Variform Vortex Extreme Siding High-velocity winds can threaten homes in virtually any part of the country. But when the weather is at its worst, Variform Vortex Extreme performs at its very best. Rigorously tested, Vortex Extreme features Weather Warrior Technology — a combination of innovative features and an extra-thick .046-inch panels specially designed to hold tight in hurricane winds with its reverse roll-over nail hem and Triple Bow Locking System. Variform Vortex Extreme has superior wind resistance and is designed to withstand hurricane-force winds up to 225 mph. www.plygem.com ..read more

By Alysha Campbell, Marketing Manager for Airfoam Industries/Quad-Lock ICF As natural disasters become increasingly frequent and severe, the need for resilient building solutions has never been more pressing. Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) have emerged as a leading technology in constructing buildings that can endure the harshest elements Mother Nature has to offer. From high winds and seismic forces to fire and impact resistance, ICF structures provide unparalleled protection, ensuring safety and longevity. Unmatched Wind Resistance One of the standout features of ICF buildings is their a ..read more

By Tom Patton At a time when many areas of the country are experiencing extreme weather events resulting in destruction of homes, extensive damage, and loss of life, there needs to be a mindset change in design and construction for the safety of the building and its occupants. Naturally, the best solution is something that has been promoted for more than 25 years — moving away from stick framing to insulated concrete forms (ICF). Going back to the parable of the big bad wolf and the three little pigs, when you huff, puff, and blow your house down, the strongest house in modern times is ICF ..read more

By Dave Gowers ICF construction is extremely suitable to resist natural disasters and extreme environmental conditions. It can resist high winds, high Richter scale seismic events, and wildfires. Several events have taken place again this year in mainland USA and offshore locations. The following explains some of these events, and why ICF construction is an excellent choice to survive these extreme conditions. Fire Season Here in southern Oregon, last year’s fire season was a bit longer than usual due to the dryer and hotter conditions. Fire season began on June 1 and will finish around Oc ..read more

Photos courtesy of Nexgen ICF ICF Builder magazine has an active Facebook group called ICF Builder group. If you aren’t familiar with it or already a member, you can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/icfbuildergroup. As you might imagine, many of the 13,000+ members are ICF installers, some are manufacturers, and many others are people who are active in the industry such as homeowners seeking advice on their homes. It’s a very active place for ICF-related discussions. And a couple of months ago, one post caught my eye. The post by Nexgen ICF, a company providing ICF installation ..read more

By Vanessa Salvia Allen Winters is a licensed contractor and owner of Allen Winters Concrete in Sebastopol, California, where he has lived his entire life. Winters, now 70, grew up around concrete — his father owned the local ready mix plant. As a young man in the 1960s and early ’70s, Winters’ own ready mix company supplied concrete for about 2,000 homes in the high-end Fountain Grove area. There were a lot less homes on the Santa Rosa hillsides than there are now. He witnessed first-hand the Tubbs Fire that destroyed the town in October 2017. [Editor’s Note, read that article in the Septe ..read more

By Dave Gowers Over the past two years, my office has processed 44 ICF projects, 36 of which were residential. This is a substantial increase compared to previous years, and I believe it is an indicator that ICF construction is being more widely accepted for residential construction than in previous years. With the economy currently being in a downturn, construction activity has slowed across most sectors. That being said, ICF residential construction still remains strong. ICF is used extensively throughout the construction industry for a variety of projects, and residential construction h ..read more

Tom Patton The housing market is suffering for a number of reasons — skilled labor shortage, material and labor costs, and tighter building codes requiring more expertise in building science to meet thermal and air infiltration standards. ICFs have always provided a fantastic alternative construction method to stick framing to meet and/or exceed energy standards, air and moisture infiltration rates, and resiliency, plus provide lifetime comfort and energy savings. The ICF industry has promoted do-it-yourself home building for years. While there are some positive results and advantages to t ..read more

ICF Builder Awards Open For Entries Entries are now being accepted for the annual ICF Builder Awards and the People’s Choice Awards. The entry form is available on the website, www.icfmag.com, under the Builder Awards tab. The deadline to return entry forms is Friday, October 11, 2024. Contractors, distributors, and ICF manufacturers are encouraged to submit projects in the following categories: Heavy Commercial, Light Commercial, MultiFamily, MultiFamily Low-Rise, Small Residential, Large Residential, Unlimited Residential, Pools, Education, and Specialty Applications. You can download the ..read more

By Matthew Sands When it comes to construction techniques for building pools, the industry is always exploring new options to meet the needs of the market. Suppliers frequently introduce new product innovations that enhance pool esthetics or technologies from parallel industries that are incorporated into pool construction to either overcome market obstacles or meet consumer demands. It comes as no surprise then that there is a growing number of pool builders turning to insulated concrete forms (ICFs) with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane interior to create a solid concrete pool wall st ..read more