Residential Walls and Foundations: Improving the Thermal Envelope

This guide compares Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) with other forms used in above grade (walls) and below grade applications (foundations). Key factors in selecting the best system for your home are identified.

Type: Guide

Sponsor: Fox Blocks

Battle the Elements with Resilient Homes

This white paper reviews the benefits of ICF construction and how they protect homes from severe weather and environmental events.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Fox Blocks

Build a Better Home with ICFs

Modern builders are turning to insulating concrete forms (ICFs) for homes that are energy efficient, resilient and comfortable.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Fox Blocks

Below-Grade Insulation: Basements, Slabs and Crawl Spaces

Insulation is a must when combating air, moisture and other potential hazards that can befall an unprotected foundation. This white paper takes a look at some methods for insulating the three most common types of foundations – basements, slabs and crawl spaces.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: ProudGreenHome.com

Battle the Elements with Resilient Homes Built with Insulated Concrete Forms

Insurance companies, state regulators and government agencies are providing significant insurance discounts for homes built to new, more resilient standards like the FORTIFIED Home standard. This white paper covers one popular approach to building a storm-resilient home — using insulated concrete forms (ICFs) for the wall assembly and foundation.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Fox Blocks

Creating a Building Envelope That Beats Code

In order to build a high performance home, builders need to embrace new technologies and techniques. The results can be greatly improved over traditional approaches. This white paper takes a look at some of the top things homebuilders should consider in choosing a wall system for the best building envelope.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Fox Blocks

Executing a Comprehensive Home Insulation Plan

A comprehensive insulation effort can elevate any home into a model of efficiency. Guarding against air leaks and moisture not only contributes to lower energy bills, but also added comfort for the homeowner. This white paper takes a look at insulation and air sealing strategies for foundations, basements, crawl spaces, walls, roofs, and attics.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Dow Building Solutions

Effects of the Thermal Envelope on Home Energy Efficiency

What's a thermal envelope? The thermal envelope is, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, everything about the house that serves to shield the living space from the outdoors. This white paper explores some of the building science behind creating an excellent thermal envelope for your home.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Fox Blocks

Understand the True Cost of Building with Insulated Concrete Forms

As building codes demand homes with tighter building envelopes and continuous insulation, home builders and consumers are looking for building strategies that deliver that performance without paying a premium. That’s why homes built with ICFs are becoming a popular choice in many climates.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Fox Blocks

Stop Mold Dead with Defensive Building Practices

Unfortunately, mold has been a fact of life in residential buildings for decades. It's cost the industry many millions of dollars and led to illnesses and disruption for homeowners and their families. This white paper explores a defensive building product that can significantly reduce the threat of mold in a home.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Eco Building Products

Sheathing for a Stronger and Greener Home

In this age of heightened environmental consciousness, consumers and construction professionals alike strive to build stronger, greener homes. That means continually finding ways to heighten energy efficiency, while lessening environmental degradation in the process. A relatively new innovation that can differentiate a green home is...

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Huber Engineered Woods

Building Products that Simplify Construction Process Mitigate Skilled Labor Shortage

The most detrimental outcome of the recent recession is the shortage of skilled labor. Some experts estimate that the labor deficit has added 30 percent to the average time it takes to build a home. This white paper looks at some of the products that builder are using to offset the effects of the labor shortage.

Type: White Paper

Sponsor: Huber Engineered Woods