
ICF Tornado Safe Rooms or Shelters for Homes and Small Businesses

Texas Ranch House
The designers and construction team were charged with creating a sustainable 7,500 sq. ft. modern estate atop a stunning hill overlooking ranches and vineyards in Murrieta, California.

What is the Optimal Foundation Wall Thickness?
A concrete foundation wall’s thickness plays an integral role in its long-term strength and durability. Local building codes mandate the foundation specifications, addressing conditions that affect the foundation thickness.

How to Build a Flood-Resistant House
In this article, we’ll explore flood proof home construction using innovative materials and techniques, with a focus on insulated concrete forms (ICFs).
ICFs and Severe Weather
The steel reinforced concrete, which can cure stronger than normal concrete because of the foam insulation, can withstand winds of over 200 MPH, and projectile debris traveling over 100 MPH. There are dozens of eye witness examples of ICF homes taking EF5 tornadoes head on with the walls still standing.
Fox Blocks ICF to Acquire Reward Wall Systems Assets
Fox Blocks ICF announced that it will acquire select key assets from Reward Wall Systems, Inc, integrating those assets into its own operations and augmenting the Fox Blocks Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) product line.

How Much Does It Cost to Pour a Foundation?
Building a strong and reliable foundation is a significant step in the construction of any home or building. The cost of this process varies depending on foundation type, material, and labor requirements.
Why is the concrete limited to a placement height or lifts of 4 feet (1.2 m)?
To alleviate the pressure from the liquid concrete, the concrete is placed in layers or ‘lifts’. The first lift is limited to 4′ (1.2 m) of concrete around the perimeter of the building. This allows approximately one hour for the concrete to set-up before continuing with the next 4′ (1.2 m) lift. The lower lift provides support for the next lift as the concrete is placed continuously around the building in consecutive lifts to the top of the wall.

Comparing Costs of Concrete Block vs Wood Frame Construction and a Better Alternative to Both