Insulated Concrete Form Homes (ICF) Houston is an ideal place to build an ICF home and Dreams 2 Reality is one of the few custom home builders experienced in this technology. Insulated Concrete Forms (or ICFs) are forms or molds that have built-in insulation for accepting reinforced concrete. ICFs have become a preferred home building product worldwide. These large, hollow blocks are filled with reinforcing bar and concrete. The end result leaves you with a high-performing wall that is structurally sound, insulated, strapped, has a vapor barrier and is ready to accept final exterior and interior finishes. An Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Home can be multiple stories high and have many design features of a typical frame home.  The ICF walls incorporate framing, insulation, vapor barrier and shear resistance into one step.   ICF homes offer many benefits to the homeowner including: ICF homes typically save upwards of 50% of utility costs when complementary materials and methods are incorporated into the structure during construction. ICF homes provide quiet indoor environments. ICF homes are durable in that the structure is solid concrete, unaffected by many of the problems of common frame construction. The insulation value of the EPS foam never deteriorates and is unaffected by moisture or settling. The solid wall construction eliminates drafts and air leaks that attribute to dust and pollen buildup within the home. ICF homes that incorporate proper heating and cooling systems offer clean air environments for the occupants. ICF homes don’t incorporate cavity wall construction that can be conducive to moisture and mold buildup. ICF homes don’t offer a “readymade” home for bugs and critters to live unlike wood frame walls. ICF Homeowners repeatedly exclaim “We’ll never go back to wood after living in our ICF home” Want to see ICF Homes we have built? Stahl ICF Home Gallery Schriver ICF Home Gallery Rossingh ICF Home Gallery Safe Rooms Do you need a shelter? Extreme windstorms such as tornadoes and hurricanes pose a serious threat to buildings and their occupants along the Gulf Coast. Houses are built in accordance with local building codes that consider effects of minimum design winds. These are winds that, according to building code requirements, your house must be able to withstand. However, a tornado or hurricane can often cause winds much greater than those on which local building code requirements are based. Your house may be built "to code", but that does not mean that it can withstand winds from extreme events. If you are concerned about wind hazards where you live, especially if you live in Wind Zone III or IV, you should consider building a shelter. What is a Safe Room? A safe room is a small, windowless room built either inside or outside of a structure to provide you, your family and your belongings protection from severe weather. How much protection will a Safe Room provide? A safe room built according to FEMA approved plans can provide protection against winds of up to 250 mph or more and projectiles traveling at 100 mph or more - enough to protect the occupants from all but the most devastating tornadoes. Where should I build a Safe Room? Many people choose the master closet for the safe room. It makes good sense because it protects most of the owners' belongings and it can double as a room to use in case of a home invasion crime.     For guidelines on building a safe room inside your house please refer to this document from FEMA. "Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building a Safe Room Inside Your House"   To obtain a FREE copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader please go HERE. Contact us for more info

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