BuildBlock is proud to expand awareness of the benefits of cost-effective concrete construction through building energy-efficient, disaster-resilient, and sustainable housing with the NRMCA, Build With Strength and Habitat for Humanity.
The Oshara Project Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity Construction Team.
Build with Strength, a program of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association is partnering with Habitat for Humanity International to construct decent, energy-efficient, disaster-resilient, affordable, and sustainable housing across the U.S. This initiative will help to provide incredibly strong and sustainable homes for dozens of Habitat Partner Families over the course of the next several years.
Santa Fe Habitat received a grant allowing them to build two homes with cutting-edge Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) technologies.
These homes in Oshara Village will utilize ICF walls instead of wooden exterior walls. Using ICFs helps stabilize skyrocketing construction material costs and reduces the number of materials needed and construction time. This proven technology uses durable foam forms that are stacked in the shape of the outside walls, filled with concrete and left in place permanently to create a resilient, sustainable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective wall.
This project marks Santa Fe Habitat’s first divergence from traditional wood-frame construction.
In alignment with their green building initiative and Net Zero Energy commitment, ICF construction offers energy-efficient and long-lasting concrete cores, low waste production, and a green material that retains a high insulation quality over time.
This grant is made possible by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s Build with Strength Coalition partnering with Habitat for Humanity International. Build With Strength is donating concrete for the construction of Habitat homes across the country, and Santa Fe is one of 16 locations involved in this partnership.
BuildBlock Building Systems wants to join in offering a special thanks to Habitat for Humanity International, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Build With Strength, the Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association, Espanola Transit Mix, Chavez Concrete Pumping, and the American Concrete Pumping Association for collaborating to help build two strong, sustainable homes for families in the homeownership program in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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- An ICF job site is clean, safe, and easy for professionals and volunteers to work side by side quickly forming, reinforcing, and stacking exterior walls.
ICF construction site
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- When stacking blocks, make sure they interlock securely and place required reinforcement.
Stacking ICF blocks
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- Use simple hand saws or a table saws or a table saw to cut any ICF form. Make a perfect cut using the molded-in tape measure and repeating cut lines.
Cutting icf block
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- A pencil vibrator is used when pouring ICF walls to ensure proper concrete consolidation.
Pouring and consolidating concrete for ICF
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- Maintain a safe job site and install all safety railings and equipment.
Construction worker on buildbrace safety railing
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- Volunteers stack forms above openings for doors and windows make sure the wall remains straight and plumb.
Stacking an icf wall
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- Plan and communicate with your team to ensure your project moves quickly and efficiently.
planning construction project
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- Window and door bucks can be built in advance and set in place. Then reinforce, strap and brace appropriately.
Placing ICF window buck
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- Have fun, be safe and remember the life you change today, may just be your own.
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- Before pouring, ensure that any small gaps or openings are sealed with low-expansion spray foam.
Sealing an ICF wall for a concrete pour
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- Ensure cuts are straight and level before placing bucking or penetrations in the wall. Strap and brace any blocks with cut webs and common seams.
Inspecting ICF wall straightness
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- Inspect the wall cavity to make sure no debris has fallen in and that reinforcing is installed as specified.
Inspecting ICF wall bracing.
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- Simply continue stacking the rest of the wall around door and window bucking. Strap and brace to secure it in place.
Stacking ICF blocks around window and door openings.
