RESOURCES
Foundations, Exterior Walls and the Thermal Envelope
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