Turning ICF negatives into positives
Like all good things, there must be a downside. If you’ve been doing your own research, you may have come across some of the ICF negatives.
Fortuntately, there aren’t too many ICF negatives. And since most of them can either be explained or solved with an easy fix, we believe the benefits outweigh any disadvantages.
We will build your house to fit your needs, so we want to make sure you choose the right type of construction for your home. Here are 5 ICF negatives and the truth about them.
Upfront costs
There are many different variables at play to provide an actual figure for how much more an ICF upgrade will cost, but insulated concrete is a superior type of construction so it’s going to cost more. However, it costs more because it’s the most energy-efficient way to build.
And how much you’ll save in energy costs depends on a few things, but the percentage of savings usually stays within a range of 40-60%. In some cases, building an ICF home will end up being less expensive and cash flow positive compared to CMU or even wood-frame homes.
Limited possibility for renovations
It can be hard to plan for the future. It makes sense homebuyers prefer to leave options open for renovations down the road. In this case, they might hesitate with the idea of ICF construction since it’s designed to stay in place despite any natural or human-made disaster. This may just be a case where you will need to decide which unexpected future you would rather plan for.
Cellular signals
Sometimes it takes an easy fix. If you’ve been researching ICF construction, you probably already heard it doesn’t exactly improve cell-phone reception. You simply need to install a cellular booster, and most homeowners would probably agree it’s worth it if it means you’ll have a disaster resistant, energy efficient home. Considering your house will stand for generations, it’s a small investment in the long run.
GreenBlock Development Group includes a cellular booster in our ICF homes and installs it for you. Contact us to learn about our ICF homes and more services we offer.
Thick walls
Because the design is so sturdy and energy efficient, ICF walls are much thicker than other types of construction. How much this matters is a personal preference, but the reality is that it does reduce a bit of the overall interior space. There are many décor and staging techniques that can be used to compensate for the increased wall thickness. On the plus side, ICF walls can create a very desirable window-well effect.
ICF home builders may be difficult to find in some areas
Not all residential builders work with ICF. And not everyone that does work with it has the expertise to install it properly to provide the maximum benefits.
GreenBlock specializes in ICF construction in Southwest Florida. We also ensure all of our disaster-resistant homes are air-tight and built with quality engineering. Contact us to get started on your ICF project today.
