Yesterday I took my family up to Clay Township in Lancaster County to check out the first all-ICF (insulated concrete forms) house built in this area. It was constructed by Garman Builders and is priced at a little over $300,000.
It's a ranch-style and looks exactly like a traditional stick-built home, as you can see from the pictures. The interior is nicely decorated for the Parade of Homes.
I was struck by the fact that this groundbreaking home is so unnassuming compared to the behemoth homes represented elsewhere in the parade, and was sad that it was not closer to Lancaster City where it could get so much more exposure to the public.
Glenn from Construction Supply Centers came by while we were there and was reviewing the features of the home's ICF construction with guests, using a display set up on one of the front rooms.
If you are interested in more info about using Insulated Concrete Forms feel free to contact me or visit this article on the subject I posted recently. I can put you in touch with Tom Reilly, selling Reward Walls, the ICFs used in this home.
Overall I was impressed with the look of the home and the comfort level in the finished basement, but wished that the ICFs had been left exposed down there so the public could be educated better about the truly "green" technology used in constructing the home. This is the only green home attempted this year out of 52...At the recent green home open house I attended at Lancaster Career & Technology Center in Mount Joy, the basement had yet to be finished and the ICFs were visible - but the event was not of the scale as the Parade of Homes. An opportunity lost?
Thanks to Norm Faust and Mike Garman for letting me take photos in the home! If you get a chance this week take the drive up to Ephrata to see this home.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff's work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff's blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs.
A note to everyone reading this article. It was featured in Active Rain's Week in Review 6/18/07---6/24/07
This post was one of the Top 25 picks for the week! Congratulations and thanks for writing a great blog!
Hi Jeff, all concrete homes are beginning to show up here in Florida. Imagine that! One of the few places in this country that needs bunker style homes and we are just now seeing them. These homes are concrete all the way up, including the roof.
Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!
Jeff,
I am so enthused with this method of construction.
Seems so much more durable and sustainable than wood framed homes with foam sheahing, and a natural for stucco exteriors.
Found this post on your spiffy newsletter.