Published July 2001

Alliance educates consumers, industry
on ICF’s benefits

By John Wolcott
Herald Business Journal Editor

Building homes or commercial buildings with insulated concrete form (ICF) technology offers an innovative construction option with one huge benefit that should make it almost irresistible in these times of rising energy costs and fresh earthquake memories.

The insulating properties of ICF buildings have been proven to reduce energy costs by 30 to 40 percent, according to the Northwest Quality Construction Alliance, a group formed by members of the Washington Aggregate & Concrete Association and the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association to tell the public about the benefits of ICF structures.

“Little by little, interest in ICF construction has taken off in the last five years, but it’s an education issue, and there hasn’t been a lot of publicity,” said Scott Christianson of Tilbury Cement in Seattle.

The alliance is hoping to change that, said Marla Hawkins, a consultant for the NWQCA, which offers information about the techniques and benefits of constructing concrete-and-foam homes or offices on its Web site, www.nwqca.com.

“There are so many benefits — energy savings for heating and cooling, healthy indoor air, durability even in earthquakes, less outside noise and more protection from winds,” she said, since the stability of the ICF blocks creates the strength to withstand windstorms and earthquakes better than conventional wood-framed homes.

Until the alliance was formed, there was no information hub for contractors, developers or home buyers to search for ICF news, she said, including explanations of how foam forms, something like giant Lego blocks, are filled with concrete to create a new style of building.

“The biggest misconception people have is that a concrete structure is a cold, gray bomb shelter — drab and dreary,” Christianson said. “We’re changing that view by showing people they can drive by an ICF home and never know it’s different than conventional construction — until they walk inside and find it feels warmer and you can’t hear outside traffic and noises.”

Another advantage for homeowners, he said, is that the 10-inch-thick insulating walls that come with ICF construction mean cats have deep windows for sun lounging and more plants can fit on window sills, things that appeal to many families as they set up housekeeping.

Real estate agents, too, are hearing about ICF homes and are educating themselves about the advantages, he said. Nationally, ICF homes account for only about 2 to 3 percent of new home construction, “so there is a huge market ahead,” he said.

In Snohomish County, where homes are already under construction with the new technology, Michael Antonoff, the ARXX product manager for Smokey Point Concrete, can provide more information about one of the industry’s leading products for ICF construction. He can be reached at 360-652-0600.

Related: Concrete-and-foam construction saves time, energy

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