Today is concrete pour day!
Our CasasReyes development for two semi's in Oakham, Rutland is constructed from super energy efficient Nudura ICF's as featured on Grand Design.
This is a modern method of construction that has huge benefits to both the developer and the end user.
What ICF construction gives you is an ultra efficient building envelope with no thermal or cold bridging. Everyone these days is going on about U-Values and quoting them everywhere. But to a certain degree U-Values are a red herring and only part of the bigger picture.
The 'bigger picture' being an ultra efficient airtight building envelope with no thermal or cold bridging. If you have a building that has lots of thermal bridging, then what U-Value you have achieved is a bit academic. It's a bit like having a bucket with a slight leak in it. It may be a very strong bucket but if it has a slight leak then the fact it is a strong bucket is irrelevant. It's the same with housing. If you have a building envelope that has thermal leaks then you will be constantly filling it up with heat so to speak.
This is why we at Ash Design are a big fans of ICF's as they not only achieve extremely good U-Values, they also give you an ultra efficient building envelope with no cold or thermal bridging.
It is also up to 70% more energy efficient compared to to standard house construction. Resulting is long term energy saving for the end user.
Today was 'P Day' and today was when we poured the concrete into the ICF walls to create the sold concrete core. So was a very busy and full on day with the concrete trucks lining up to get their concreted pumped.
But all ended well with no 'blow outs'. Just need to leave it 28 days to fully set before moving any braces.
Off home for a well deserved bath and a beer. Don't care in which order :)