Tehama Country Real Estate

HOW TO Build with Concrete With environmentalists predicting that warming trends across the country will likely mean more severe blasts of wind, rain, blizzards, heat, drought and fires year- round, the building industry says it is al- ready up to the challenge of ensuring occu- pant safety. "For more than a decade now, advance- ments in green technology have delivered a concrete wall-building system that com- pletely replaces the standard wood framing," says Todd Blyth at Nudura, a leading name in the construction field. "On the construc- tion site, pre-assembled concrete forms in- terlock like Lego to create a super strong structural envelope." Called the "insulated concrete form," or ICF, take a look at a few more of its immediate benefits: Rock Solid Walls: With growing concerns about extreme weather, Nudura's ICF testing demonstrates hurricane and tornado im- pact-resistance up to 250 miles per hour. Concrete is more structurally sound during floods as well, and the fire protection rating is up to 4 hours. Lower Fuel Costs: Concrete walls reduce the air infiltration experienced with wood walls, leading to significantly improved energy performance. By combining two panels of thick (EPS) foam with the struc- tural strength and thermal mass of concrete, the walls can provide an efficiency rating as high as R-50 (compared to an average R-20 in wood structures), saving you up to 70 percent on energy bills. Indoor Comfort: Solid concrete walls de- liver even temperatures throughout your house, and eliminate cold air seepage that causes chilly spots. Mold, mildew and tox- ins associated with wood structures are also eliminated. Peace & Quiet: Inside, the walls give you an effective sound barrier. Concrete dampens the vibrations of outside noise, such as the drone of traffic. Beauty: With concrete at the core, you can add beautiful finishes like stone, brick, sid- ing or stucco, and you can design with inno- vative architectural shapes, such as arches, bay windows and any door style. Incremental value: When you put a house on the market that is stronger, safer, and less costly to heat, cool and repair, you can com- mand a premium price. More information is available online at www.nudura.com.

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