All photos courtesy of the Portland Cement Association
Removable Forms
Concrete
Masonry (Concrete Block)
Insulating
Concrete Forms (ICFs)
Precast
Concrete Panels
With
removable form construction, a crew erects forms of aluminum, wood, or
steel to make a mold in the shape of the walls. Insulation is placed inside
the forms along with reinforcing steel, and a crew pours concrete inside
the cavity.
Masons
lay a series of courses, or rows, using concrete block units. Each course
is set on a layer of mortar to bind the blocks and ensure proper spacing.
Most systems incorporate rigid insulation for added energy efficiency.
ICF Technology
uses blocks or panels consisting of two layers of rigid foam insulation
that stack and interlock. Once reinforcing steel is secured, workers pump
concrete into the cavity to create a solid structural wall with insulation
on both sides.
With precast concrete, large panels of wall are poured horizontally in a factory. Rigid foam insulation is placed between two layers of concrete. Once hardened, the panels are delivered by truck to the job site, lifted into place with a crane, and fastened together.
