Diamante Luxury Homes to use ICF or Insulating Concrete Form. Insulating Concrete Form is a system of formwork for concrete that stays in place as permanent building insulation for energy-efficient, cast-in-place, reinforced concrete walls, floors, and roofs.
The forms are interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked (without mortar) and filled with concrete. The forms lock together somewhat like Lego bricks and serve to create a form for the structural walls or floors of a building.
Concrete is pumped into the cavity to form the structural element of the walls. Usually reinforcing steel (rebar) is added before concrete placement to give the concrete flexural strength, similar to bridges and high-rise buildings made of concrete. Like other concrete formwork, the forms are filled with concrete in 1-foot to 12-foot “lifts” to manage the concrete pressure and reduce the risk of blowouts.
Some of the benefits are:
ICF structures are much more comfortable, quiet, and energy-efficient than those built with traditional construction methods.
High sound absorption, which helps produce peace and quiet compared with framed walls.
Minimal, if any, air leaks, which improves comfort and reduces heat loss compared to walls without a solid air barrier.
Insulating Concrete Forms create a structural concrete wall (either monolithic or post and beam) that is up to 10 times stronger than wood framed structures.
Diamante Luxury Homes uses a variety of different ICF products and vendors. Give us a call at 210-341-6430 to see if this is the best route for you.
