Habitat for Humanity Explores Innovative Construction Technology
Hamilton County the residence of ICF Habitat Family

The Hamilton County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA) and theIndiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA) joined forces to build the non-profit’s house using one of the fastestgrowing methods of residential construction - insulating concrete forms (ICFs). For the Hamilton County house, ICFAand IRMCA members provided the ICF forms and the concrete necessary to construct the exterior walls of the 1,050square foot home, which will become the new residence for Gene and Erin Giacoma and their two children.Habitat volunteers, working under the supervision of the form manufacturer, stacked the ICF forms on Saturday,September 10th. The exterior walls were pumped full of concrete on Friday, September 16t.. The home is located at440 Christian Avenue in Noblesville.

ICFs were used to construct the exterior walls of 4% of all single-family homes in the U.S. in 2003, which equates tonearly 50,000 ICF homes in that year alone. Although most ICF homes have been built in the upper and middle incomeprice ranges, an increasing number of Habitat for Humanity affiliates and other low-income housing providers arefinding that the energy efficiency and durability benefits of ICF construction translate well for affordable housing.ICFs are hollow foam blocks, which are stacked into the shape of the exterior walls of a home. The forms are filledwith reinforced concrete to create a solid structure, sandwiching the concrete between two layers of high-insulationfoam. Drywall is attached to the interior surface, while any type of traditional exterior finish can be used – siding,stucco, brick or stone. The end result is a home that looks like any other in the neighborhood, but with superior energyefficiency, a quiet and comfortable indoor environment and greatly increased resistance to natural disasters such astornados and hurricanes.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to providing affordable housing forselected low income families. The mission of the Insulating Concrete Form Association is to expand the use of ICFsthrough research, education, promotion and public affairs work. The Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association is anorganization dedicated to promoting and expanding the use of ready mixed concrete products within the state of Indiana.

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Contacts:

Joe Lyman, Executive Director, Insulating Concrete Form Association
(847) 657-9730
jlyman@forms.org

Cheri Wagner, Communications Coordinator, Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association
(317) 872-6302
cwagner@irmca.com

Valorie Williamson, Construction Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity of Hamilton County
(317) 896-9423
vwilliamson@hfhhc.org