Featured Project: Stid Hill House

On February 13, 2020   /   BuildBlock Projects  
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ICFs in the Finger Lakes: Maximum Energy Savings, Minimum Maintenance, and Extra Protection Completed in May of 2019, this featured project is the Stid Hill House. Built by Victor Logan in the heart of the New York Finger Lakes region, and has been recognized at the 2020 ICF Builder Awards in the category of Small Residential. Designed by Logan’s wife and daughter, this house serves as a retirement home for his mother. The goal of this project was to build a house that can offer maximum energy savings with minimal maintenance and extra protection from the often-harsh environment. With energy

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How to Repair a Damaged ICF Wall Section

On June 14, 2019   /   FieldNotes, Training, Video  
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ICF repair

In this short video, DIY home-builder Chris shows you how he repaired a piece of ICF wall after it was damaged by wild animals. Video Transcription:  Here’s how to repair a rather fantastic hole that some wild dogs tore into the side of this building. Apparently, a small animal had gotten inside the wall and the dogs chewed this wall out to get to it. Now we’re lucky, you see, that the webs are in place. What I’ve done, we’ve cut another piece that matches it. I’ve chosen to take some that have webs in it so they embed in

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BuildBlock Installation Video Series: Site Review

On August 8, 2016   /   Video  
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Site Review

The BuildBlock ICF Site Review gives you a great start in preparing for your ICF project. In this episode of our Installation Video Series we’ll cover one of the most important first steps for your project; site review.  This video talks about the building site and things you need to consider before building your ICF home. Topics include solar gain, aesthetics, water runoff and drainage, elevation footings and more. Knowing how much solar gain you will have on your structure is important when planning where to put your home. The amount of heat from the sun on your structure will help

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BuildBlock Installation Video Series: ICF Construction Overview

On August 8, 2016   /   Video  
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Construction Overview

The BuildBlock ICF Construction Overview gives you a great start in preparing for your ICF project. Welcome to the BuildBlock Installation Video Series ICF Construction Overview. The videos in this series are intended to cover the entire ICF construction process with important topics, tips, and techniques. This video covers many of the important steps you need to be aware of before beginning your BuildBlock ICF project. These steps include site review, solar gain, drainage, aesthetics, elevation and prevailing winds. These videos will hopefully make your project easier. Stay tuned as we’ll be publishing more steps in the building process in the coming weeks. The

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Introduction to BuildBlock ICFs

On August 8, 2016   /   BuildBlock Products, Video  
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Product Overview

The BuildBlock ICFs Product Family is perfect for your project. Get to know the amazing products that BuildBlock ICFs has to offer in this comprehensive video. ICFs are simply an insulated form for concrete that stays in place after pouring. They provide superior insulation and stand up incredibly well to natural disasters. This video starts with a general overview of how BuildBlocks’ forms work and then takes a look at our versatile catalog of products. BuildBlock offers forms in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate any design. And with an array of accessories for bracing, waterproofing, flooring and more, BuildBlock is

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Common Misconceptions Regarding ICFs and Current Energy Codes

On July 21, 2016   /   BuildBlock News, White Papers & Research  
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There are common misconceptions regarding ICFs and the current energy codes. While many people involved in the home design, construction and inspection process are familiar with the R-value requirements of a cavity wall, most do not understand that different standards apply to ICFs. Wall Types Cavity walls are usually wood or steel framed with insulation between framing members for the outside walls. Most single family structures in the United States are built this way. Cavity walls may meet local and national building codes, but lack the performance and resilience when compared with ICF mass walls. The International Energy Conservation Code

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Energy Efficient BuildBlock Vineyard House Project

On June 27, 2016   /   BuildBlock News, BuildBlock Projects  
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The Energy Efficient BuildBlock Vineyard House in Paw Paw, Michigan has caught the attention of many around the country and has improved the opinion of ICFs in the state. This attention came from the low cost, the design, and the sheer beauty of this sustainable home. All of these features are not the usual factors that someone might think of when considering a home with this extraordinary level of sustainability. You can’t tell by looking at it but this house is made of ICFs, with 4kw of Photovoltaics, geothermal units, concrete flooring, and much more. The design of this home is one that the

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Footing to Wall Connections

On May 6, 2016   /   Asked & Answered, BuildBlock News, White Papers & Research  
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Footing to Wall Connections The connection between the footing and an ICF wall is very important. Too often, this connection is omitted from the discussion about reinforcing an ICF wall. There are a number of factors that have to be taken into account. These include the wind loads, exposure categories and seismic zones. The typical connections between the footing and the ICF wall are either a keyway or dowels. Keyways are made by setting a 2×4 into the top of the footing when it is being poured, and floating the concrete flush with the top of the board. When this is removed, it leaves

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Hilldale Elementary Builds 11-Classroom Safe Room

On April 29, 2016   /   BuildBlock Projects, Video  
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20160405-hilldale-school-saferoom-oklahoma-city-010

  Hilldale Elementary Builds 11-Classroom Safe Room addition, which will be able to protect all of its students, teachers and staff during severe weather or a tornado. These classrooms will be a warm, comfortable learning environment all year, sound proof and energy efficient. Should the need arise, they would also function as a safe room for the entire school. The project is located on NW 16th St. in Oklahoma City. Classes run from August through June, which includes Oklahoma’s worst storm season. After the devastating effects of previous tornadoes, you can see why it is important to have a proper safe

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BuildBlock IRC-IBC Code Compliance Research Report Updated

On March 3, 2016   /   BuildBlock News, Technical  
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BuildBlock's Compliance Codes

BuildBlock IRC-IBC code compliance research report updated from Intertek Research Report (IRR-1003) to the new Code Compliance Research Report CCRR-1003. After Intertek and ATI completed their corporate merger, the IRR and CCRR reports were also merged.  BuildBlock IRC-IBC Code Compliance Research Report updated to reflect compliance with new codes and standards. BuildBlock’s new code compliance research report number is CCRR-1003 and will now be displayed on all products labels. This new verification is one of the most trusted ETL marks in North America. The Code Compliance Research Report ensures that BuildBlock products comply with the 2015 International Residential Code and the International Building Code product standards. Currently BuildBlock has

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