show you exactly what happened when HP Builders Inc., a construction company based out of Winnipeg, built two nearly identical mid-rise buildings with one made of wood and the other made out of insulated concrete forms. Keep in mind that these buildings were built right next to each other and were built at the exact same time. Building with Wood Vs. Concrete: HP Builders’ Experience The Wood Construction Was Much More Complex.The wood home had 28 wall designs and a variety of lintels and beam designs. In contrast, the ICF building had just two wall designs (this included an 8” core in the parkade, a 6” core for the above grade walls and one basic lintel design for the entire building). It also required a lot more tools and equipment as well, from a telehandler to a variety of saws, drills, impact wrenches, cords and so [...]

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25 06, 2019

CLT Wood vs Concrete

By |2019-06-25T16:01:26-05:00June 25, 2019|Video|

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh8UdnfqZ9A&feature=youtu.be Concrete construction is one of the strongest and longest lasting forms of construction in the known world. Though many improvements have been made in technology, at the end of the day laminates, glues, and other materials used to create exotic wood based building materials just cannot withstand exposure to fire. Saving lives in the first priority of any good building design and if you can use the right materials you can save the structure too. Resilience. Safety. Build With Strength. CLT Basics A CLT panel consists of several layers of kiln-dried lumber boards stacked in alternating directions, bonded with structural adhesives, and pressed to form a solid, straight, rectangular panel. CLT panels consist of an odd number of layers (usually, three to seven,) and may be sanded or prefinished before shipping. While at the mill, CLT panels are cut to size, including door and window openings, with state-of-the art CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) routers, capable of making complex cuts with high precision. Finished CLT panels are exceptionally stiff, strong, and stable, handling load transfer on all sides.

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20 06, 2019

ICF Build For a Lifetime – Innovations of Concrete (Idaho)

By |2019-06-20T14:16:44-05:00June 20, 2019||

EVENT DESCRIPTION Lighter, faster and more cost-effective than most other forms of construction, Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) are quickly becoming the construction method of choice for all forms of construction including single and multi-family, hotels, schools, offices – all forms of residential and commercial construction. Concrete contractors, masons, and framers have an opportunity to learn another trade to compete in today’s competitive construction environment. AGENDA Box Lunch: 11:00AM – 11:30AM Presentation: 11:30AM – 1:30PM WHO SHOULD ATTEND: General Contractors, Concrete Contractors, Masonry Contractors, Engineers, Architects, Schools, Building Officials, Building Owners. REGISTRATION FEE: This is a free event, but registration is required. QUESTIONS: If you have questions contact Daryn Bundtrock at 208-919-8007 or Idaho Associated General Contractors at 208-344-2531

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7 06, 2019

Building with Comfort in Mind? Why ICFs Are Better Than Wood

By |2019-06-07T22:38:06-05:00June 7, 2019|ICF Projects|

Building with comfort in mind? What’s the best choice of materials if you want to build a well-insulated, quiet home or building? Perhaps you’re building for the hospitality industry. Maybe you’re approaching retirement and want to build a quiet retreat for yourself. Whether you’re a builder, a homeowner or an architect, comfort is an important - and often times leading decision - resulting in a greater quality of life, greater productivity in workplaces and so on. So, what’s the best option? This blog post will show you why Steel Creek Developers and Plett Construction chose insulating concrete forms - ICFs - over wood when building Souris Hotel in Manitoba. This build was the recent recipient of the Logix ICF Awards, showcasing the most ground-breaking and innovative projects in the ICF industry.The Souris Hotel was selected out of thousands of projects across North America! Why Steel Creek Developers Chose ICFs For Souris Hotel First, a little about this particular project: it’s a unique build in that it’s part condo and part hotel. There’s a 3-story hotel suite with 29 rooms on one side and an 18-suite senior’s condo on the other side. This project was built by Steel Creek Developers who [...]

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