Question: Will it lead to future issues if the building work isn’t completed to a high enough standard?
Answer:
On any build, you want to make sure that the product fits its purpose and is the best choice for your project. The same goes for ensuring ICF building quality.
There are a number of reasons to make quality a primary concern. Firstly, it can deliver longevity for your building while also reducing potential repair and maintenance issues. It can also improve safety and create a more efficient building. A last, but sometimes overlooked area, is the reassurance it will provide to mortgage and insurance brokers.
As a modern method of construction, an insulated solid wall construction method like ICF can provide all the benefits found in these systems. This includes energy efficiency, speed of build and cost savings. It can also deliver on the other benefit of MMC with high-quality build levels. We look at why ICF should be the first choice for your next project.
Why Choose ICF?
As a building system that has been around since the Second World War, ICF is a tried and trusted method that has been proven to deliver projects to a high standard.
It is the simplicity of the system that makes controlling the quality so much easier. ICF only needs two main elements, formwork and concrete. Two layers of an insulating material create the ICF blocks which includes a hollow cavity in the centre. In the UK, this is either EPS or woodcrete.
To build the wall, the blocks stack and interlock tightly via a raised edge with no need for mortar. You then pour concrete into a central cavity. Once this has cured it creates an incredibly strong wall. It is the process that delivers such high levels of strength and quality.
The insulating material in the block also enables the concrete to set very quickly but cure slowly which allows the concrete to build additional strength. Tests have shown that a concrete block typically has a strength of seven newtons whereas an ICF building is around five times stronger at typically 35 newtons.
ICF Building Quality – Lifespan
This strength is a key component for delivering minimal maintenance and repair requirements and a long building lifespan.
As the concrete cures, it sits in direct contact with the blocks to create one homogeneous layer. During construction the insulating material of the ICF blocks enables the concrete to cure slowly which reduces the risk of any cracking. The blocks and strength of the concrete also greatly reduce any maintenance or repair requirements of the building.
Third-party certifications show that an ICF building will have a service life of not less than 60 years provided they are designed in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications. However, it is widely understood that the lifespan of ICF property easily extends to more than a hundred years.
ICF Building Quality – Mortgage
Quality in a building is not only about the materials but also the quality in construction. That is why our ICFA members will only supply their products to installers who are fully trained in their installation procedure. They also have the skills and knowledge to offer the right guidance and advice for your build.
To provide further reassurance, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has approved ICF as a standard form of construction if an ICFA member manufactures the product. Please be aware that the lending decision is always at the discretion of the mortgage lender advancing the funds.