Why We’re Eyeing ICF for Our Next Home Build
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As many of you know, Jim builds homes using ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) and over the past year, I’ve learned a lot about what goes into a truly energy efficient home build.
These foam block walls are filled with concrete, offering incredible insulation, strength, and durability compared to traditional wood framing.
Now that we’re in the early stages of planning our own ICF home for next year, I’m getting more and more excited! Not just about the layout or finishes, but about how much more efficient this house will be.
After years of watching our utility bills creep up (especially in the summer), the idea of a quieter, better-insulated home with lower energy costs feels like a breath of fresh air.
Once you see how these homes come together, and how well they perform, it’s hard to look at stick-built construction the same way again.
What Is ICF Construction?
ICF stands for Insulated Concrete Forms.
Think of it like giant foam blocks that stack together like Legos, then get filled with concrete.
They create walls that are incredibly strong, energy-efficient, and long-lasting.
Compared to traditional wood framing, ICF walls act like a thermal cocoon for your home.
There’s no insulation jammed between studs or pesky air leaks sneaking through the gaps. Instead, you get continuous insulation on both sides of a solid concrete core. It’s a game-changer.
This method isn’t just for luxury homes or commercial buildings anymore. It’s showing up more and more in custom and budget-conscious builds because people are tired of homes that leak energy (and money).
Energy Efficiency and Lower Bills: Why Materials Matter in a New Home
Why Older Homes Can Be Expensive to Maintain
Homes like ours (built in the early 2000s) weren’t designed with today’s energy costs in mind.
Traditional framing methods allow for heat loss, cold spots, and drafts, especially in rooms above garages or with lots of windows.
Batt insulation stuffed between studs just doesn’t cut it when it comes to comfort or efficiency.
These inefficiencies add up. Not just in bills, but in wear and tear on your HVAC system.
ICF = Less Energy Waste, More Comfort
ICF walls are airtight and wrapped in insulation, literally.
That means no thermal bridging (aka, the spots where heat escapes in traditional builds), which helps maintain even temperatures across your entire home.
Because ICF homes are so efficient, they often require smaller HVAC systems and use up to 60% less energy than traditional homes.
That’s a win for your comfort and your wallet.
Building a Forever Home With Smarter Materials
When you build, every decision feels like a big one! Like, you don’t want to make a mistake and regret it later, right?
From layout to finishes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
But after living in a home with hot-and-cold zones, rising bills, and constant HVAC tweaks, we’re prioritizing something different this time: building smarter from the start.
ICF checks a lot of boxes:
- Fire resistance (up to 4 hours)
- Wind resistance (up to 250–300 mph)
- Pest resistance
- Reduced maintenance and repairs
More importantly?
It’s just a better long-term investment. A strong, well-insulated house that doesn’t bleed energy is exactly what we want in a forever home.
Our New Home Plans: One-Level Living and a Custom In-Law Suite
If you have been following along for a while, you know that we are currently three generations under one roof, with one kitchen but separate tv spaces, a first floor master for my parents and the 2nd floor and loft with where Jim, my son and I have our bedrooms and additional tv area in the loft (which also serves as our current office 😫 more on why our next office will NOT be in our house….later. Let’s just say, I feel like I never leave my house or work).
February 2026 will mark 8 years since we bought the home and well, you know that a pretty crazy turn of events happened during that time (catch up here) and it’s REALLY hard to believe that so many years have passed.
Our new plan is to build one large ICF house but with 2 kitchens (similar to our previous home when my grandparents also lived with us). The only difference, our previous home was a 2 story colonial and our new home will have one floor with possibly a master above the garage.
We’re still finalizing the details, but here’s what we know:
- The main house will be around 2,500 square feet
- There will be an attached in-law suite for my parents, around 1,200 to 1,500 square feet
- We’re designing a one-level living floor plan to keep everything accessible
- Above the garage, we may add a master suite for extra flexibility
The house floor plan above is an example of a one story, open kitchen and living room with the kids bedrooms on one side of the house and the master on the other.
We’re also designing with aging in place and multigenerational living in mind.
Everyone will have their own space, but it will still feel like one connected home.
And yes, we will be building an ICF home.
Inside a Real ICF Build: The Twin Brother’s ICF New Home
Jim is currently building an ICF home for twin brothers (aka a multigenerational compound), and it’s been so fun to watch this process up close.
The shared space living room and kitchen below features a spacious area perfect for hosting holidays.
The foam blocks go up fast, the concrete cores lock everything in, and the insulation?
It’s built right in.
No extra wrapping or layering needed. We’ll be sharing photos of the framing, insulation, and exterior finishes soon, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
It’s clean, efficient, and looks just as polished as any stick-built home, except it’s stronger, quieter, and more energy-efficient.
Building Soon? Here’s What to Add to Your Checklist
Whether you’re planning your first home or your forever home, here’s what I’d add to your list:
- Compare ICF vs. wood framing
- Plan your HVAC size carefully (tight homes need right-sized systems as well as air exchange systems)
- Prioritize insulation, early and often
- Research home building materials comparison guides
- Look at one-level living and multigenerational home floor plans if planning to house in-laws, grown kids or whoever else you may have in your home (Massachusetts now allows ADU’s AKA tiny homes!)
When you build a home that saves energy, costs less to maintain, and feels good to live in!
That’s a win every time.
Common Questions About ICF Construction
Not at all. More budget-friendly homes are using ICF because it’s an investment in long-term savings and comfort.
Yes! That solid concrete core and insulated layers cut down on noise big-time—great for multigenerational households.
Absolutely. You can start with an ICF foundation and use traditional framing above if needed. You can also use ICF if adding on to your existing wood frame house.
If you’re even thinking about building a home in the next year or two, add ICF to your research list. It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re pinning backsplash ideas, but it just might be the smartest!
More ICF House Build Posts
- The Kenmore ICF house build for a family of 5
- ICF foundation for a twin brothers moving in together (with their wives!)
- Building an ICF home and layout for a multigenerational family
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
