Compared to pre-fab wall assemblies - how does ICF Construction fare?

We really quite likeprefab/pre built housesand firmly believe that if you were to fast forward 20 years into the future that all new homes will be made withpre built wallsand more even more likely is thatprefabricated kit homeswill be built, delivered and installed, faster and cheaper than the houses we currently build. We do have this page that walks you through all the options you just mentioned -

How to choose a wall system for home construction

Our prediction - and you heard it here first :)....the idea of raw materials such as 2x4s and insulation being delivered to a building site to sit in the rain will soon be considered as ridiculous as having car parts delivered to your house and assembling a Toyota or VW in your laneway. And while we would prefer that a home isn't built on a basement, we realise that in areas where its essential to squeeze every sq ft onto a lot like in Ontario it may be a necessity and in which case a basement of ICF construction is a great choice for building speed and operating efficiency. To discover more aboutthe definitive history of ICF Construction and ICF Blocks, take a look here..

When you talk about prefab wall assemblies too, there are a couple of services that could fall under that general umbrella – At the base of that would be SIPS (structural insulated panels) usually made ofrigid EPS (expanded polystyrene) panels. There are also companies that will take your building plans and create walls to match that can be delivered and assembled, that can be a great option as it is often cheaper as there is less material waste. And, you’re not leaving your wood frame exposed out in the rain for weeks or months to get saturated and warped.

The next level up from that are companies that offer prefab ‘turn key’ homes to choose from, and the best of those will let you make modifications to meet your specific needs. We like a lot of those options, but our favorite are prefab kit houses for sure, especially those that meet LEED orPassive house performance levels.
As for the one that you mentioned, nothing stands out as being particularly fantastic about it, in fact the diagram on the main page seems a little redundant, what’s with theOSB sheathing as well as ZIP structural sheathing? Cheaper than two layers of sheathing would be swapping one out for anexterior peel and stick WRB membrane.

And yes, there are some pre built homes that are much better in our opinion, that are manufactured in Ontario and Quebec. We can help you choose, so may I ask where you’re building? And what are your top priorities? (meaning – affordable, Eco friendly,LEED or Passive House ready kit homes, etc?) Let us know and we will set you up with something better and closer.

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