The DMT Blog
Straight talk on ICF construction, foundations, energy efficiency and building in Simcoe County — written by the crew that does the work.
ICF Installation: How the Wall Goes Up, Course by Course
A footing within 1/4 inch of level, a first course laid from the corners, and a wall levelled at course two. The installation, in order.
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ICF House Plans: What Changes When the Walls Are Concrete
A wood-frame plan will build in ICF — just not exactly as drawn. Thickness, 8-inch lengths, 18-inch courses and lintels.
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What Is ICF Construction? The Wall, Explained in the Order It Goes Up
A reinforced concrete wall poured inside a form that never comes off — and why that decides the order everything goes up in.
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Insulated Concrete Form Bracing: Why the Wall Is Only as Straight as the Brace
The form holds the concrete. The brace holds the form — and it is the only chance you get to make the wall straight.
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Basement Waterproofing in Ontario: What Actually Keeps Water Out
Damp-proofing is not waterproofing — and the drainage does more of the work than the coating does.
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What ICF Actually Costs Compared to Wood Frame
Where the premium really sits, what it buys back, and when ICF is not the cheaper answer.
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Pouring Concrete in Winter: How a Cold-Climate Build Actually Works
A winter pour is ordinary work here, not a gamble — if the mix, the ground and the protection are right.
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Pour Day: What Actually Happens When an ICF Foundation Gets Filled
A few hours, a truck on the clock, and a form you cannot open again. What has to be right first.
Read the post →ICF vs Poured Concrete Foundation: What Actually Changes
An ICF foundation is poured concrete. The difference is the form — and whether it stays in the wall.
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ICF Addition on an Existing House: How the Tie-In Works
The new room in an addition is almost always the coldest one. It doesn't have to be — here's how the footings, walls and tie-in actually work.
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Do ICF Foundations Need Waterproofing?
ICF resists moisture better than bare concrete — but below grade it still needs damp-proofing, waterproofing and drainage. Here's what your foundation actually requires.
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Can You Put Drywall Directly on ICF Walls?
Short answer: yes — and it's one of ICF's most underrated advantages. Here's how the finishing stage actually works on an insulated concrete wall.
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Are ICF Homes Really More Energy Efficient?
The R-value on the label is only half the story. What makes ICF homes cheaper to heat and cool is what's not in the wall: gaps, studs and air leaks.
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ICF vs. Conventional Framing: What R-Value Actually Tells You
R-22 to R-26 on paper — but the honest comparison between ICF and a framed wall isn't found on the label. Here's how to read the numbers like a builder.
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Footings on Bedrock: How It's Actually Done
When the excavator hits granite two feet down, the standard playbook stops working. Here's how footings get scribed, pinned and poured on the Canadian Shield.
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Building an ICF Cottage in Simcoe County & Muskoka: What to Know
Rock, water, winter and setbacks — cottage lots stack every difficulty at once. Here's what four-season ICF construction looks like north of Barrie.
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