Concrete House

The Concrete House: Building Solid, Safe & Efficient with Insulating Concrete Forms

Prospective homeowners will welcome this introduction to a durable, energy-efficient new building technology: insulating concrete forms (ICFs). Written by a top expert in the field, and organized in an accessible question-and-answer form, it will help homebuyers decide whether an ICF is right for them and how to get the most for their money.

Every aspect of planning and construction is covered, from exactly what an ICF is to the intricacies of building a concrete house, from choosing a contractor to selecting a suitable design for the system.

There’s crucial advice on how to make sure construction goes smoothly, diagrams and photos to illustrate every point, beautiful ICF homes on display, and explanations of how these homes differ from conventional ones and why they cost less to maintain.

In North America, reinforced concrete construction is considered too expensive for individual houses. This may be changing as wood-frame homes reveal their vulnerability to extreme seismic and weather events. Insulating concrete forms (ICF) are a recent building innovation.

Cheaper than wooden forms, they remain around the concrete after it is poured; their walls can be covered with siding or stucco.

The author, an expert on ICF, makes a case for building new homes with insulated concrete floors and perimeter walls, arguing that ICF homes are strong, rot-proof, termite-proof, and fire-resistant; they offer superior temperature and sound insulation and may qualify for government grants, tax credits, or lower insurance rates to boot.

The text, though clear, is presented in a Q&A format that becomes tiresome after a few chapters. The color illustrations, luckily, are helpful. Recommended for public libraries in regions subject to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, or tornados.—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., B.C.