icf foundation

Benefits of Building with ICFs
Builder Josh Salinger explains how and why he's creating the foundation for this new energy-efficient home out of insulated concrete forms.
Keep the Keys Clean on ICFs
Snap steel tracks on top of insulated concrete forms to protect the interlocking keys and stiffen the walls while pouring concrete.
Joining Rebar Inside an ICF Foundation
Use this tip for tying rebar together that’s out of reach.
Wide Mudsill for ICF Foundation
Extra-thick EPS walls on the ICFs mean the mudsill stock must be wider than usual.
Placing Concrete in the ICF Foundation
All hands on deck and a cool, cloudy day make for a successful foundation pour.
Stacking the ICF Foundation
Insulated concrete forms provide high R-value and are easy to set up, with a few custom details to avoid blow-outs.
A Foundation Like a Cooler
In a high-performance house, Joe Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation recommends insulating basements north of the Mason-Dixon Line with R-10 subslab insulation and R-20 foundation insulation.
A Solid, Well-Insulated Foundation
Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) provide integral foam insulation at the base of a house.
ICFs Often Require a Lot of Steel Reinforcing
The steel reinforcing rod used in the footings and foundation will end up costing about 50% of the cost of the concrete used to fill the footing and ICF forms.

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