I need some help finding the best facts about ICF so that I can take it to the bank. I am thinking it will help the value of the house. Does anyone know of a great place with facts that I can get to the bank. It needs to be short and sweet so that they dont have to read a lot. I want to build an ICF basement and I know it will cost more at the start but it will pay for its self in the long run. But the banks dont care about that. Thanks for all your help. I love this place. Thanks

starksb,

I think if you are looking for "great" information to take to the bank to build a house with an ICF basement, you are going to have an uphilll battle. If you are looking to build the entire house out of ICF, that would be a different story. Building a basement with ICF is good but the real benefits of this system are realized when you take it above grade.

If you use ICFs for your home's entire envelope, you could educated the bank on ICF technology. You could explain to the bank that you could have reduced insurance costs/premiums and your house will be incredibly energy efficient. It is possible that the reduced energy costs could offset the increased loan premium.

renangle

For you, the homeowner, it does not pay for itself in the long run. You get the benefits of a safer, more comfortable home with little, if any, additional cost right from the beginning. That is because your mortgage is a monthly expense just like your utilities. And energy costs are going to continue to rise, but then again your bank won't be paying those.

But as Renangle said, you will have to go all the way to the roof to really get the benefits.

Walk into the bank and ask the manager what he drives? I'm assuming a nice above average car, ask him why he would pay that kind of cash when a Yugo has all the same basic features. He will retort with his car having better features than a Yugo, safer, etc. After that speal ask him to now stamp your loan as approved.

Depending on your location, local economic trends, material costs, how many framers are looking for work compared to ICF guys, etc. You may pay the same to more for your ICF home. Doing the basement only is like putting $ 1000.00 tires on that Yugo, take it to the roof. A lot of ICF guys have carpentry backgrounds and will do the framing portion as well as the ICF work.

Go to icfa.com (nsulated Concrete Form Association) or pca.com (Portland Cement Association) they should have good independant information about ICF benefits. You also might try the HUD website they have also done a lot of study into ICF construction and it's benefits.

Banks and relators are behind the curve ball when recognizing the added value of energy efficient framing systems. We're doing what we can to educate them and teach them that homes built with high energy efficient building systems need to be valued higher. Good luck with any information that would get their attention. You stated it yourself. They don't care. Banks only care that you can qualify and make the payment. Relators only care about 3 bedroom, 3 bath. Energy Efficient, sustainably built. What in the heck does that have to do with anything.