After nearly 20 years as an ICF contractor the question, ” How does the price of ICF compare to wood?” rings in my ears like the noon siren on a Saturday. And I’ve concluded that 9 out of 10 times these potential clients never build with ICF.

It’s like asking the waiter of a high-end steakhouse you are in, how much the burgers are. Or asking which car is faster, the VW bug or the Tesla.

I know you need information about costs. I know you are trying to decide if you can afford the investment in ICF construction. But if these are your only concerns then you are not an ICF customer. ICF people are looking something else. They have lived in wood houses their entire lives and have felt the cold of the corner bathroom in winter as the slabs are saturated with freeze and cold. They have paid the high prices of trying to stay comfortable in a house with so many leaks it should be a declared a spaghetti strainer instead of a dwelling. They have replaced the walls the termites took, the walls mold infested, they watched their wood framed home burn to the ground, or they saw their beloved homes consumed by the ravages of tornadoes and hurricanes. They want better control over the energy dollars, they want to be off grid, they want a Net Zero life, and they are looking for something else.

Enter the very finest building envelope you can have. ICF construction and a determined couple ready invest in an heirloom quality structure your family can have for decades to come.

So here is my best answer for those who need comparisons. ICF and other high yield energy savings products will cost you 16 to 22% above and beyond your stick framed budget. Using energy savings dollars alone, your ROI (return on investment) will be realized in full on year 6. It mostly always works that way.

This may not be true to get to Net Zero as there may be more investment which would scale the ROI out a bit longer, however the energy savings will be greater also.

“I hope this helps you in your struggle to be free…there must be fifty ways to leave your utilities providers”

Regards,

Michael Summers