Introduction
Stonecraft Construction is pioneering ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) construction and is a distributor of the NUDURA forms. ICF construction has many benefits compared to traditional stick-framing. ICF uses a minimum of 4 inches of poured concrete encased in 2 inches of foam. This technique translates into a solid, air tight home, producing maximum energy efficiency (lower utility bills), healthier living, and ultimately a more comfortable home. Not to mention, a haven from “The Big Bad Wolf”.
Stonecraft Construction also takes an active role in helping homeowners with remodeling projects. Our limits are only determined by your imagination, so dream about all the possibilities. If it falls under the title of home construction, Stonecraft is who you need to talk too.
Comfort
Today’s buildings demand reliable, robust, high thermal performance building envelopes that provide maximum energy-efficiency, prevent heat loss and eliminate thermal bridging, all of which, NUDURA ICF blocks can deliver. These performance criteria are key factors in minimizing energy running costs, while maximizing property value for building owners.
NUDURA Insulated concrete forming products offer:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
NUDURA insulated concrete forms greatly reduce air infiltration, which greatly optimizes energy performance. NUDURA Forms combined with the structural strength and thermal mass of concrete can provide R-Values as high as R-50, saving building owners up to 70% in energy costs.
FIRE RESITANCE
NUDURA Insulated Concrete Form products offer maximum safety with a fire protection rating of up to 4 hours. With a NUDURA ICF structure walls are built with steel reinforced concrete and a the forms have a non toxic fire retardant expanded polystyrene foam ensuring maximum safety.
ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE
NUDURA Insulated Concrete Forms act as an effective sound barrier, filtering out unwanted noise, dampening sound vibrations from unwanted outside noise creating comfortable working or living spaces for occupants. NUDURA ICF structures create the ultimate in building comfort.
STRENGTH
NUDURA Structures provide greater impact resistance and will withstand winds of up to 402 kph (250 mph) ensuring building occupants are safe and secure in almost any situation. The strength of the NUDURA wall comes from the solid concrete core.
SERVICE LIFE
Sustainability is also about whether a product can increase overall service life. Insulated concrete forming products allow a building to stay in service longer with reduced maintenance costs compared to traditional construction. Buildings that have to be torn down after 50 years because the materials used in the first place were chosen on a cost basis, or on short term benefits, ultimately, have greater consequences on the environment.
Health
Building with a solid ICF wall or insuring there are no drafts in a wood frame structure with foam insulationmeans fewer illnesses for your family.
Specifically with ICF, nothing blows through reinforced concrete. There will be absolutely no drafts or cold spots. ICF homeowners have commented on how constant temperatures stay within their homes. Because of the tremendous thermal mass of the exterior wall envelope, temperature peaks are smoothed, and therefore homes are noticeably warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
There are no CFCs, HCFCs, or formaldehydes, and also no wood to rot and mold. ICFs are the answer for allergy and asthma sufferers. They have a two-hour fire rating and are termite and pest resistant. But most importantly, these structures can withstand a severe storm hit. Have you considered climate change into your future structure’s design?
- Every ICF home saves approximately 8.5 trees and effectively preserve nature’s air filters.
- If we can reduce our energy bills by as high as 40%, we can reduce CO2 emissions by the same amount. The world’s international Kyoto agreement insists on a reduction of emissions by 50% just to slow down the effects of global warming. ICFs are a part of the answer to CO2 reductions.
Most importantly, ICF walls provide safe shelter from severe storms. Some national recognized severe storm scientists state that the United States has entered into a storm cycle with may last another 15 years.
Construction Facts
Drive up to a new home today and you probably cannot tell how that home was constructed.
That’s because the “skin” covering a home – whether it’s brick, vinyl siding, or stucco – provides the same finished appearance whether it’s placed over wood-frame or concrete construction. How can you tell what type of construction is behind a home’s veneer? The walls in an unfinished garage or basement may give you a clue.
But the benefits of solid concrete construction aren’t apparent at first glance. They only show up after the home is purchased – in the form of lower maintenance costs and lower energy bills. So, to be sure you make the right home buying decision, always ask the seller or builder what type of construction is behind that beautiful exterior.
The beauty of a concrete home is that it requires far less work on the part of the homeowner to keep it looking like new. What are the three most common causes of exterior wall maintenance? Termites, rotting and paint peeling or fading. Concrete homes are rarely, if ever affected by termites or rot. As to paint, while some contemporary concrete homes have wood siding, most have a stucco or brick facade. Some use a concrete texture or other concrete products as finishes. None require painting.
All of this translates into a concrete home costing less to own than a wood-frame or wood veneer home.
Protecting the environment, limiting waste, and providing your family with a healthy living condition is a major focus at Imagine, Inc.
