Are there any?
This website describes the many advantages of ICF in great detail – but are there any disadvantages?
And of course there are a few, but nothing that stands in the way of using this fantastic building technique!
Sustainability
We do not believe that ICF is not a sustainable product because over its lifetime an ICF building will save far more energy than is used in the initial production of the concrete and polymers that are used to produce the ICF forms.
Furthermore when an ICF building is demolished all the raw materials can be reused.
Practicability
ICF cannot be used successfully unless all the planning and design is carried out before building with it, as changing any ICF layout after the structure has been built will be horrendously expensive. But even this can be thought of as a positive, simply because it stops those late changes in a project that are the primary cause of budget over-runs.
It is also diffcult to add extensions when new openings are required in an ICF wall. Hence if there is any possibility of an extension being built in the future it will be wise to include door openings that are hidden behind the external wall finish and internally with plasterboard.
Cost
There are estimated costs shown elsewhere on this website that demonstrate that ICF costs are comparable with traditional construction costs as well as timber frame. As builders get more experienced in its use, the labour cost of construction is bound to reduce, because builders will not have to wait for bricklayers and weather delays will be avoided.
Design drawings
When all things are considered it is clear, that if an ICF project is to be successful, then construction drawings, based on the actual ICF forms that are to be used, must be provided and furthermore, prepared by an experienced ICF designer.
All succesful projects are planned carefully and so it is diffcult to call this a disadvantage!