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GREENLAND, N.H., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With cold temperatures still abundant across the United States, builders can successfully utilize insulated concrete form (ICF) construction to overcome winter and early spring construction challenges and keep projects on schedule, according to the ICF experts at Atlantic Builders Supply Northeast.
During the transition from winter to spring, it’s essential to protect the top of newly poured ICF walls from exposure by covering them with insulating blankets or foam boards to keep the wall cavity dry, prevent heat loss and ensure proper curing. According to Joe Harnois, president of Atlantic Builders Supply Northeast, a distributor for Nudura ICF products throughout New England, “ICF construction is a great cold-weather option but contractors should stay weather-aware. It’s important to prevent snow, or rain that can freeze and form ice, from accumulating within the wall cavity. Covering the tops of the forms helps protect the concrete and maintain the core temperature as it cures. By taking steps to cover the forms, the concrete will cure properly, even during this transition from winter into spring, when daytime work hours can be in the 50s but overnight curing time can drop into the 20s and 30s.”
ICFs Protect Concrete Temperature and Aid Curing
ICF construction offers dual expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam panels and a concrete core to insulate the building almost immediately. With this substantial insulating foam on both sides of the wall structure, the concrete can harness its own heat. This self-generated warmth effectively maintains temperatures above the critical 40°F threshold required to achieve the intended, fully cured strength of the concrete.
Studies have shown that if concrete reaches a minimum compressive strength of 500 psi before it freezes, its ultimate strength will not be affected. This typically happens within the first 24 hours. As a rule, if the concrete can be kept above 40°F for 24 hours, it will reach design strength. While it is not recommended to pour concrete below 40⁰, both anecdotal information in the field and studies show that 4″ and 6″ ICF walls retained a temperature above 40⁰ for four to five days following a concrete pour. Nudura® ICF forms are available in a variety of thicknesses from 4″ to 12″ that increase insulting values and meet even the most stringent energy codes.
While the concrete is curing, ICF walls can provide trades with more protection from the cold and wind compared to wood framing, so you can quickly move on to indoor tasks like wiring or interior framing in safer and more comfortable conditions.
No matter what the working conditions might be, it pays to be able maintain quality and maximize efficiency. The ICF experts at Atlantic Builders Supply Northeast can review your project design and consider predicted weather conditions for your build, advising you of the best techniques and methods to employ for successful cold-weather builds. With Nudura ICFs, it’s possible to combine six installation steps into one, thereby reducing the amount of other tools and materials you need on the jobsite, resulting in projects that can be completed 25 to 50 percent faster than wood framing.
For more information about energy efficiency and cold-weather compatibility of ICF construction visit www.atlanticbuilderssupply.com
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT KIM PENDARVIS, 404-237-5087
SOURCE Atlantic Builders Supply Northeast
