| The majority of homes today are built using wood | | | | - Fire-resistance - This product is highly rated for |
| frames, the traditional building material and the | | | | fire-resistance and has been proven in some products |
| material of choice for many. However building a wood | | | | to have a four hour resistance rating! |
| framed house requires a very carefully designed plan | | | | - Strength - These walls are exceptionally strong and |
| and a construction crew with much experience and | | | | can be built to hurricane/seismic standards. |
| skill. | | | | - Mildew/Rot - These walls will not support the |
| Building a home with a wood frame will generally | | | | growth of mildew and mold. |
| result in a reliable and secure structure, however it is | | | | This alternative building material is an excellent home |
| also susceptible to premature failure when small | | | | structural choice for those living in areas where their |
| details are left unchecked or is made with a poor | | | | homes are exposed to severe weather such as |
| quality wood product. Wood frames also have the | | | | hurricanes and tornadoes. |
| ability to rot and attract infestation and construction | | | | These blocks are made using concrete which does |
| costs associated with building such frames are also a | | | | raise some environmental concerns. Concrete |
| detriment. | | | | depends on cement and the production of cement is |
| Today the home owner has the opportunity to | | | | an enormous environmental hazard! However there is |
| choose from alternative green building materials and | | | | now in existence cement substitutes which are being |
| make a difference. | | | | implemented into green build design. |
| Insulated Concrete Forms: These preformed blocks | | | | If you are interested in building a home using these |
| are made with expanded polystyrene (EPS) and | | | | blocks insist that your builder uses a concrete with a |
| metal rebar which can be stacked to build your | | | | high concentration of fly-ash. |
| frame. They are then filled with concrete to create | | | | Structural Insulated Panels |
| an insulated and exceptionally strong wall! | | | | SIP's are high performance building panels that are |
| The Benefits of Building a Home with Insulated | | | | used to form and build walls, floors and roofs both |
| Concrete Forms | | | | for commercial and residential purposes. |
| - Ease of Use - These building blocks are very easy | | | | They are made by sandwiching foam insulation |
| to use. They require much less crew and take | | | | between Oriented Strand Board (OSB). OSB is an |
| significantly less time to build than a traditional home | | | | engineered wood product that is formed with wax |
| - Energy Efficiency - The insulation properties of | | | | and resins and compressed. |
| polystyrene and the high thermal mass of the | | | | This building material has all the same benefits of |
| concrete help to reduce the internal temperature | | | | ICF's however they do not compete with insulated |
| fluctuations to create a more efficient and | | | | concrete forms for fire resistance although they do |
| comfortable indoor environment. | | | | meet fire testing standards. |
| - Noise Reduction - Insulated Concrete form walls | | | | So if you are ready to take on the challenge of |
| make an enormous difference in the reduction of | | | | building your own home, try building green and |
| noise transmission. | | | | consider your house framing options! |