BuildBlock News

Here’s a video on fire-resistant construction in wildfire-prone areas! Video Transcript In this video, we’ll take you through a construction model of an ICF home that meets fire code standards. We’ll pay special attention to high-risk areas and give you practical suggestions on how to design and build. We’ll be using the framework of a simple, cost-effective home, that has a vented roof, but we’ll look at unvented roofs and concrete roofs that provide added protection and higher performance. We’ll start by going over how the walls are formed using our example model.   Starting with the basement, we poured

ICFs Aren’t Just for Basements Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) are often used in below-grade applications. The insulation properties of ICFs make them an excellent solution for finished basements but over the past 20 years, ICFs have been growing in popularity as an above-grade construction solution. The same benefits apply for both below and above grade application, and the end-user enjoys exponential benefits when the entire structure is ICF. More and more, ICFs are being used to construct homes, mid-rise structures, schools, safe-rooms, and more. Build Virtually Any Design ICFs are an incredibly adaptable material to use for almost any design,

Video Transcript In this video, we’re going to cover the no T-wall method, which divides the T-wall into two separate walls, saving time and labor, but requiring two separate pours. First, construct your straight wall the exact same way you would usually construct a straight wall, except where your T-wall is going to go, place your L-bar each course. We recommend leaving it at this diagonal angle at this point to allow more of the bar to be covered in the initial pour, as well as stay out of the way when working around it. Rasp it into place just

  Video Transcript In this video, we’re going to cover T-walls for multi-story structures. This method will follow the single story method almost to a T (nice), except for one key difference in the way we brace the wall. First, to connect our T-wall to the straight wall, we’ll make a cut on one side of the straight wall block equal to its core size. Depending on the location of your T-wall, you’ll have to cut one or two webs away from the foam to make this cut. When doing so, make sure to leave the saddles intact so rebar

  Here is a quick video covering T-walls for single-story construction! Video Transcript In this video, we’re going to cover T-walls for single-story construction. First, to connect our T-wall to the straight wall, we’ll make a cut on one side of the straight wall block equal to its core size. Depending on the location of your T-wall, you’ll have to cut one or two webs away from the foam to make this cut. When doing so, make sure to leave the saddles intact so rebar can still be placed. Next, shim off the last two and a half inches of

Join us at the Hilltop Project for a quick overview of how to install, brace, and pour BuildDeck ICF decking. Video Transcript Welcome back to the Hilltop Project. In this installment, the family has placed their BuildDeck forms, and are now ready to pour the BuildDeck floor system. BuildDeck is a stay in place form to create an insulated concrete floor, or pitched roof. This project has more than 3,500 square feet of BuildDeck, and most of it will be poured today. Let’s review the process for building with BuildDeck. The family created temporary shoring to support the BuildDeck forms,

The BuildBlock ICF Swimming Pool Construction Manual BuildBlock is proud to release the ICF Swimming Pool Construction Manual. Paired with our Swimming Pool Engineering Manual, this new document covers the ICF pool building process from start to finish. ICFs swimming pools are not only faster to build, but the insulating foam prevents more than 80% of the heat loss of the pool. This means it’s much cheaper to heat your pool, but also increases the length of the pool season.  What’s Inside BuildBlock Insulating Concrete Forms are an excellent product to use to build a swimming pool. The simplicity of the

The Building Science community continues to push for more stringent energy codes. Increases in insulation requirements and airtightness have become the primary mechanism to achieve higher performance. Buildings are required to use less overall energy, and where they require energy are asked to supply it themselves.  Net-zero compliance is a hot topic in many North American markets. British Columbia has developed some of the strictest building code standards in the world and is leading the push towards net zero with the BC step code. The Canadian National Code is not far behind and is seeking to accomplish many of the