| By :
Adrianna Noton
Insulated concrete forms represent a break from the conventional practice of constructing buildings. The liquid substance is poured into prefabricated Lego-like interconnecting bricks that run along the outline of the building's foundation. The ICF Construction regulations require that the blocks reach down thirty feet. In the colder climates this is typically the frost line. The sides of these blocks reach up to the roof line which can be more than one story high. The roof is foam sealed. A conventional builder must be quite shocked to witness the speed in which the buildings are constructed with Concrete Forms. A conventional building system would require building the foundation by hand with wood framing. This process is very time consuming. Once the foundation has been poured the framers would come to frame the skeletal structure of the building. The insulated Concrete Form has significantly sped up the construction process. It has also added some interesting benefits to the structure. According to the specifications these forms are able to withstand four hours of fire before they will succumb to the flames. They are also able to withstand 200 mph winds. It is no wonder that people are talking about this information. The progressive building of twenty-first century houses also offers other benefits from this special foam material. Micro-organisms like allergens and different types of fungus cannot penetrate through the materials. People who have allergies will breathe more easily and everybody will benefit from breathing clean, filtered air in the house. The Insulated Concrete Form has truly revolutionized the building industry. Homes are being built in locations that would have cost too much to sort out from an engineering perspective. One house that is being built in North Vancouver, BC on the side of a cliff offers the owners a fabulous waterfront view. No dynamiting was required to build the ICF Construction.This indicates that the technology allows for the construction of buildings at sites that would otherwise have not been considered. Cement is also a versatile material to use in the home itself. The floor can be embedded with radiant floor heat and covered with a cement floor that has been sealed in an attractive epoxy coated paint or other coating. Concrete kitchen countertops are also very attractive in the modern looking kitchen. Today's home can save the homeowner a lot in terms of heating and cooling costs as well as building materials. When the builder uses just the one material the expense of building the house will be much lower than when they have to incorporate different components such as granite counter tops and tiled floors. Kitchens can have cement sinks and bathrooms cement tubs and shower stalls. Steps can be made of the same material and all the accessorizing of the home such as concrete patio tables, chairs, planters can be made of cement. This is a versatile material that can be applied to any number of uses. Insulated concrete forms are used throughout the world. They have been in active use in countries where winter temperatures go well below freezing. The technology is gaining rapid popularity in North America and will continue to grow in use as it saves homeowners so much money in the long run.
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