Building My Net Zero Energy Home: Insulated Concrete Form Basement

Reader Contribution by Staff
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Once the foundation had set up, workers began installing insulating concrete forms — ICFs. We used Logix ICFs, which were locally available.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was finding a local installer. There were a few installers who installed ICFs in St. Louis, but that’s 70 miles away from my homesite. Fortunately, I was able to find an installer in nearby Union, Understall Foundations. They did not have extensive experience but had done several projects, including one very large high-end project, with ICFs.

I chose ICFs for the basement and basement-level garage because they provided R-30 insulation and created an airtight space. They also saved me a ton of work. Had I poured a conventional foundation, I would have spent a week installing insulation inside and outside the wall, then furring out the inside wall so I could attach paneling or drywall. These ICFs contain internal plastic bridges that prevent blow out but also provide a nailer into which we could drive screws to attach drywall or paneling.

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