What are Insulated Concrete Forms?

Insulated concrete forms are essentially molds for concrete walls, used in order to provide extra insulation to the walls they compose. Once the frames are installed, concrete is poured inside to finish the wall. Insulated concrete forms greatly increase the energy efficiency of the buildings they enclose due to the superior insulation. The final product is a thick concrete wall that is surrounded by insulation on both sides. Walls made using insulated concrete forms are very strong and look almost exactly like traditional concrete walls. The only exception is that these walls are a bit thicker to accommodate the insulation layers, resulting in deep windowsills that many homeowners will appreciate. Insulated concrete forms can be used in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. 

What Are the Benefits of Using Insulated Concrete Forms?

Insulate concrete forms are beneficial for all building types. Let’s discuss what makes them so great.

• Energy Savings: It is estimated that insulated concrete forms can save up to 20% of a home’s typical energy use. The insulation incorporated into the concrete walls limits the amount of heating and cooling that needs to be done by the furnace and AC unit. This wall type is also more airtight than all other forms which contributes to its efficiency; heat transfer via air leakage is not a significant problem. The sheer mass of these walls also contributes to its energy efficiency; thick concrete walls surrounded by insulation make it nearly impossible for wayward heat to enter in the summer and escape in the winter. 
• Monetary Savings: Walls made using insulated concrete forms save homeowners money in numerous ways. First off is the initial cost; homes built with insulated concrete forms are only 3-5% more expensive than homes made with usual materials. For a $250k home, this results in only an extra $55 per month on the mortgage. The reduction in utility expenses associated with insulated concrete form walls actually end up costing homeowners less a month for mortgage and utilities than a typical home. Surprisingly, walls made of insulated concrete forms are actually easier and faster to install, so if you are building a home, you’ll end up paying less for labor too. 
• Environmentally Sustainable: Homes made using insulated concrete forms are the most environmentally friendly homes out there. Although it costs some CO2 to product the concrete for the walls, a single home can prevent the release of 110 tons of CO2 that typical wood walls allow over a century or so. Since these homes are very energy efficient, greenhouse gas emissions will be drastically reduced from that standpoint as well. Most importantly, insulated concrete forms can be made almost entirely of recycled materials. In all aspects of environmental sustainability, insulated concrete form houses come out at the top of the leaderboard. 
• Wall Strength/Durability: Houses structurally improved by insulated concrete forms are some of the strongest and most durable homes out there. These insulated concrete walls are roughly 10 times stronger than traditional walls. They are also mold and rot resistant, impervious to insect damage, and fire resistant. Even the foam in the walls does not contribute to fire; it simply melts at very high temperatures and will in fact act as an extinguisher due to a flame retardant component. Houses composed of insulated concrete forms have been known to withstand floods, earthquakes, raging fires, and hurricanes. Suffice to say, homes built with insulated concrete forms are the safest on the planet.  
• Home Comfort: One of the most attractive benefits of insulated concrete forms is the added comfort in the homes they create. Two very important factors are the reason for this; the temperature and the noise in the home. Homeowners who invest in insulated concrete walls experience the bonus of passive noise cancellation; these walls are 4-8x quieter than traditional walls. This means that nearly all outside noise is not allowed entry into the home. Thunderstorms and traffic certainly cease to exist. Insulated concrete forms also do a wonderful job of controlling and maintaining the temperature in the home. A concept called thermal lag is a passive process by which the temperature outside does not influence the home’s temperature. The concrete keeps the sun’s heat out of the house in the early morning and holds onto the heat into the night. This maintains more consistent temperatures. Insulated concrete forms were evaluated to take 144 hours to reach equilibrium with the exterior when power goes out; the best rated wood framed houses take less than half that time. Insulated concrete walls also eliminate cold spots in the home; believe it or not, basements don’t have to be just storage spaces. Insulated concrete forms maintain the temperature in the entire home consistently and reduce the load on the HVAC system all year round.  

What are the Different Types of Nudura Insulated Concrete Forms?

Nudura offers four different types of insulated concrete forms. All of them are reliable and innovative and will compose a great home or commercial building. There is the Nudura series, the One series, the Plus series, and the Integrated series currently available.

• Nudura Series: The Nudura series incorporates highly innovative technology to outperform the vast majority of other insulated concrete forms on the market. Their technology has been improved in all essential areas; form locks for optimal stability, web folding capability for easy transport, extended pieces for fewer joints and a better seal, and a 4-way reversible system that allows for easier installation and less waste; there are no corners in this system.  
• One Series: The One series by Nudura encourages builders to get more creative with installation of insulated concrete forms. Versatility is the name of the game in this series, and with Nudura’s integrative technology, multiple form types can be used in the same construction product hassle free. 
• Plus Series: Nudura’s Plus series expands on the individuality of the One series. This series allows builders to essentially create their own R values during construction. For those that don’t know, the R value is a measure of a material’s ability to restrict heat transfer. Providing builders the means to optimize the R value for each segment of a home or other building results in the highest energy efficiency that can be achieved. For building owners and homeowners alike, this means a smaller carbon footprint and lots of savings on energy bills. 
• Integrated Series: The final insulated concrete form series offered by Nudura is the Integrated series. This series enables builders to combine Nudura’s products with products from other companies. Each type of insulated concrete form in this series is designed with ease of installation in mind. The energy savings are most optimized in this series and it eliminates much of the intensive labor that commonly is associated with insulated concrete form installation.