Is installing ICFs a DIY project?
Fox Blocks rec­om­mends that all installers using Fox Blocks ICFs com­plete a Fox Blocks train­ing pro­gram to ensure they have a bet­ter under­stand­ing of the basics. How­ev­er, for first time installers, it is pre­ferred that a Fox Blocks trained, expe­ri­enced installer inspect the instal­la­tion pri­or to place­ment of con­crete and assist in the place­ment of the con­crete, as they are famil­iar with work­ing with con­crete and can ensure the build is struc­tural­ly sound and safe and the walls are con­sol­i­dat­ed prop­er­ly, built straight and plumb.
Is a vapor barrier required on the inside face of an ICF wall?
No. The char­ac­ter­is­tics of an ICF wall with the mass con­crete and the EPS insu­la­tion pro­vide the required vapor per­me­ance to meet build­ing code require­ments as a vapor bar­ri­er.
1
Effective Strategies to Insulate Block Walls
Improv­ing the insu­la­tion of block walls sig­nif­i­cant­ly enhances ener­gy effi­cien­cy, com­fort, and dura­bil­i­ty in both res­i­den­tial and com­mer­cial spaces. Block walls, often made of con­crete mason­ry units (CMUs), are stur­dy but noto­ri­ous­ly poor at retain­ing heat with­out prop­er insu­la­tion.
How does the ICF block get secured to the foundation?
The ICF blocks are held in place with either low expan­sion spray foam or a met­al starter track. The bracing/​alignment sys­tem, typ­i­cal­ly installed after the 4th course of block, also sup­ports the ICFs in place. Once the con­crete is in the wall there is no con­cern with the forms mov­ing. The con­crete is con­nect­ed to the foot­ing with rein­forc­ing dow­els.
Image1
Top 22 ICF Commercial Construction FAQs
Com­mer­cial ICF con­struc­tion has strict stan­dards, codes, bud­gets and time­lines to fol­low, and mak­ing sure you imple­ment ICFs accu­rate­ly and effi­cient­ly is impor­tant. We com­piled a list of the top ICF FAQs we get to help you feel con­fi­dent in your deci­sion to choose Insu­lat­ed Con­crete Forms for your next project.
1
ICF Storm Shelters: Superior Protection Against Severe Weather
As extreme weath­er events increase in fre­quen­cy and inten­si­ty, the demand for reli­able storm pro­tec­tion has nev­er been more urgent. Insu­lat­ed Con­crete Forms (ICFs) offer an advanced solu­tion for con­struct­ing storm rooms that deliv­er unpar­al­leled safe­ty, dura­bil­i­ty, and ener­gy effi­cien­cy.
IMG 5771
DR. MAREK RESIDENCE
The home­own­ers dreamed of a Euro­pean style estate that felt like home in Franklin, Ten­nessee. They knew they want­ed to build a con­crete home and when they dis­cov­ered Fox Blocks ICFs they had the per­fect build­ing mate­r­i­al to accom­plish their aes­thet­ic and sus­tain­abil­i­ty goals.
A photo of a house with a strong foundation
What is the Strongest Foundation for a House?
The foun­da­tion is fun­da­men­tal to the longevi­ty, strength, and struc­tur­al sound­ness of a house. Home­own­ers and pro­fes­sion­als often ask, Which foun­da­tion is the most effec­tive for a house?” Find out here!
Foundation Types
Foundation Types: 8 Different Types of Home Foundations
Everything You Need to Know About ICF Construction in Michigan
ICF Construction in Michigan - Everything You Need to Know