BuildBlock ICFs Deliver Design Flexibility

BuildBlock ICFs let you design almost anything. Choices are vast and ICFs are adaptable to any design.

BuildBlock ICFs make any design option possible. ICFs are extremely adaptable to any design, making them an architect’s dream! An ICF house can look just like a traditional home if you want. Because BuildBlock ICFs Deliver Design Flexibility you can have unique footprints, arches, angles, and curves as part of your design at a lower construction cost than with traditional building methods. ICF homes can be designed in any style and will accept any traditional exterior finish including vinyl or wood siding, stucco, rock, and brick.

BuildBlock Interior Wall Model

BuildBlock Exterior Wall Model

What’s different?

Other than extremely lower utility bills and almost non-existent noise from the outside, an ICF home appears very much the same as any other home or building. The walls are thicker and so are the door jambs and window sills. Special care is taken when waterproofing below ground during the construction phase to use materials that won’t degrade the foam. In home design, the overall square footage of the house is typically increased to make up for the difference taken up by thicker walls and to keep room sizes larger.

The roof size will be slightly larger to support the larger dimensions and while the geometry of the roof will stay the same, ridge heights will increase slightly. The foundation of the home may change some as well. The ICF design creates a strong, sturdy structure that will be standing for generations to come.

BuildBlock has a dedicated technical staff to answer any questions as well as connect you with our network of designers, architects, and distributors across the country and around the world to ensure your ICF project goes smoothly.

Cost

Proper planning and design mitigate most of the cost difference in choosing to build with ICFs. Currently in the ICFs cost 3-5% more to build a comparable size home, depending on the manufacturer and other factors impacting local building costs. Most Importantly, the increased construction costs are being offset by significantly lower utility bills.