BuildBlock Installation Video Series: ICF 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…
Common Misconceptions Regarding ICFs and Current Energy Codes
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…
Mannan Home achieves a HERS Rating of 39
The Mannan Home was built to be energy efficient with the use of BuildBlock ICFs.The Mannan Home was built using three rating systems: The local utility's REMC Touchstone Energy standard, The Energy Star Five Star + standard and the NAHB Gold Standard. The home achieved a HERS rating of 39 and was…
Energy Efficient BuildBlock Vineyard House Project
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…
ICF Points to LEED
ICF Points to LEEDSeveral green building standards have been created over the past several years to focus on reducing the environmental footprint that buildings have on local communities. Fortunately, Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) are a clear choice for building designers to maximize points in many of these ratings. A quick…
Table in the Wilderness Ministry Camp chose BuildBlock ICFs
The Table in the Wilderness Ministry above Centennial, Wyoming is nestled at the base of the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains in southeast Wyoming was built using BuildBlock ICFs. Table in the Wilderness Ministries (twmcamp.net) is a year-round camping, conference and retreat ministry center. The Table in the Wilderness…
White Paper: The ICF Effect
Continuous R-Value, reduced air infiltration and thermal mass all make up the ICF EffectNew energy codes, higher fuel prices, and colder winters have all contributed to an increased awareness of energy efficient construction. For consumers and builders, this means a stronger focus on increased “R-value” of the building envelope. Understanding the…
Slagell’s Building ICF Home in Hydro, Oklahoma
The Slagell's are Building their ICF home with BuildBlock ICFs in Hydro, Oklahoma. The Slagell's were drawn to the idea of ICFs because of the energy efficiency and long life construction ICFs provide. Doing all the work themselves, they had to choose very closely what materials to use. They chose to…
White Paper- R-value and Performance of BuildBlock and BuildLock Knockdown Insulating Concrete Forms
The R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry and is generally understood to indicate how efficient the insulation value of the material or product. R-value under uniform conditions it is the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator and the heat flux…
Upping the R-value in ICF Construction
BuildBlock ICFs have an R value over R-22 and a performance value between R-45 and R-55, but sometimes customers demand something greater. BuildBlock created ThermalSert and ThermalSert KD to service that need. The ThermalSert product is added to each course of block to the inside of the outside wall. This…