What Are Insulated Concrete Form Homes and How Do They Work?

Sustainability is crucial to the next generation of people and homes, so the construction industry must appropriately adapt. How can they improve new and existing buildings? One strategy is to construct insulated concrete form homes and offices. This idea protects occupants from outside conditions and helps the sector consider the environment.

Here’s what you need to know about them. 

What Are Insulated Concrete Forms Homes?

When you build a house, you must have solid insulation to regulate the temperature. Otherwise, each room could be uncomfortable in the summer and winter months. The indoors are supposed to protect you from the heat, so having the proper materials is essential. Insulated concrete form homes raise the bar by bringing a more natural approach to your heating and cooling needs. 

Insulated concrete form makes concrete blocks intersect and insulate a building. With this interlocking system, your home has even more protection from the elements. The Department of Energy (DoE) says your building should be 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, so the concrete helps the temperature remain steady.  

How Do They Work? 

Imagine you have two blocks of insulation for your building. The construction employees pour concrete between the gaps to increase thermal efficiency, trap heat and keep the cold air out. Interlocks combine the panels and hold the units together, an essential part of its durability. Once you pour, the insulated concrete form remains permanent for the homes. 

Insulated concrete form has been a foundation for eco-friendly homes since the 1970s. Now, the concept has evolved to include other types, such as styrofoam-insulated concrete forms or waffle grid systems. With a waffle grid system, the concrete emulates the breakfast food with the patterns. Plus, you get thicker joints and thinner spaces for better insulation results.

What Is the Price of Insulated Concrete Form?

If you want insulated concrete form, the price tag will be one of your first questions. Experts say the price can be as low as $20,700 and as high as $36,000. You’ll pay between $2-$3 per square foot more than poured concrete because you get expanded polystyrene (EPS) forms. While the cost is high, there are ways to increase or decrease the bill. 

The final cost significantly depends on whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor. A DIY project could end up with a $15,000 price tag, while a contractor could eclipse $30,000 when all is said and done. If you have minimal experience, consider a professional to ensure a job well done the first time.  

What Are the Pros and Cons of Insulated Concrete Forms?

Insulated concrete form could be a terrific investment for homes and office buildings. That said, there could also be some drawbacks. Here are three pros and three cons you should know. 

Pro 1: Durability

Imagine living in an area prone to hurricanes and severe thunderstorms. In this climate, you need a home that will stand up to tornadoes and extreme wind gusts. Insulated concrete forms fit this need because of their durability. With these specialized homes, you can worry less about flooding or home destruction. 

The panels create a strong wall between your home’s interior and the outside weather. If your current home has a wooden frame — for example — you could significantly upgrade with insulated concrete form as a foundation for protection against weather and other threats. 

Pro 2: Sustainability 

Overall, insulated concrete forms are a pillar of sustainability, although their materials could land them on both pros and cons lists. This building concept is sustainable when it uses recycled materials, stainless steel and other items that don’t require energy-intensive processes. 

The panels create a strong wall between your home’s interior and the outside weather. If your current home has a wooden frame — for example — you could significantly upgrade it with insulated concrete as a foundation for protection.  

Pro 3: Better Air Quality

Temperature is among the primary benefits of insulated concrete forms in homes and offices. However, you shouldn’t discount air quality. You want the air to be clean when inhaled, and most HVACs do a pretty good job of controlling it. Insulated concrete forms go to the next level through improved ventilation. 

With this construction concept, you have fewer air leaks and opportunities for the outside air to infiltrate your home. This feature is handy when your area has wildfires or lousy air quality. For instance, Los Angeles has the worst air quality in America and would benefit from more insulated concrete forms.  

Con 1: Upfront Costs

Budgets are critical when building a house. If you have a set spending limit of $250,000, exceeding it could quickly become unaffordable. The last thing you want is to be saddled with more debt! Insulated concrete form is terrific for homes but comes with high upfront costs, thus becoming out of reach for some buyers. 

If cost is a limiting factor, consider it an investment in the long run. With these panels, you’ll have better temperature regulation and less need to run your HVAC year-round. The savings add up, and you’ll break even before you know it. Plus, you could save money by minimizing storm damage. 

Con 2: Complicated Planning

Insulated concrete forms aren’t necessarily rocket science, but they can be complicated to plan. You pay a premium for these panels, so it’s unsurprising that they require extensive preparation — more than your typical stick-built house. Your contractor must have unique expertise before working with them. 

Finding experienced professionals in your area could be challenging because of labor shortages and expenses. In addition to expertise, construction professionals must also deal with load-bearing capacity. Insulated concrete forms have a higher capacity, requiring more engineering considerations. 

Con 3: Pest Risks

Thermal efficiency is a hallmark feature of insulated concrete forms, although pests could compromise it. In the winter, termites or other small bugs could chew through the expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, thus increasing the risk of air leaks and thermal loss. If you use these concrete panels, prioritize pest prevention. 

Mitigating pest problems starts with the fundamentals of intelligent house maintenance. First, you should limit unwanted moisture by fixing leaky faucets and pipes. Then, you should inspect the weatherstripping around windows and doors to close easy entry points for the bugs. While these tasks seem small, they do a lot for homes with an insulated concrete form setup. 

Considering Homes With Insulated Concrete Form

When planning your home, you must have heating and cooling efficiency for all four seasons. These conditions matter even more if you live in a notably hot or cold climate. 

If you have insulated concrete forms, your house is off to a great start. This concept features practicality and sustainability and makes your building among the most energy-efficient on the block. While they’re great for new homes, insulated concrete forms benefit existing homes through retrofitting. Speak to a local contractor if you want this home improvement idea.