You may not have heard of insulating concrete forms before. However, you’re soon going to be glad you did. When we talk about insulating concrete forms (also known as ICF), we are also talking about something with a long list of benefits. The more you learn about these benefits, the easier it will be to see why many opt for ICF in their projects.
To start with, let’s break things down into a straightforward definition of insulating concrete forms. From there, it should prove to be much easier to appreciate its numerous, impressive benefits.
An Introduction to Insulating Concrete Forms
ICF concrete forms are constructed from two longish panels that have been brought together. These panels will be made from insulating foam, and metal rods will be used in the joining process. Finally, concrete will be poured to fill the gap that should exist. The end result will be a structure that is not only built to last, but also built to optimize the insulation potential of the structure itself. As you can imagine, there are a ton of different situations in which these forms can be utilized. You could certainly say that’s one of the major benefits of insulating concrete forms.
With insulating concrete forms, you are talking about something that is designed to work as a thermal barrier. Let’s discuss that, and other ICF benefits, in greater detail below.
What Are the Benefits of Insulating Concrete Forms?
There are a number of advantages of using insulating concrete forms. There are 5 benefits of insulating concrete forms in particular that we would like to bring to your attention:
- Insulation benefits: As we mentioned earlier, insulating concrete forms are a type of thermal barrier. In this sense, we mean that because of the construction process that creates these forms, you can give your structure an insulation value that stands at R40-50. You can reduce the heating costs associated with your building by as much as 70 percent yearly!
- Better than wood: ICF holds several advantages over wood. Moisture and mold are big problems with wood, but you won’t have to worry about either of those things with insulating concrete forms. ICF is also a more eco-friendly choice, when compared to wood.
- Sound-proof potential: Regardless of the specific building you are constructing, it stands to reason that you will need to think about sound-proofing somewhere along the way. Hotels and homes alike use ICF for this very benefit.
- Construction perks: Not only are these forms light, but they also have the advantage of being incredibly easy to handle and use, as well. Furthermore, you are talking about something that can cut down construction costs, since we are talking about a supremely affordable option.
- Building quality: ICF isn’t just affordable, insulating, and easy to use. It also gives your structure a powerful, enduring foundation.
As you can see, insulating concrete form benefits abound. It is easy to see why more and more individuals and businesses are turning to this material to meet their needs.
