When cured, the concrete in AMVIC walls is 50% stronger and use 30% less concrete than traditionally poured walls. While the cost of a bare block or poured wall is less, AMVIC provides insulation and furring strips, and is ready to finish, making it a cost effective and less labor-intensive choice. AMVIC also is far less labor intensive to use where there are frequent openings and/or popouts as are frequently the case in residential construction.

Yes. The AMVIC forms are used to allow builders to pour a solid concrete wall. However, upon completion, the forms are designed to provide insulation, nailing surfaces, and a vapor barrier, all in one step.

AMVIC wall is stronger, more soundproof, more resistant to natural disasters, better insulated, has a superior R-value, is more energy efficient, reduces air infiltration and benefits from the thermal mass of the concrete.

A - Concrete must have water to gain strength and hydrating membranes are an essential part of concrete construction. When ICF is used, the concrete achieves a higher strength than specifications because of this ability to keep moisture in the mix. Eventually, all the water is converted to concrete crystals. Top

Definitely not. Residential structures have been being built in the U.S. of formed concrete since the turn of the century. Thomas Edison built several homes of formed concrete in the 1900's that are still occupied today. Stay-in-place concrete form construction began in Europe in the 50's and has been widely practiced in Eastern Canada and Eastern U.S. since the 70's.

Poured concrete is three times (3x) stronger and resists water infiltration better than block. Poured concrete also offers a faster building cycle than block.

An Earth Block building is not only healthy for the individual, but also for the planet. Dirt, an Earth Block's primary ingredient, is a renewable, non-toxic natural resource. Earth Block walls are virtually breathable, soundproof, bug-proof, fireproof, and even bulletproof! Requiring less transportation of materials than conventional construction methods, Earth Blocks have a lower embodied energy than conventional building materials.

A 5,000 psi concrete wall combined with top and bottom bond beam and solid concrete studs reinforced with rebar, means our Superior Walls system is about ten times stronger than a conventional block wall. [top]

Yes. ICF forms are used to allow builders a solid concrete wall. Also, the A-One Form brackets (webs) run the full height of the form so much less bracing is needed during pouring. The majority of ICF's on the market require major bracing because their forms cannot support the weight of the concrete.

You will never see a crack running through a paver patio or across a paver walk, and of course pavers offer more design diversity. Back to top

AMVIC ICF's are the most recently designed blocks on the market, and builders are consistently giving them strong reviews for ease of use and enhanced speed of assembly. The design of the AMVIC blocks makes them the easiest to use of any system available. The blocks arrive on site pre-assembled, and the straight block and 90 deg and 45 deg blocks provide for almost all shape requirements. If additional angles or curves are required, they can be constructed on-site using straight blocks.

Multi-story structures can be built with AMVIC, one story at a time. At present we've built to 8 stories. Each story is stacked 9' to 12' and poured in 2' - 4' lifts in a continuous pour.

Yes, however some local officials may have more experience with this than others. Most of the Northern California and Nevada counties have approved ICF projects recently. Most building departments have dealt with ICF construction previously and are knowledgeable about it. AMVIC's system has been approved by the ICBO Evaluation Service, the primary construction product certification organization in the country. The ICBO report number is ER-5948. Download this ICBO Report.

A - Yes. Amvic ICFs are one of few forms on the market that are engineered to withstand the internal vibration. In fact, this practice is strongly recommended by Amvic.

A - An Amvic wall is stronger, more soundproof, more resistant to natural disasters, better insulated, has a superior R-value, is more energy efficient and reduces air infiltration. In addition it also provides numerous benefits from the thermal mass of the concrete. Top

A NRG Block is six to ten times higher in R-Value than a common block, which ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 depending upon the aggregate used.

Other blocks using inserts or hollow core blocks with poured insulation range between 5 and 6 for a 9 and 10" block.