ICF Explained

Insulated Concrete Forms is not a new product. It has been around since WWII. In the last 15-20 years there has been an increasing interest in ICF in residential and commercial building. ICF has several advantages over conventional framing.

For starters, it is completely filled with concrete (from the footing to the roof line) making it 9 times stronger than regular framed walls. With the ability to withstand stronger and more deadly storms, ICF is an instant added protection for your family.

Utilities have been on the rise for the past couple of years. How much will the price increase? Could you afford a bigger or better quality home if you were not pumping your money into heating and cooling it? ICF brings this thought to reality.

With the ICF walls performing at an R-rating of 50, the utilities for such a home are cut significantly. We have seen bills cut by as much as 50%! In most cases this is a savings of several thousand dollars a year. Even the United States government realizes the importance of a well insulated home. It is our understanding that they now offer a tax break for a home with a rating of R-50 or higher.

With the price of ICF construction being within 5% of conventional building, it is an easy decision for an increasing number of home owners who are wanting to build or even add on to their existing homes.

Benefits of NUDURA ICF

Since Alandsons carries only the finest construction technology available today, we deal exclusively with ICF products manufactured by Nudura Corporation.

FIRE RESISTANT
Up to 4 times more than a typical wood-framed wall, NUDURA walls are built with steel reinforced concrete and fire retardant-treated expanded polystyrene foam. Compared to wood-framed walls, NUDURA walls are far more likely to remain standing in case of a fire, and are far more resistant to the spread of fire.

SOUND RESISTANT
Up to 3 times more sound resistant than a typical wood-framed wall, NUDURA's double foam-insulated concrete core acts as an effective sound barrier, dampening sound vibrations to ensure a serene and comfortable ambience within the home.

DURABLE
Up to 9 times more durable than a typical wood-framed wall, NUDURA walls have up to 9 times more axial load resistance than a typical wood-framed wall. NUDURA technology offers enhanced protection for your home, especially in high-wind areas or during tornadoes and hurricanes.

ENERGY EFFICIENT
Up to 2 times more energy efficient than a typical wood-framed wall,
NUDURA is a highly insulated concrete wall, with no air spaces or studs that vastly reduce air filtration. When combined with an air exchange system, NUDURA technology helps even out the effect of external temperature swings and provides superior energy-efficiency as compared to typical wood-framed homes.

COMFORT
Up to 9 times more resistant to thermal bridging than a typical wood-framed wall. Outside cold can easily travel through a typical wood-framed wall (thermal bridging) to create uncomfortable cold spots inside your home. NUDURA walls offer superior performance when it comes to thermal bridging and air infiltration. Therefore you get even temperatures throughout your home and reduced drafts, cold spots, dampness and mustiness.

FLEXIBLE
NUDURA'a accurately interlocking, lightweight forms make it very adaptable to a variety of innovative and efficient designs. NUDURA's concrete core allows for the easy installation of doors and windows without compromising the structure of your home. Curved, sloped and extra-tall walls are easily built with NUDURA technology.