The Facts
- An increasing number of American homeowners and builders are looking
for alternatives to wood-framing.
- In 2004, 16.3% of the single-family homes built in the U.S. utilized
exterior above-grade concrete wall systems, accounting for more than
226,000 homes in that year alone.
- The market share of concrete homes has steadily increased, from 3%
in 1993 to more than 16% in 2004.
- 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.
- Four different concrete wall systems are available. Masonry uses
concrete blocks to form the basic structure of the home. Removable concrete
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.
- Because of decreased energy bills and insurance costs, a concrete
home can cost less per month to operate than a wood frame house.
- 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.
The Benefits
- Concrete homes are inherently more energy-efficient than traditional
wood-frame homes. The mass of concrete slows down the passage of heat
moving through the wall, meaning that with the same amount of insulation,
a concrete home stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
than a wood frame home.
- Concrete forms a solid, continuous and airtight wall that prevents
airleckage, the main culprit of home energy loss.
- Concrete and cement-based products used in the home give it added
protection from natural disasters. Debris driven by high winds presents
the greatest hazard to homeowners and their homes during hurricanes
and tornados. Tests conducted at Texas Tech University showed that concrete
wall systems suffered no structural damage when impacted by debris carried
by hurricane and tornado-force winds.
- The concrete, foam and steel in concrete wall systems are not a food
source of mold growth unlike wood studs, joists and wall sheathing.
- Because of concrete natural resistance to fire and its strength against
tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes, insurance for concrete homes
is often 15 to 25 percent lower than for wood frame homes.
- 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.
|
