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01Foundations & basements

Built from the footing up.

Conventional or ICF, sized for the soil and waterproofed below grade

  • Walkout and daylight basements

    Big openings and egress planned in, not cut in later

  • Waterproofing done properly

    A membrane over the wall and drainage at the footing

  • Strength below grade

    Reinforced concrete sized for the soil load

  • Basement finishing

    Lower levels finished into living space

02ICF as an option

Why the forms stay in the wall.

What each wall is made of, plainly

FeatureICF wallConventional wall
InsulationFoam on both faces, continuousAdded later, if at all
Ready to finishDrywall fastens straight to the foamNeeds framing and insulation first
Air leakageVery little: one solid, sealed wallDepends on sealing afterwards
MoistureFoam and concrete do not feed moldStuds and batts can hold moisture
Up front costUsually a modest premiumUsually lower
01

You plan to finish the basement.

ICF walls take drywall directly · no framing · no batts

02

You plan to stay a while.

Quieter · steadier · low upkeep for the life of the house

03Insulated concrete forms

The difference is inside.

Select a layer to see what it does

Cutaway of an insulated concrete form wallFrom outside to inside: siding, a continuous layer of exterior foam, a reinforced concrete core with steel rebar held by plastic web ties, a continuous layer of interior foam, then drywall. Simplified illustration, not to scale.OUTSIDEINSIDEICF WALL · CUTAWAY SECTION · SIMPLIFIED, NOT TO SCALE
Select a layer. The open bay shows the forms mid-pour.
  • Simplified illustration. Sizes, rebar and finishes follow the engineered plans and local code.
  • Below grade, a separate waterproofing membrane goes over the exterior foam. The wall alone is not waterproofing.
04Above grade too

The same wall, all the way to the roof.

The Howell build uses ICF for the main-floor walls too

White ICF main-floor walls with wood window bucks standing on a concrete foundation
A concrete pump boom folded high over a single-story ICF wall shell beside a green field
ICF walls with window bucks and bracing on a dirt site with trees behind
A stepped ICF gable wall stacked to full height with bracing on one side
Wide view of a single-story ICF wall shell with window openings on a graded lot
FAQ

Foundation and ICF questions

Do I have to choose ICF?

No. We build conventional foundations too. ICF forms stay in place, so that wall arrives insulated and ready for drywall.

Is an ICF basement waterproof?

The wall itself is not waterproofing. We apply a membrane over the exterior foam and manage drainage at the footing.

Do you build walkout basements?

Yes, walkout and daylight basements.

Do you finish basements too?

Yes, whether or not we poured the foundation.

05Start below grade

Tell us about the foundation, basement or whole house.

Required fields are marked *

We call this number back.

Town or ZIP is enough to start.

“Not sure yet” is fine.

Do you have plans?

Have drawings? Email them after we talk.

Delivered directly to Seth. Your details stay private.

Call or text
(517) 380-1711
Based in
Howell, Michigan 48855
Serving
Livingston County and Southeast Michigan