BuildBlock News

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

The Rising Demand for Structures Every code cycle seems to demand more from our structures. Increases in regulations often mean increased cost, which to many builders is perceived as a net negative. Yet, is this the correct way to perceive stricter rules? Or is there a better way to think about new demands? At BuildBlock we like to pose an alternative viewpoint. Building codes often represent the lowest common denominator of building standards that anyone is required to construct to. If code compliance means building to the lowest common denominator, then shouldn’t we be considering how to build better structures?  Now does