Snow Loads in Ontario: The Real Numbers, the OBC Formula, and the Roof Mistakes That Get People in Trouble Snow load design isn’t “extra cautious engineering.” In Ontario, it’s basic survival. Every winter, roofs carry a moving target: light fluffy…
Why New Home Buyers Are Falling in Love with Insulated Concrete Forms When you’re building your first home, you want it to be perfect. You dream of a place that’s comfortable year-round, safe for your family, and won’t drain your…
🏠 ICF Home Building: You’ve Got Plans, Permits, and a Dream Congratulations! You’ve finally gotten your plans and specifications together. The financing is arranged, the homebuilding permits are in hand, and you’ve convinced your significant other that this will, in…
Searching for the Best ICF in Ontario? AI’s Answers Will Surprise You (and Maybe Confuse You) “What is the best ICF in Ontario?” We typed it in, hit enter, and waited with bated breath, expecting a symphony of data-driven brilliance. Instead,…
🏗️ ICF vs. SIPs: A Comprehensive Comparison of Modern Building Systems The construction industry is evolving rapidly, driven by the need for energy efficiency, resilience, and faster building methods. Among the leading innovations are Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs),…
Got plans? Zero patience? If you’d rather see a ballpark ICF cost now than read the whole article first, run the calculator and come back with a smarter budget. Opens in a new tab. Planning tool only — not a…
Winter gaps? Usually physics, not panic. Last updated: January 2026 Why Truss Uplift Hits Ontario Homes Every Winter (and the 2026 Fixes That Actually Hold) If it’s February in Ontario and your ceiling is “separating” from the wall (especially near…
If you’re purchasing a home from a new home builder, it’s important to consider which, if any, upgrades you’d like to have installed by your builder. While it’s important to create the home of your dreams, it’s also important to…
Closed Cell vs Open Cell Foam Insulation Before we can go into that we need to start by saying that in the foam insulation industry there are usually two types of foam insulation being used, open-cell and closed-cell. There are…
With the increasing cost of energy and a focal point on health and green environmental issues, builders, architects, and other building professionals are recommending insulation materials to add exceptional performance value to construction projects. Spray foam insulation is still one of…
Ontario Costs Basement & Footings ICF Foundation Cost • Real-world drivers ICF Foundation Cost in Ontario: What It Really Costs (and What Actually Moves the Price) If you’ve been trying to price an ICF foundation in Ontario, you’ve probably noticed…
Ice and icicles on your roof may be cute, but they can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up into your house. As snow continues to pile up on people’s roofs this winter, homeowners are up…
Straw-bale home construction is a building method that uses bales of straw (commonly: wheat, rice, rye, and oats straw) as structural elements, building insulation, or both. The first straw-bale structures we know of were built about a hundred years ago by European settlers in the…
By Leigha Dickens When we talk about energy efficient building, everyone wants to know about the R-value. “R-value” (that’s the inverse of the BTUs of heat transferred per hour per across a square foot of surface area per difference in temperature,…
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) represents another choice for builders seeking alternatives for R-30 (or higher) walls for single and multifamily construction. Although a substantially different system than the more typical ICF construction methods, SIPs can achieve equally impressive results cost-effectively…
Insulated concrete forms (ICF) is a method of building walls for reinforced concrete ordinarily manufactured with a rigid styrofoam insulation that stays in place as a permanent interior and exterior walls. 9 Things You Should Know Before You Start Building…
ICF-great-case-study Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) wall most commonly consist of concrete between polystyrene foam, although other form materials such as polyurethane, recycled wood and cement mixtures exist. The foam is usually two flat pieces of either expanded polystyrene (EPS, average…
Insulating your home is pure and simple the number one way to save money on energy costs. In the old days, floors and walls were lined with just about anything to keep the moisture and cold air out of the…
How Can Brick And Stone Make Your Home Energy Efficient A home thatís energy-efficient is healthier and more cost efficient. Energy efficiency modifications in your home can eliminate or at least lessen the poor quality of air thatís brought in…
While previous generations may have been content to live in drafty houses, most people now want comfortable, warm houses. A healthy house today is well sealed, well insulated and properly ventilated. A well-insulated house is a bit like dressing for…
Advanced emerging building materials, such as structural insulated panels (SIPs), are engineered to provide more durable, energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings. Using SIPs to create a high-performance building envelope is the first step to producing “green” building that is strong,…
