Built my house using ICF. Benefits over stick frame houses are endless (storm protection, insulation, noise reduction, lower heating and cooling costs, no wood rot or termites, lower insurance costs, etc) the only drawback was the cost.

With lumber prices that high you may look into it. Costs probably the same. You will have a far superior home as well.

This post was edited on 9/4/20 at 9:10 pm

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Posted by Art Vandelay

LOUISIANA

Member since Sep 2005

10722 posts

Posted on 9/5/20 at 11:21 am to LSURN98

Built my first house with this. Never do it again and I sold the blocks. Beside the storm benefit all others can be achieved with stick. I’m actually 1000 sq ft bigger living and I’m about $100 less in electricity cost. Noise reduction is only as good as your windows and doors. Termites love foam. They’ll live in it and use it to get from the ground to the ceiling joist or rafters. Unless you had blocks with the termite resistance foam.

Still cheaper to stick build even with the price increase. It’s a cost that you will never get back. Nobody gave a shite about it when I sold my house.

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Posted by GoIrish02

Member since Mar 2012

1391 posts

Posted on 9/5/20 at 4:25 pm to LSURN98

Is ICF a big departure from traditional stick-built framing for a competent home builder? If ICF is slightly more expensive in a normal market, would it be on par or less expensive in the current inflated lumber market? Also, are there framing contractors who use ICF in south Louisiana? I’m surprised it’s not more common with all the benefits, like fire and termite resistance.

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