Building with ICF Foundations 101

Are you a property owner who is deciding how to design your home or business? Are you curious about ICF forms but don’t know where to start? This post is for you!

  • What does ICF stand for?

    • ICF stands for insulated concrete forms.

  • What does ICF look like?

    • ICF is a hollow styrofoam block that, once put in place and reinforced with rebar and metal clips, can be filled with concrete that cures into an insulated wall.

  • What is the process for completing the ICF Foundation?

    • Pretty similar to a standard Superior Wall foundation, except that the pieces are put together on a concrete footer and poured separately (walls and then floor). Stay tuned for a post digging into this!

  • Who invented ICF? When and why did they invent it?

    • Werner Gregori patented the ICF block in 1967, but it was developed over time in the early 20th century, especially in Europe in the wake of WW2.

    • Due to war related damage, construction companies had to think creatively about how to rapidly provide housing and infrastructure for the war-ravaged populace. Check out this awesome article from ICF Magazine to learn more!

  • How is ICF better than a basic block wall?

    • ICF has many benefits:

      • They offer much higher R value (resistance to heat transfer), which will keep your basement warmer and your utility bills lower in the winter.

      • They are easier to install in many ways; ICF walls are easier to carry and place, while still requiring skill to ensure they are level.

      • If it’s properly installed, you won’t experience the cracked basement walls that often occur with block walls.

      • ICF is much less likely to leak into your basement.

  • Which wall lasts longer, and why?

    • Any properly installed basement wall should last for the lifetime of the house. However, seasonal freezes and thaws affect block walls more because block walls lack the foam barrier on the interior and exterior.

  • Which is more expensive, an ICF foundation or a Superior wall foundation?

    • The pricing is about the same.

  • What about Superior walls, also known as Specialty Precasting or precast walls? How does ICF stack up to them (pun very much intended)?

    • ICF is built in place, but a superior wall is built in a factory and trucked in to the site.

    • The ICF wall is done with one pour. The Superior walls are bolted together.

    • ICF sits on a concrete footer. Superior walls /Specialty Precast sit on gravel.

    • The R value (resistance to heat transfer) of a superior wall is enough to meet code. ICF provides double the minimum requirement to meet building code regulations.

See below for a recent ICF Foundation we built in Western Pennsylvania! We will update this post once the house is completely placed!

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