- An increasing number of American homeowners and
builders are looking for alternatives to wood-framing.
- Four different concrete wall systems are available.
Masonry uses concrete blocks to form the basic structure of the home.
Cast-in-place forms are filled with concrete to create walls, then removed
once the concrete is hardened. Precast panels are cast off-site, then
assembled in large sections at the job site. With insulating concrete
form (ICF) construction, concrete is pumped between two layers of foam
insulation to form walls.
- In 2003, 16.1% of the single-family homes built
in the U.S. utilized exterior above-grade concrete wall systems, accounting
for more than 211,000 homes in that year alone.
- The cost of building with concrete is generally
estimated at 2% to 4% more than wood frame homes (based on a study of
ICF homes), compared to 5% when last measured in 1997.
- The market share of concrete homes has steadily
increased, from 3% in 1993 to more than 16% in 2003.
- Homes built with exterior concrete walls offer
superior energy efficiency, increased safety from natural disasters,
and a quiet, comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
- Homes built with exterior concrete walls can accept
any type of exterior finish including brick, stone, siding or stucco.
A finished concrete home is indistinguishable from any other home in
the neighborhood.
- As builders and consumers become more aware that
concrete walls are an option for their new home, entire communities
built with exterior concrete walls are being built in areas as diverse
as Minneapolis, Myrtle Beach, Reno, Palm Springs, Houston and Kansas
City. Developments in California, Missouri, Washington, Texas, and Florida,
among others, were started in 2003. In 2004, new concrete home developments
appeared in South Carolina and New Jersey.
- The energy savings and a smaller insurance premium
often make the monthly operating cost of living in a concrete home less
than that of a conventionally built house.
- Concrete offers a natural choice for homeowners
concerned about the environment. Concrete products are made with a combination
of recycled products and some of the most abundant materials on earth.
Once in place, concrete is there for the long run. It doesn't rot, rust,
or burn, lasting decades with minimal upkeep.
About the Portland Cement Association
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement
companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development,
engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.
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