ICF Home
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This Clark County home is a beautiful example of what a concrete home can look like.
Construction of this home consumed 400 yards of concrete. Concrete was used from the foundation to the roof. The home uses 5-foot-wide footings with vertical rebar to tie into its heavy concrete walls. Insulated concrete foam blocks, stacked and filled with concrete, were used on the exterior walls and some load-bearing interior walls. In total, the walls used about 160 cubic yards of concrete and cut lumber consumption by 80 percent. The home was topped by concrete roof tiles. Finishing touches outside the home included colored and stamped concrete in the driveway, walkways and patios. NOTE: This home was winner in our 1998 residential concrete category of the WACA Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards.
Thinking Of A New Home? Think Concrete!
- Concrete Homes Are Very Soundproof
- Concrete Homes Resist MoistureConcrete Homes Are Air Tight
- Concrete Homes Can Be 96 To 98% Dust & Allergen Free
- Concrete Homes Have High Fire Resistance
- Concrete Homes Are Affected Less By High Winds
- Concrete Homes Are Energy Efficient
- Concrete Homes Are Cost Effective
- Concrete Homes Give You Added Assurance
- Concrete Homes Can Have Lower Insurance Premiums
- Concrete Homes Can Look Like Any Other Home
- Concrete Homes Cost Less Than You'd Think To Build
- Concrete Homes Make Cent$
A SOLID INVESTMENT:
Energy Efficiency, Durability & Resale Value Add Up To Big Savings !
SAVINGS THAT KEEP ADDING UP YEAR AFTER YEAR
Buying a home is probably the single largest investment you'll ever make. Invest wisely. A beautiful, concrete home, will pay you back in terms of operating cost, resale value and quality of living. Over the long run, benefits like energy efficiency, disaster and fire resistance and durability, reduce the cost of owning a home. Reduced noise and more even temperatures mean quiet comfort that you can enjoy year round.
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LOWER UTILITY BILLS
Concrete homes save energy in two ways. The mass of concrete slows down the passage of heat or cold moving through the wall. With the same insulation, a concrete home stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Also, concrete walls are more air-tight than wood frame walls. Since leaks account for a large percentage of energy loss in the home, concrete homes enjoy savings in energy consumption. That adds up to lower utility bills. A survey, conducted by Dr. Peter Vanderwerf at Boston University, found that using insulating concrete forms (ICF's) reduces energy used for heating by about 44% and for cooling by about 32%.
REDUCED INSURANCE PREMIUMS
Concrete homes resist fire. They're stronger than wood frame homes and safer during tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes. Insurance for concrete homes is often 15% to 25% lower. One insurance agent, in St. Louis, Missouri offers discounts on homeowners insurance policies of up to 25% for ICF homes. No one, however, can put a price on the peace of mind that comes with owning a concrete home.
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QUIET COMFORT
Concrete homes make the world go away - a haven from traffic and neighbors leaf blower. the mass of a concrete wall makes it an effective sound barrier to sound. Although some sound will penetrate the windows, a concrete home is often two-thirds quieter than a wood-frame home.
THE QUALITY PAYBACK
Concrete homes cost a little more than wood frame homes. but lower energy bills and insurance premiums can offset the slightly higher mortgage payment. The real payback is in the quality ... the intangible benefits of a quieter and more comfortable home.
| A DOLLAR A MONTH FOR SAFETY, QUIET AND COMFORT | |||
| A home buyer pays 4% more for an energy efficient concrete home. He secures a mortgage payment with a 7.5% interest rate and makes a 20% down payment on the home. He would pay $44 more on principal and interest and $12 more on property taxes but saves $12 per month on home owners insurance and $43 a month on energy bills. The total monthly cost for the concrete home is only $1 more than the standard home - a small price to pay for the added security, quiet and comfort. | |||
| Standard Home | Concrete Home | Comments | |
| Purchase Price | $200,000.00 | $208,000.00 | 4% more |
| Principal & Interest | $1,119 | $1,163 | 7.5% int. |
| Taxes | $300 | $312 | .15% tax rate |
| Insurance | $60 | $48 | 20% savings |
| Energy | $145 | $102 | 30% savings |
| Housing Costs | $1,624 | $1,625 | ONLY $1 MORE |
BUILT TO LAST:
Beauty That Withstands The Tests Of Nature
WORRY-FREE LIVING
Fire can endanger the lives of everyone in the family and destroy those things that cannot be replaced. Insurance companies recognize concrete as being safer than any other form of construction when fire threatens a home. Living in a concrete home can bring peace of mind to homeowners concerned about fire.
SAFE AND SOUND
When disaster threatens in the form of hurricanes, tornadoes or wild fires, your family will be safer in a home constructed with concrete walls. it's no accident that concrete is the material of choice for modern day fortresses and disaster shelters. This strong, durable material stands up to the fury of nature... including the more subtle threats of rot, rust and termites. Today's strongest residential wall systems are made of concrete.
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COMFORT OF HOME
Besides being stronger and more durable, the mass of a concrete wall provides an added benefit - a reduction in noise entering the home. So be sure to select a sound proof concrete home when you're looking for a little peace and quiet.
LOW MAINTENANCE:
Solid Materials & Innovative Building Techniques Lead To Low Maintenance Homes
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STANDING UP TO THE ELEMENTS
Part of maintaining a home over the course of a lifetime involves repair of damage from such elements of nature as rain and wind. A concrete wall is more resistant to the wind and rain of hurricanes, tornadoes and other major windstorms. When hurricane Andrew roared through South Florida, concrete homes protected families far better than their wood frame counterparts. Homes built with concrete walls can also be designed to withstand the destructive forces of earthquakes.
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FIRE PREVENTION
Concrete homes are more resistant to fire than a wood-frame home. This gives your family a better chance of avoiding injury due to fire. Even if a concrete home does catch on fire, the damage does not seriously affect the structure of the walls, making repair a simpler task.
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TODAY'S CONCRETE HOME
The concrete home building systems available today have evolved to the point where you can design your home to require a minimum of maintenance while providing a maximum of protection ... and it will still look new for years after it is built.
Okay, This Sounds Great! Now, What Is My Next Step?
Contact Our Office Via E-Mail Or By Phoning Us at (206) 878-1622 And We Will Gladly Lead You To A Contractor In The NW That Can Help You. We Will Also Gladly Answer Any Further Questions You May Have.
You can learn more about Concrete Homes at ConcreteHomes.com