ICF foundations offer a warmer, drier, more comfortable living experience for basement tenants. If you plan on having a finished basement or basement suite, an ICF foundation will make a world of difference! An ICF foundation is your best bet if you don’t want to spend money constantly re-adjusting the temperature. Traditional foundations are not very consistent with their insulation and often have gaps where heat is lost, making it harder to regulate the temperature. ICF foundations can actually save you money on your energy bills! According to our supplier, the general consensus is that ICF homes require 32% less energy to cool and 44% less energy to heat than traditional homes.īecause ICF foundations are so meticulously constructed, there is not a lot of air that escapes. This is an extra step that many builders do not take because it is more expensive, but we feel is important in Alberta’s cold climate. Keeping dirt away from the foundation protects it from mould, decay, and any leaking. We then cover the exterior with a membrane that wicks away moisture and ensures that dirt never touches the foundation. Traditional foundations are usually only covered with a thin layer of polyethylene (plastic sheeting). The Lincolnberg Advantage:Īt Lincolnberg, we cover the inside of our ICF foundations with drywall for an added layer of protection. This prevents frost from forming on the inside of the concrete wall and saves you from water damage when seasons change and this frost starts to melt. The extra insulation prevents cold from moving through the concrete as quickly as a traditional poured concrete foundation. ICF foundations completely surround your concrete with insulation. Because the forms themselves are made of a permanent insulation, you are not at risk of your insulation falling out, being forgotten, or only being partially put in place. When it comes to durability, ICF has you covered. It doesn’t change the strength of the concrete, but makes the foundation stronger as it is able to withstand multiple kinds of force. Rebar adds tension-resisting forces to the concrete, reinforcing the overall strength of the structure.Ĭoncrete holds up incredibly well against compressive force, but is relatively weak regarding tensile force, which is where extra rebar comes in handy. ICF foundations use more rebar than traditional forming, making them far stronger. ICF foundations offer more controlled, consistent insulation from cold and moisture, are stronger and more durable over time, and are more energy efficient than poured foundations. There are many advantages to ICF foundations, especially in colder climates. While traditional concrete foundations are poured using plywood forms that are then removed, the polystyrene forms stick to the concrete, causing a built-in, permanent insulated layer. ICF foundations are unique in that the forms themselves become part of the foundation. Once the forms are all put in place, concrete is poured in the middle. These hollow polystyrene walls are used to build the outside form of the foundation, and reinforcing rebar is placed inside within the form for added strength. Insulated concrete form (ICF) is a way to lay a building’s foundation using interlocking foam bricks. Let’s dive in… What is an ICF Foundation? What exactly is an ICF foundation? What are the pros and cons of building with an ICF foundation compared to a traditional poured concrete foundation? While many builders continue to build with traditional poured concrete foundations, there are also home builders that instead opt for a more robust option an ICF foundation. When considering a new home, your foundation is an important thing to consider.
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