NUDURA ICF Wall System HIGHLIGHTS
Possibilities
With a NUDURA concrete home your exterior finish options are virtually limitless:
- Stucco
- Stone
- Brick
- Wood Siding
- Vinyl Siding
- Combination finishes
When it comes to the interior of your home, comfort and style are at the top of every ones list. Interior finishes of a concrete home are not any different than a traditional stick frame home. Drywall or Gypsum board can be easily attached directly to NUDURA wall system using our unique fastening strip located on 8” centers, versus traditional stick frame methods that are on 16” centers.
Whether a Victorian gingerbread home or a Colonial mansion, concrete homes are quiet, easy-to-maintain and safe from fire, hurricanes, termites and wood rot. Concrete also can be used to create classic, low maintenance floors with patterns similar to classic stonework but with a look all their own.
NUDURA offers you and your design professional limitless design capabilities when designing your next concrete home. Innovative architectural shapes are easily achieved with NUDURA Insulated Concrete Forms. A variety of shapes are available from NUDURA to meet any building requirement, Factory custom cut radius forms, 45° and 90° forms allow you to live in the type of concrete home you have always dreamed about.
Whatever your home calls for, arches, bay windows or specific Door styles can easily be designed into your NUDURA Concrete home. With NUDURA, specialty products are not required, eliminating the need for architects to have to specify specialty products. NUDURA concrete homes can be built with windows and doors that are used in traditional home construction ensuring your costs are kept in line.
Contemporary Designs
Should your tastes lean toward traditional or contemporary, the strength and flexibility of concrete can create a home that looks like the 21st Century and, with minimum maintenance, will hold its beauty and value throughout the next century.
Look no further: The Preserve at Clayton Pond is an unmatched community perched atop Green Mountain in southeast Huntsville. It provides picturesque landscapes nestled amongst mature trees and offers the scenic tranquility that is not easily found so close to our city’s center. This gated community, with views of a six acre manmade lake, boasts spacious lots and a convenient location close to shopping, dining and work. This is Executive living at its finest.
As one of the Preserve Development Builders – Stonecraft Construction can help you choose a Lot to match your home design and preferences.
Safety
NUDURA offers your family maximum safety with a fire protection rating of up to 4 hours. With a NUDURA Insulated concrete form house, walls are built with steel reinforced concrete and a non-toxic fire retardant expanded polystyrene foam ensuring maximum safety. NUDURA Insulated Concrete Forms provide greater impact resistance and will withstand winds of up to 402 kph (250 mph) ensuring that your family and home are safe and secure in almost any situation. The strength of the NUDURA wall comes from the solid concrete core.
“This ICF home that was 85% complete withstood the huge storm surge of water which reached an elevation of 28 feet as well as reported sustained winds of 125mph brought about by Hurricane Katrina. This home survived the storm largely intact, with some blown-out windows, lost materials and missing upstairs panel.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and state emergency management officials urge homeowners and home builders to consider adding a Safe Room to new homes being built or when remodeling existing homes. Emergency experts agree that a family can survive high winds and wind-borne debris with little or no injury with a Safe Room, effectively giving your house and your family a “suit of armor.” Safe Rooms have proven effective against hurricane-force winds as well as tornadic winds. FEMA, in cooperation with the Wind Engineering Research Center of Texas Tech University, developed designs for wind shelters that provide protection against winds of up to 250 miles per hour and windborne debris traveling at 100 miles an hour. Safe Rooms can be built for about the cost of remodeling a bathroom. A Safe Room is anchored to the ground to withstand extreme winds and strengthened with steel-reinforced concrete or steel sheathing to make the walls and ceiling virtually puncture-proof. A Safe Room made with ICF adds an extra layer of protection. ICF provides solid wall construction without any voids that may result from cinderblock construction. Construction plans are available from Stonecraft Construction. Please call 256-509-3800 for consultation. FEMA has also produced a booklet, Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room Inside Your House, FEMA Publication 320. It is available by calling 1-888-565-3896. The text and diagrams are also is available on the FEMA Web site.
For more information on Storm Shelters visit the following link:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/weweb/Shelters/Shelters.php or check out the website of The National Storm Shelter Association.
Imagine Inc. is an Associate Member of the:
Question & Answers
What is a “concrete”, or ICF home?
Insulated Concrete Forms (or ICFs) are polystyreneforms or molds that have a built-in plastic web for structural support, and insulate reinforced concrete poured into the mold. The first patent application for an ICF was registered in the late 1960’s. Since then, and particularly in the last 4 years, ICFs have been fast-becoming the mainstream preferred building product worldwide for all of the right reasons. These large, hollow polystyrene blocks are stacked right off of the truck and filled with reinforcing bar and concrete. The end result leaves you with a high-performing wall that is structurally sound, insulated, strapped, has a vapor barrier and is ready to accept final exterior and interior finishes.
Projects
Foroughi: ICF Construction & Double Exterior Walls.
This recent project has been completed with two different methods of construction. The basement/lower level has ICF walls and the top floor was completed with a double exterior framed walls. For questions on building construction methods please feel free to contact us.
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