Why The True Build Team Chose Logix ICF Walls Below and Above-Grade
They chose Logix ICF as his solution for below- and above-grade walls because this energy-efficient and simple-to-install ICF system let them tackle many of challenges in one shot.
True Build has always used Logix ICF for home foundations. That’s because there’s way less labor and sequencing when building with ICFs below grade.
This time, however, Adam had decided to build with the blocks all the way up to the roof. Using ICFs above grade was an easy way to manage the four control layers (water, air, vapor, and thermal control).
By building with ICFs from the foundation to the roof, they were able to construct this high-performance home without burdening the crew with unnecessarily complicated installation procedures and detailing.
ICFs also helped them build stability into their budget, as he didn’t have to worry about the volatility of lumber prices. They also found some savings in reinforcing the concrete ICF cores with Helix micro rebar instead of standard steel reinforcement bars.
Concrete ICF cores reinforced with Helix micro rebar instead of standard steel reinforcement bars.
How the Conservative Contemporary Home Was Constructed
The Conservative Contemporary Home is a single-story house that features a blend of hip and varied single-pitch roof sections.
The 9-foot exterior walls of the home were all built with ICFs from the foundation up to the roof.
Meanwhile, 6-inch LVL studs were used to frame the vaulted section, with an ICF foundation below.
A mix of Logix ICF walls and wood framed walls were used above grade.
How True Build Achieved Step 5 of the BC Energy Code
To achieve Step 5 and make the home net-zero-ready, they utilized 8-inch Logix blocks with 2-inch inserts of Chrome GPS at the 9-foot walls. Adding the foam reduced the size (and cost) of concrete cores and gave a boost to the walls’ thermal resistance.
In the LVL-framed vaulted section, they didn’t have the advantage of Logix ICFs’ inherent airtightness and energy efficiency.
So, they matched the ICF walls’ R-Value by insulating the stud bays with R-22 Rockwool and adding 3 inches of Halo Interra on the inside of the assembly. Interra provided a layer of continuous insulation that fully removed thermal bridging — a key feature that helped the walls achieve an impressive thermal resistance of R-37.
Interra also saved time for Adam and his crew, thanks to its inherent vapor barrier that removed the need for 6 mil poly.
Side view of completed Conservative Contemporary Home
Wrapping It Up
The Conservative Contemporary Home boasts several impressive achievements. Crucially, it’s the first home in Creston, BC, that meets Step 5 of the province’s energy code. This means that this project is the first net-zero-ready home in Creston.
Another striking accomplishment is the fact that True Build pulled off the complex task of building a stunningly efficient home (incredibly hitting an air tightness of 0.45 ACH50!) without burdening the crew with overly sophisticated detailing. All they needed to succeed was ingenuity, hard work and high-performance materials that were relatively simple to install and eliminated construction steps.
