IntroductionSustainability is at the heart of modern construction. As homeowners and builders increasingly seek environmentally friendly materials, Nexcem ICFs stand out as a sustainable choice. Made from 100% recycled wood fibers and Portland cement, Nexcem ICFs...

Introduction:Traditional wood framing has been a popular choice for decades, but it’s not without its drawbacks. In this blog, we’ll compare wood framing with Nexcem ICFs to help you make an informed decision for your next project. Key Points: Durability: Nexcem’s...

Lumber prices skyrocketed in 2021. At that time ICF construction was less of a premium product and more a no-brainer.  March 2021 - Styrofoam ICF blocks spiked 22% with additional increases on the way. At this time, the purchase price of a regular 16” x 48” styrofoam...

IntroductionWhen considering building materials, the initial cost is often a key factor. While ICFs like Nexcem may have a higher upfront cost compared to traditional materials, their long-term return on investment (ROI) is unmatched. This blog explores the financial...

Introduction:Mold growth is a significant concern in many homes, especially in humid climates. Choosing the right building materials can make all the difference in preventing mold and ensuring a healthy indoor environment. Learn how Nexcem ICFs naturally resist mold...

IntroductionAs building standards evolve to emphasize energy efficiency, sustainability, and healthy indoor environments, materials that meet the Passive House criteria are increasingly sought after. Passive House is a rigorous building standard that significantly...

IntroductionInsulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) like Nexcem offer exceptional durability and energy efficiency. However, installing them efficiently requires understanding the best practices to save time, reduce waste, and ensure a strong, well-built structure. This blog...

ICF and ICCF are abbreviations you’ll see when investigating your options for a concrete home. ICF being more common, stands for insulating concrete forms and are made from foam and plastic. ICCF stands for insulating composite concrete forms and are similar as the...

  Nexcem is a company whose leadership has over 30 years’ experience specifically in manufacturing Insulated Concrete Forms from cement bonded wood fiber materials.  The Nexcem product line includes: ICF Forms, Railway Silencers,and many other Nexcem products....

We are now looking at a the post-pandemic construction environment. While lumber prices on the commodities market are back to pre-covid levels, it will take a little while for this to work it's way through to the retail level; but it should eventually. The issue now...

Winter may officially last three months, but cold climate builders grumble about chilly weather for a solid 5. Cold winter conditions greatly impact conventional concrete forming. With insulated concrete forms (ICFs), not so much. We’ll use a real example in the...

BUILDING WITH ICF BLOCKS Why do builders use insulated concrete form (ICF) construction over traditional construction?  Happy home owners is the main reason – they love the efficiency and performance of an ICF building envelope. Typically more insulated and more...

  The possibilities are endless with Nexcem ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms). Our variety of ICF Blocks offer a complete construction solution with built-in savings, resilience, and comfort. While building with ICF does involve a learning curve, we will discuss how...

Low Carbon Footprint ICFs   What Is The Energy Savings And Global Warming Potential (GWP) Of ICF Walls? From carbon dioxide to other gases like hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), builders are increasingly paying attention to how to build with  a low carbon footprint. In that...

  Even as better building technologies such as insulated concrete forms (ICFs) emerged over time, the low cost of lumber always guaranteed its popularity. With cost of lumber now soaring, the only edge over ICFs, for the moment, vanished into thin air. In this post,...

  Buildilng with ICF Blocks: Everything You Need To Know Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) have become a relatively common way to build homes. This innovative building material is typically made of blocks of polystyrene foam with space in between to pour a concrete wall....

  The design of a net-zero energy home includes renewable energy sources and energy-efficient materials, like Nexcem as well as other sustainable components like Truegrid Permeable Pavers that reduce the CO2 emissions and water usage over the life cycle of the home....

              How do you build a passive house with insulated concrete forms (ICFs)? Passive buildings are on the rise, just as you can see covered here and here. And this makes sense given that sustainable green construction is growing amid...

    Insulated concrete forms (ICF) are being used for a wide variety of building projects. One of the most common applications where ICF is considered is with respect to basements. Property owners (on the verge of a build) and developers alike are asking about the...

  Insulated concrete form (ICF) is a formwork system (temporary or permanent molds into which concrete is poured) for reinforced concrete. Made from panels of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation, or in the case of Nexcem, cement bonded wood fibers. As a...

One of the advantages of building with Nexcem woodcrete ICF is a reduced risk of interstitial condensation.   WHAT IS INTERSTITIAL CONDENSATION? Interstitial condensation is the technical term for condensation that occurs when moisture-laden air travelling...

Are you concerned with rising costs and the push for green building codes? Perhaps you value the environment and are interested in the benefits of an energy-efficient, concrete forms home. Sustainable construction using insulated concrete forms is way of the future,...

Installing Plumbing and Electrical Services within Insulated Concrete Forms       Accommodating plumbing or electrical wires within the ICF wall can be complicated for some contractors, regardless of whether or not the building is constructed using ICFs. While...

Whether you’re a home or building owner or an builder/installer, there are pros and cons of insulated concrete forms (ICFs), just like any other building material out there. And while ICFs are on the rise (especially as the advantages over wood-framed homes come to...

Another deadly hurricane has struck and left catastrophic damage in its wake. This time, it was Hurricane Michael — a Category 5 hurricane and the most powerful hurricane recorded in the Florida panhandle in a century. If you’ve read the recent article from the New...

Net-zero energy homes (homes that produce as much clean energy as they consume) are the future of construction. They offer all the benefits of enhanced energy efficiency, from reduced costs to increased comfort. In order to build a net-zero energy home, you need to...

THERMAL MASS EFFECTS OF INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS  HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR THE HEAT TO TURN ON WHEN AN ICF WALL IS EXPOSED TO A FRIGID -31°F?We placed an ICF wall* in the middle of a test chamber. The temperature on one side of the chamber was reduced to -31°F,...

Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are typically purchased from a local building supplier. Currently, the purchase price of a regular 16” x 48” styrofoam ICF block is in the $21-$24 range, depending on what region/country it is purchased in. This translates to about...

Spring is finally here, and that means it's time for some spring cleaning. However, did you know that there are some building materials that can help spring clean your carbon footprint? Many home construction materials are surprisingly eco-friendly. Here are a few of...

Looking to incorporate green building materials into your next remodel or renovation? Then ICF walls and ICF building blocks may be the perfect investment for you. We understand the concerns many experience when considering this type of building material, as it isn’t...