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| TRADITIONAL WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION Traditionally built homes are often described as “stick built” homes. These homes are usually built on an empty lot from pieces of lumber or that are cut and nailed together into walls and roof trusses. They are then linked together and sheathed with plywood on the exterior and drywall on the interior. The exterior of the homes is usually finished with shingles, clapboard, vinyl siding or something similar. “Even thought” is how most homes are built, but there are many disadvantages to this type of home. Measuring, cutting, fitting and nailing each part of the house together can be very time consuming, and any mistakes made during this process can waste material and drive up costs. Weather can also be a factor in damaging the materials. Once completed this type of home is also more expensive to maintain. Stick built homes aren't very energy efficient and lead to higher utility bills. Over time stick built homes also can have termite, water & mold damage. INSULATED CONCRETE FORM (ICF) CONSTRUCTION Let the Savings Begin ICF’s have been widely used in the northern and southern parts of the country for over 25 years. Recently, ICF construction has stepped into the Midwestern market. One motivating factor driving the ICF market is the rising cost of energy. An ICF home provides 60-80% return on energy costs and permits downsizing of HVAC equipment. Another reason for the momentum in the ICF market is they are now at a competitive price point with conventional building. All told, the advantages of an ICF home are immense. Energy cost savings coupled with noise reduction, limits growth of mold and 200 mph wind resistance will give you a top-quality home. Beauty that Withstands the Tests of Nature Buying a home can be the single largest investment of your life. If that home is constructed with Crane Builders Insulated Concrete walls, your investment is naturally protected from the structural damage that can be caused by the effects of nature. As the owner of an ICF home, you'll benefit from lower annual maintenance and energy costs while living in a home that provides a secure haven for your family. Worry-free Living Fire can endanger the lives of everyone in the family and destroy those things that cannot be replaced. Many insurance companies recognize concrete as being safer than any other form of construction when fire threatens a home. Living in a Crane Builders ICF home can bring peace of mind to homeowners concerned about fire. Security That's A Solid Investment When disaster threatens in the form of storms, floods or 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. The Peace & Quiet of an ICF Built Home Finding the just the right location for your dream home is becoming harder and harder to do. With land for homebuilding becoming more scarce we're forced to build our homes closer together and near noise sources like highways, railways, and airports. An ICF built home is often two-thirds quieter than a wood-frame home. The greater mass of concrete walls added to the insulating qualities of foam can reduce sound penetrating through a wall by over 80% when compared to wood-frame construction. What Makes Concrete a Sustainable Building Material? Concrete is a friend of the environment in all stages of its life span, from raw material production to demolition, making it a natural choice for sustainable home construction. Here are some of the reasons why, according to the Portland Cement Association and the Environmental Council of Concrete Organizations: Resource Efficiency The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth. Concrete can also be made with fly ash, slag cement, and silica fume, all waste by products from power plants, steel mills, and other manufacturing facilities. Durability Concrete builds durable, long-lasting structures that will not rust, rot, or burn. Life spans for concrete building products can be double or triple those of other common building materials. Thermal Mass Homes built with concrete walls, foundations, and floors are highly energy efficient because they take advantage of concretes inherent thermal massor ability to absorb and retain heat. This means homeowners can significantly cut their heating and cooling bills and install smaller-capacity HVAC equipment. Reflectivity Concrete minimizes the effects that produce urban heat islands. Light-colored concrete pavements and roofs absorb less heat and reflect more solar radiation than dark-colored materials, such as asphalt, reducing air conditioning demands in the summer. Minimal Waste Concrete can be produced in the quantities needed for each project, reducing waste. After a concrete structure has served its original purpose, the concrete can be crushed and recycled into aggregate for use in new concrete pavements or as backfill or road base. See our ICF FAQs page for some commonly asked questions about ICF construction. |