This year’s El Niño phenomenon has caused widespread drought which places many areas at risk of wild fires. Every year, fires claim more Canadian and American lives than all other natural phenomenon combined. If you are planning a new build or a renovation, building to meet the changing climate will ensure the safety of your home and family.
The weather is getting increasingly unpredictable with tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes wreaking havoc on lives and property. It’s no surprise that homeowners are opting for structures they know can resist adverse weather phenomenon to keep their families and investments safe. ICFs are being touted as the best defense against inclement weather, here’s why.
Spring is a time for new projects and many homeowners take advantage of the warmer weather to tackle renovations. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or are relying on a contractor, you want to know that you are getting the most out of every home-improvement dollar.
If you are building a home or business this year, you can mitigate much of the danger and damage that floods and high wind events cause by building stronger, better structures. Advances in building technology have made available (and affordable) a number of options for potential home owners that can help to protect your family.
As housing picks up in North America, a shortage of lumber and building supplies is driving prices up. As the gap between the cost of traditional building materials and insulated concrete forms drops, more and more discerning homeowners are making the switch to ICFs. It’s easy to see why; ICFs offer an abundance of advantages over stick-frame homes and help homeowners to save on insurance costs and utility bills.
The economic downturn and housing slump has been hard on the construction industry and many professionals have left to seek employment in other sectors. With construction picking up in the first quarter of this year, labor shortages are becoming a growing concern. A National Association of Home Builders survey showed that there is an increased shortage of professionals in the industry. 23% of companies reported roofer shortages, 38% reported carpenter shortages with similar reports for electricians, framers, plumbers and bricklayers. Innovative builders are turning to advanced building methods to overcome these labor shortages.
The housing recession has led to the loss of many qualified building employees and the closure of many manufacturing facilities. Now that the market is rebounding, those who survived the recession are experiencing labor shortages and increasing building material costs. Rising concerns about these issues are starting to affect the market as builder confidence experienced a two-point drop in April.
The building envelope is the shell that keeps the interior of your building at a comfortable temperature. An efficient building envelope will drastically reduce your energy consumption (by as much as 50% in some cases) which helps you to save money and reduces the carbon footprint of your home or business. Whether you are planning to retrofit an existing building, or are embarking on a new build, establishing an effective building envelope is the key to green building success and energy savings.
The benefits of using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) are legion and ICF buildings are gaining purchase in the niche box retail store construction market. Traditionally constructing their stores using tilt-up walls, the box retail market is increasingly adopting ICFs as their building material of choice thanks to its durability, noise reducing properties and energy-saving attributes. More and more large American chains like Walgreens, Ace Hardware, and Aaron’s Rentals are discovering that building with ICFs gives them a better, stronger building in less time.
The most common question that every builder must answer when building an affordable energy efficient home is what should they build the walls out of: Insulated Concrete Forms or a traditional wood-frame? With all the debate and vast amount of information regarding the merits of both these building technologies available it ins’t uncommon for both the builders and consumers to be lead into confusion and uncertainly on the matter. So read on to learn the real benefits of using ICFs over wood-frame homes, including reductions in your energy bills and a positive impact on the environment.
