Insulated concrete forms. Thought it was hype, now I'm not so sure

Did a walkthrough last month on a house built with ICFs outside Denver. Double the cost per square foot for the walls. I figured it was just a way for the builder to jack up the price. Then I saw the energy audit. 70% less air leakage than the stick frame next door. And the sound inside was dead quiet. Has anyone else switched to ICF after being a doubter, or did it bite you somewhere down the line?

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caleb_ross1210d ago

My buddy's a GC up in Montana and he did his own house with ICFs about 4 years back. He kept saying the thermal mass thing made a huge difference with the temp swings up there, plus he had a tornado scare one summer and didn't flinch. I read somewhere that the concrete cores also handle moisture way better than wood if you ever get a leak, no rot or mold behind the walls. Cost is brutal upfront but seems like the payoff shows up in the utility bills and peace of mind later.