Why build with wood when the benefits of building with ICFs are endless?
CONCRETE STORY BEHIND RISING LUMBER PRICES
Tariffs, environmental constraints, the pandemic, and a resurging construction market have left home builders holding the bag. Or should we say handing the bag over, the bag of cash that is. One thing that has not increased with framing lumber is the quality, the value, or the long-term resiliency. Why pay more when proven options, such as Nudura Insulated Concrete (ICFs), create greater value at a lower cost. Concrete for less than wood framing?
Lumber prices have skyrocketed since 2020, rising 130% and increasing the cost of a single-family home by more than $16,000.
Historically chosen due to the greater durability not the cost, the enhanced comfort, and superior energy efficiency, builders are now choosing Nudura for the cost competitiveness, availability, and speed. It sounds like a big win for the homeowner!
“Even when lumber price was lower we and every one who chose to build with ICF knew that we were a better option. Now choosing the better construction is also choosing the less expensive one, I believe this is an obvious choice now more than ever.”- Rene Fourestie - Builder
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AN INNOVATIVE & PROVEN ALTERNATIVE Nudura ICFs consist of two panels of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) that are 2 5/8” in thickness and connected together with our patented web system that is made of 100% recycled material.
GREATER IMPACT RESISTANCE Nudura provides greater impact resistance and can be engineered to withstand winds up to 250 mph (402 kph) ensuring that the occupants of the home are safe and secure. Nudura’s concrete embedded multi-purpose roof/truss anchor system provides greater resistance to wind uplift forces than most other conventional systems. Nudura walls are built with steel-reinforced concrete and expanded polystyrene foam, providing a fire protection rating of up to 4 hours*. *As per Nudura’s UL/ULC listings |
AN INNOVATIVE & PROVEN ALTERNATIVE
Nudura ICFs consist of two panels of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) that are 2 5/8” in thickness and connected together with our patented web system that is made of 100% recycled material.
- Nudura ICFs are stacked, then steel reinforced and filled with concrete, completing the building envelope in one building step
- Nudura ICFs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate all types of building requirements and designs
GREATER IMPACT RESISTANCE
Nudura provides greater impact resistance and can be engineered to withstand winds up to 250 mph (402 kph) ensuring that the occupants of the home are safe and secure. Nudura’s concrete embedded multi-purpose roof/truss anchor system provides greater resistance to wind uplift forces than most other conventional systems. Nudura walls are built with steel-reinforced concrete and expanded polystyrene foam, providing a fire protection rating of up to 4 hours*.
*As per Nudura’s UL/ULC listings
SOUND RESISTANCE & LONG-TERM VALUE
Nudura insulated concrete forms offer superior performance when it comes to thermal bridging, resulting in even temperatures throughout your home with reduced drafts and cold spots, ensuring you are comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside. Nudura also acts as an effective sound barrier by dampening sound vibrations from unwanted outside noise, such as traffic, trains, and neighbors providing STC (Sound Transmission Class) ratings as high as STC 50*. A Nudura home is built to last and retains its value longer. The main structural element in a Nudura home is reinforced concrete, which offers greater durability and requires less maintenance and repair over its lifetime compared to wood structures.
*STC 50 rating based on minimum 6” (152 mm) Nudura form and concrete core thickness or larger installed with code-compliant finishes mounted on both sides of a wall assembly in accordance with Nudura Installation procedures.
FIRE RESISTANCE
The strength of Nudura comes from the solid concrete core. Nudura walls are built with steel reinforced concrete and a non-toxic fire-retardant Expanded Polystyrene foam (EPS), providing a fire protection rating of up to 4 hours - 4 times that of a typical wood-frame home.
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We’re always happy to help and provide more information.Comparing Nudura Vs. Wood Framing
| COMFORT & QUIET | NUDURA | WOOD FRAMES |
| Calculated R-Value | R-23.59 (RSI 4.16, U-Value 0.24) | R-11 to R-19 (RSI 1.94 - 3.35, U-Value 0.52 - 0.30) |
| Tested R-Value of Wall* | R-24.1 (RSI 4.25, U-Value 0.24) | R-15.2 (RSI 2.68 and U-Value 0.37) |
| Reduced Heating & Cooling Cost | Yes | No |
| Thermal Mass | Up to 75 lbs/sq.ft. (3.59kPa) | 2 lbs/sq.ft. (0.10 kPa) |
| Typical Air Leakage | 1.11 ACH | 3.36 ACH |
| Sound Dampening | Effective | Minimum |
*ASTM C-1363 testing per ICFMA/UL(CLEB) Laboratories
| STRENGTH & DURABILITY | NUDURA | WOOD FRAMES |
| Bearing Capacity Top of Wall | 41800plf (60192kg/m)* | 5404plf (8041kg/m)** |
| Wind Capacity | 250mph (402kph) | 90mph (145kph) |
| Fire Rating | 4+ hours* | 45 mins |
| Flying Debris Protection | Assured | Minimal |
| Defends Against Termite & Pest Intrusion | Yes | No |
| Interior Finish Nail Pop | No | Yes |
| Wood Split & Warp | No | Yes |
| Risk for Mould Growth & Rot | None | High Risk |
*As per Nudura’s UL/ULC listings
**As per American Wood Council DES230
CONTACT US
We’re committed to supporting homeowners and design professionals who are interested in or use our products. We’re always happy to help and provide more information.
Part of the Tremco Construction Products Group
International: 866-468-6299
North America: +1 705-726-9499
