In the Sacramento Valley, the biggest challenges for a home are not snow or steep lots. They are long stretches of 100°F days, high summer electricity bills, traffic and airport noise, and flood risk in parts of the region. Insulated concrete form construction addresses each of these.
NUDURA ICF walls combine a solid, steel-reinforced concrete core with continuous foam insulation on both sides. Heat moves into the house much more slowly on hot afternoons, so air conditioning runs less during expensive peak hours. NUDURA reports energy savings of up to 58% in its testing. The mass of the wall also blocks far more outside noise than a wood-frame wall, and the concrete core does not rot or lose strength if it gets wet. The walls are noncombustible, with a fire-resistance rating of up to 4 hours.
Most ICF homes we are asked about in Sacramento County are custom homes on infill lots or rebuilds on large older lots in places like Carmichael, Fair Oaks and Arden Park. Our office in Rocklin is about 25 minutes from most of the county.