Misconceptions about ICFs often arise from unfamiliarity with the construction method, design integration, and on-site installation.  Today design professionals and builders must respond to increasing owner demand for more environmentally conscious products and practices. ICF construction offers a smaller environmental footprint than traditional CMU buildings while ensuring safety and durability.

 

ICF structures retain the design flexibility of other building methods, allowing for unique and aesthetically pleasing designs without compromising performance. The possibilities are limitless, as ICF construction adapts to various building formats and architectural styles.

By adopting this perspective, the construction industry can easily recognize the numerous advantages of ICFs.

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BUILD A BETTER CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS

Boost customer satisfaction and ratings with a safe, reliable, and sustainable home that will keep building owners and homeowners happy and comfortable for years to come. Flat packed (our flat wall ICF) and easy to ship, move, and install, ICFs also allows you to save costs during the construction process.

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​Benefits of ICFs over Cinder Blocks

Contractors and builders should know the differences between ICF wall systems and their benefits compared to CMUs or cinder blocks.

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While many construction professionals familiar with CMUs may hesitate to consider ICFs due to fear that it complicates the process or increases costs, once they try ICFs, they quickly realize its ease and affordability and opt to use it again for future projects.

Here are the five main advantages of building with ICFs over cinder blocks:

  1. Increased strength
  2. Improved energy efficiency
  3. Decreased costs and maintenance
  4. Efficient installation
  5. Greater design flexibility

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1. Strength of ICFs over Cinder Blocks

ICF construction involves stacking interlocking hollow EPS foam blocks to create a continuous insulated wall from foundation to roof. These forms are reinforced and braced before being filled with concrete, resulting in a solid, monolithic wall structure that surpasses the strength and durability of CMU construction.
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In contrast, CMU construction relies on stacking individual concrete blocks and securing them with mortar. While filling the cells with concrete and adding rebar can enhance strength, it does not create a continuous concrete system like ICF walls. This lack of continuity compromises the overall structural integrity of CMU buildings.

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Wind-resistant ICFs 

Buildings constructed with insulated concrete forms can withstand winds over 200 mph due to the continuous load path. This ensures that when uplift and lateral forces hit a building, the load will travel from the roof, wall and other components toward the foundation and into the ground. ICF buildings are frequently sought after in Mexico's hurricane-prone regions due to their wind-resistance.

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2. Energy Efficiency of ICFs over Cinder Blocks

ICF structures' energy efficiency is derived from their built-in continuous insulation on both sides and the thermal mass of the ICF system, creating an airtight building envelope. This energy conservation translates to lower operational costs due to reduced heating and cooling bills.

The R-value of ICFs varies based on the insulation type and foam thickness, but most systems exceed R-20. ICF MEXICO offers wall solutions that achieve R-values as high as R-27+ and roof solutions that achieve R-values as high as R-54.

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Cinder blocks in Mexico have an innate R-value anywhere from R-2 to R-4 so additional insulation is needed. Insulating CMU walls involves another step after stacking the cinder blocks.

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3. Cost and Maintenance of ICF and Cinder Block Construction

Factoring in labor, time, and upfront material prices, the cost of constructing an ICF building is comparable to that of a CMU structure.  With labor shortages and escalating costs, ICF builds save money during construction because they require fewer workers than CMU projects. CMU walls take more workers to construct compared to ICF walls. Our ICF construction guide shows how to properly brace and reinforce the forms and place the concrete inside.

In addition, ICF's wall assembly combines multiple construction steps into one, including insulation, structure, air barrier, vapor retarder, etc. The all-in-one system significantly fastens project delivery by reducing the coordination of trades which saves time and money for all parties involved.

To achieve the same durability, energy-efficiency and resiliency of an ICF structure with cinder blocks would require builders to install new components and tack on additional steps to CMU construction. These added processes can increase the build time, overall expenditures, and opportunities for application errors.

In the end, ICFs require less labor and time which leads to significant cost savings.

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Minimal Maintenance of ICF Homes and Buildings

 

With their ability to withstand major storms and daily wear and tear, ICF homes and buildings require minimal to no long-term maintenance, saving money and time for the owner.

CMU walls require extensive maintenance because environmental factors can degrade CMUs and allow for water infiltration. Therefore, maintaining the long-term integrity of cinder block houses requires regular inspections and repairs for damaged areas of the walls. In addition, you must inspect the control joints for damage, debris, and intact sealants. Furthermore, the walls need regular cleaning to remove mold and dirt.

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4. Ease of ICF Installation vs Cinder Blocks

Light-weight ICFs can be moved easily and walls go up quickly. The ICF blocks stack on top of each other, lock into place, and are braced for the concrete pour. From there, skilled workers pour concrete down into the middle of the blocks. The quick installation creates a durable, energy-efficient, disaster-resistant wall that enhances the comfort and health of the occupants. The ease of installing ICFs often prompts first-time ICF builders to use them on later projects.

Unfortunately, a concrete masonry wall takes twice as long to build. Cinder blocks are heavy so moving them around the jobsite is laborious. For CMU construction, you must bring in additional trades to insulate and protect the walls. Framers are used for furring out the walls and an another trade then installs the insulation. These processes add several days to the project timeline. A CMU building often requires the installation of an air and moisture barrier, adding another trade and more time before creating an air- and water-tight building envelope.

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5. Design Advantages of ICF Construction vs CMU

The strength and flexibility of ICF construction provide endless design options, accommodating virtually any home or building, size and style. You can easily cut and shape ICF into customized designs, like curved walls, custom angles, large openings, long ceiling spans and cathedral ceilings. However, builders find it difficult to accommodate solid CMU pieces to radius designs.

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Why You Should Choose ICF Over CMU Construction?

 

Factoring in all the savings you get from building faster with ICF, you can build with ICF for just about same cost as cinder blocks. However, ICF construction outperforms CMU construction with greater durability, energy-efficiency, reduced maintenance, simplified installation, and superior design versatility. Because of these long-term sustainability and cost benefits, ICFs are increasing in popularity in Mexico. 

 

ICF MEXICO offers online educational resources for guidance whenever your building team needs it. And working through your ICF sales consultant as a liaison, you can access our technical experts for personalized support and even job site visits through the different construction phases to confirm proper ICF installation.

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