insulated concrete forms - Icf costs and prices

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) wall construction is typically more expensive than other common alternatives (wood, concrete, steel frame buildings...) but allows savings and advantages that should be considered jointly.

ICF Cost reductions

Insulated Concrete construction can provide savings in some construction materials like vapor barriers, air exchangers or the membrane and wire mesh on stucco.ICF blocks and panels are foam forms designed to build walls and to hold concrete in place, becoming the insulating sections of the resulting concrete walls.

The energy-efficiency of ICF construction also allows smaller HVAC systems, energy savings and lower maintenance costs, which shouldn't be forgotten when comparing ICF prices with those of other types of construction.

ICF Prices

ICF prices around $2-$3 per square foot are common. But these prices do not include labor costs, reinforcement tasks, concrete pouring or finishings.

On average, ICF homes prices may amount to 2 to 5% more than standard wood and concrete-frame construction.

ICF Costs and unfamiliarity

Only by a good planning and searching, costs will be closer to those of wood frame and common concrete construction.

Ask your ICF manufacturer to put you in touch with qualified contractors. Final prices will depend on their crew and engineering experience. Siding, drywall, plumbing or carpentry contractors may charge you more for ICF construction if unfamiliar with the technology.

See: ICF Manufacturers.

Above-Grade and foundation Wall iCF Costs

For foundations, ICF and common concrete systems have very similar prices, as long as concrete construction also involves furring and insulation. In this case, ICF can speed the time of construction, offsetting its initial higher costs.

The differences of prices are on the above-grade walls...