Vertical ICFs: New Opportunities for Seasoned Pro PATH Case Study

Click here to visit the PATH website. The Builder: Deborah Arrington Deb's Construction Inc. Manakin Sabot, Va. After starting out as a traditional stick-frame builder, Deborah Arrington and her husband Dale now build homes exclusively with vertical ICFs. Deb's Construction builds three homes a year, all in the greater Richmond area. Builder Type: Small production builder The Technology: Vertical Insulated Concrete Forms (Vertical ICFs) Vertical ICFs are stay-in-place concrete forms that serve as a functional part of the wall after the concrete is poured. While most ICFs come in blocks, vertical ICFs form the entire height of the wall. Vertical ICFs require less bracing because their monolithic wall sections are sturdier than traditional block ICF walls. Composed of two polystyrene panels held together by plastic or steel I-beams, each vertical ICF panel is two-and-a-half inches thick, forming a one-foot-wide wall. Like block ICFs, concrete is poured into the space between the polystyrene. When filled with concrete, they form dimensionally straight, energy-efficient walls. The Project: A 5,500-square-foot, one-story, single-family home in Manakin Sabot, Va., using vertical ICFs for the outer walls. Why she uses vertical ICFs: "Vertical ICFs are much easier to implement then traditional wood-framing methods. In addition to reducing construction timelines, they are also lighter and therefore much less physically taxing to work with. They're easier to build with, they save labor costs, and they result in lower utility bills." Arrington's story After 14 years in the construction industry, Deborah and Dale Arrington were sick of dealing with the challenges of traditional stick-frame building. Fed up with the labor it required and wood's tendency to twist and warp, they resolved to find a new material for constructing outer walls. "About five years ago, I set about researching other kinds of processes," says Arrington. "We looked at a variety of materials, such as straw bale, monolithic domes, steel framing and traditional ICFs. Three years ago, we discovered vertical ICFs." "The ICF concept was intriguing, but we had seen block ICFs used in other projects, and we weren't happy with the amount of bracing, gluing, and taping they required," says Arrington. "We chose vertical ICFs because we felt that they'd be easier to use. They require less bracing, no gluing and taping, and we wouldn't have to deal with the issues of blowouts." By using vertical ICFs, Arrington was able to reduce the construction schedule by two weeks compared with stick-built. "The walls are all there with insulation and studs," says Arrington. "You just need to brace them and pour the concrete. "Vertical ICFs are also much less labor-intensive than wood. Since they are much lighter, they aren't as physically taxing, so there is less wear and tear on your workforce. And because they are easy to use, you don't need to hire a lot of skilled labor. All they really require is one lead person who is familiar with the product to oversee the process and instruct the laborers."   1 | 2  NEXT