ICF For The Future

Insulated Concrete Forms aren’t just attention-grabbing buzz words in the construction industry. They’re the real deal when it comes to building structures that are sustainable, affordable, and energy efficient. Let’s dig into the hows and whys of ICF blocks paving the way for construction projects of the future.

A quick recap: what is ICF?

For practicality’s sake, Insulated Concrete Forms are just styrofoam lego blocks stacked up to form a mold for a wall. Then, concrete is poured into the styrofoam molds to create a near-indestructible end result.

Once poured and cured, the styrofoam forms stay right in place as part of the structure itself. These walls have a super high insulation value of R-22, which beats the insulation properties of even the thickest traditionally lumber-framed walls weighing in anywhere from R-13 to R-21.

Definition of “R”: this is just a specific measurement for a material’s insulation properties; it calculates the value for how much heat can get through a barrier, like a wall!

On top of that, concrete as a building material is fire resistant thanks to its chemically dormant ingredients, and can withstand over 200 mph winds. They’re not going anywhere, anytime soon.

ICFs Are Already Right Here At Home

Since the Camp Fire, we’ve partnered with Butte’s Habitat For Humanity to rebuild new homes - ICF style.

For the Paradise community, Mathews ReadyMix contributed concrete for the construction of 3 new homes over the last year. On August 6th, Habitat hosted an exciting ribbon-cutting event, and residents were able to move in soon thereafter.

“Not only are these houses more fire-resistant, but they are super energy-efficient,” says Habitat’s executive director Nicole Bateman.

This means durability, fire safety, and long-term savings for the residents who are able to live in these homes now.

ICF for future projects

If ICF strikes your fancy and you want to learn more, contact us today and we can brainstorm together. Whether you’re considering ICF for a future home rebuild or a new commercial project, we’ve got the experience and quality products to help.

At Mathews ReadyMix, we’re proud to source 85% of our own materials locally to streamline the supply chain and make the building process as headache-free as possible. Give us a call—let’s get building!