Concrete Homes Continue to Rule The Roost in Lubbock

The City of Lubbock continues its leadership role in using concrete wall systems for affordable housing. During the last four years, Lubbock has demolished more than 80 substandard and deteriorating homes, replacing them with homes built with insulating concrete form (ICF) exterior walls. The project is part of the city's Affordable Housing Reconstruction Program, which is partially funded through a combination of state, federal, and private partnerships, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which supplies Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs). More

PATH's Asdal Speaks to U.S. House of Representatives

On behalf of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) Industry Steering Committee, homebuilder Bill Asdal spoke to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations last week in support of FY2005 funding for PATH. Mr. Asdal shared a few of PATH's accomplishments from 2003 that illustrated the "diversity of work funded under the program" and the opportunities that still exist with level or increased funding in FY2005. Currently, "federal monies are leveraged by industry contributions, cooperative research funding, and the in-kind activities of companies ...that participate in field evaluations of new products and systems."

Many of PATH’s technologies are cement-based building products because of the inherent value they offer in meeting PATH goals. Michael H. Weber, PCA’s Director of Residential, currently serves on the PATH Steering Committee.

To download Mr. Asdal's testimony, click here.

Faull to Manage Concrete Home Building Council

Dawn Faull was named manager of the newly formed Concrete Home Building Council (CHBC). Faull previously served as marketing director for the Arizona Masonry Guild. She will handle the day-to-day operations of the Council and help develop programs, membership initiatives, and other events on its behalf.

CHBC Membership Expands

The Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Association (AACPA) and National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) are the newest members of the National Association of Home Builders Concrete Home Building Council. Bill Snyder, president of AACPC, and Harry Junk, NCMA's residential market manager, will represent their respective organizations on the council.

The newly formed council, now consisting of PCA, ICFA, CFA, PCI, AACPA, and NCMA will provide NAHB membership access to technical, educational, and training experts on cement-based building systems and cement-based product applications. The Concrete Home Building Council falls under NAHB’s Building Systems Council with funding from PCA and other members of the newly formed Concrete Home Building Council.

To learn more about the council, contact Michael H. Weber at mweber@cement.org, or Dawn Faull at dfaull@nahb.com.

State Farm Shows Interest in ICFs

The Insulating Concrete Form Association’s Executive Director, Joe Lyman, and PCA’s Director of Codes & Standards, Stephen Szoke, met with key representatives of State Farm Insurance in response to their request for information on construction, detailing, codes, and standards related to ICFs. State Farm advised that they have seen thousands of building systems and innovations try to enter the home building market, and none have had more market penetration or were more readily embraced by the building community than ICFs. They want to be prepared to insure ICF homes and businesses. While many of State Farm’s concerns were addressed at the meeting, they identified a need for information on repair and retrofit of ICFs in the event of damage.

ICF Construction Highlighted at Carpenter Open House

The Chicagoland District Council of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) held an open house at their Carpenter Training Center in suburban Elk Grove Village, IL on Saturday, May 22nd. Featured prominently were displays illustrating insulating concrete form (ICF) construction. The Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA), and seven of its member companies, displayed their products to the thousands of apprentices, architects, contractors, and general public attending the day-long event. More

Team Concrete Triumphs in Buffalo

Habitat for Humanity Buffalo and Riefler Concrete Products LLC are teaming up to build one of the non-profit’s next houses in Buffalo, New York. Habitat’s construction crew recently broke ground on a 1,200-square-foot home incorporating insulating concrete form (ICF) walls for both the basement and first story. The home will use approximately 50 yards of ready mixed concrete in the walls alone. Riefler is a premier supplier of concrete products and ICFs in Western New York. Other companies providing discounted or donated products include Amvic, Inc., Wind-Lock Corporation, Vinyl Technologies, Inc., Zelasko Construction, and Cosella-Dorken Products. The Buffalo project is an official part of PCA’s Team Concrete community relations/education program encouraging companies in the cement and concrete industry to partner with affordable housing entities. Buffalo’s Team Concrete sponsors plan to host educational seminars at the jobsite during and after construction of the home.

For more information about Buffalo’s Team Concrete, and other Team Concrete projects, visit www.teamconcrete.org.

Weber Honored With ICFA Excellence Award

Michael H. Weber, Director, Residential, for the Portland Cement Association, was named the winner of the 2004 Excellence Award by the Insulating Concrete Form Association. Weber earned the recognition due to his efforts in creating the National Association of Home Builders Concrete Home Building Council, and his commitment to advancing the use of ICFs. More

Awards for Concrete Industry People and Projects

Triangle Sales and Marketing Council of North Carolina of the Home Builders Associations recently held its tenth annual Triangle-Wide Major Achievements in Marketing Excellence (MAME) Awards gala. The annual event recognizes those who have made major achievements in designing, building, marketing, and selling new homes. This year, several key people associated with concrete construction garnered the highest level of recognition. More

HVAC Sizing for Concrete Homes

Developed as part of a HUD-sponsored project, this software provides an alternative means of estimating heating and cooling system capacities for single-family homes. The software calculates the system capacities based on the house dimensions, construction materials, location (U.S. and Canada) and thermostat set point.
CD044—$59.95