The Homeowner's Perspective of ICF Construction

The following is excerpted from ICF Construction -- An In-Depth Review, an NAHB article.  The full article is available for download on the Technical Library  page.

Homeowner Perspective

Homeowners were interviewed as part of the NAHB Research Center's Demonstration Homes Project and were very positive about their satisfaction with their new homes. Among the specific reasons for homeowner satisfaction were: 

In addition, homeowners may be interested in ICFs because they may offer improved strength, durability, and other benefits over conventional walls.

One homeowner felt that quietness and appearance of the wide windowsills should have a positive impact on the re-sale value of the home.

One Austin, Texas builder who resides in an ICF home says that residents appreciate the solid construction of an ICF home. Customers are confident that an ICF home will withstand extreme winds experienced in their area. Other features of the home that customers appreciate include lack of sound transmission and lower utility bills. One homeowner remarked that they cannot hear the engines of the boats on the lake. They also find interior sounds are lessened in between rooms. Their ICF home is more energy efficient than their previous homes -- a winter heating bill is approximately $175 per month compared with $350 to $400 per month previously. The ICF structure complements the southwest architectural style. The owner feels that this type of construction is ideal for a stucco finish. They feel that these benefits will increase the re-sale value of the home.

Homeowners of the Virginia Beach Demonstration Home are a retired couple who viewed the home while under construction and were impressed by its appearance. After visiting with the builder and learning about ICFs, they decided to purchase the home. Features of the ICF construction they liked included energy efficiency (a strong selling point) and the new technology.

The homeowners continue to like their home and appreciate it more the longer they live in it. They consider their home to be energy efficient, soundly constructed and to have a look of "solidness" to it. The wide windowsills contribute to this feeling and provide a nice area for decorating. They also appreciate how quiet it is and believe this feature will provide a marketable benefit during re-sale as the house is in close proximity to a naval air station. Low utility bills and high levels of comfort attest to the energy efficiency of the home. The homeowners report no drafts in their home. The homeowners are pleased with their home and indicated they would buy another ICF home.