Heavy Timber Truss & Frame knows how important an insulated foundation is to creating an energy efficient home. ICFs are two pieces of insulation held together with a series of fasteners that also are holders for the steel rebar and provide places to fasten the interior finish materials to. The ICF blocks are a hollow core, easily stacked in the shape of the exterior walls. They are reinforced with steel rebar and filled with concrete. Building science shows that having an insulated lower level make a significant difference in home energy efficiency.
Historically stud walls with a vapor barrier, insulation and then drywall was the most common method of insulating the lower level of most homes. Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) became more popular in the 1990's with a number of manufacturers developing and introducing "their system". Today there are many manufacturers of quality ICF's. Heavy Timber Truss & Frame recommends using them for the following reasons:
• Energy Savings - Most ICF's use 2 1/2" thick sheets of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) to form the block outer walls. The resulting 5" provides an R-20 rating vs. the typical stud wall with an R-4 to 13 rating depending on batt thickness.
• Air Infiltration - Between the EPS and the solid cement, there is no infiltration! Further there are no thermal short circuits through wood connections.
• Greater Comfort - With less air infiltration and no thermal short cuts, your home has a more even temperature from floor to floor. No more cold or hot spots!
• Healthy Air - Reduced air infiltration also means less dust, pollen and other pollutants. That leads to a reduction in allergies like hay fever and asthma.
• Eco Friendly - ICF's are environmentally friendly as they conserve natural resources by reducing waste and pollution.
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Our mission at Heavy Timber Truss & Frame, is to combine the beauty of old-world construction with the industry’s most energy efficient enclosure system, to create Timber Frame structures of unparalleled craftsmanship and sustainability.
When you choose Heavy Timber Truss & Frame for your project, from timber accents to a full timber frame home, you're choosing a Company that prides itself on the highest quality fit and finish possible.
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