The Tidewater Classic Offers Concrete and Quiet Peace of Mind (cont)

Tougher Than Most
ICF walls have a proven track record of withstanding the ravages of fire and severe-weather damage, which is important to a coastal region prone to hurricanes and tornadoes.

With hurricane clips securing the rafters to the concrete walls, The Tidewater Classic won't budge against 150 mph winds.  Its concrete shell serves as armor against the impact of the debris that hurls around in those wind speeds.

The Tidewater Classic's exterior storm protection was bolstered further with upgraded wind-resistant roof shingles and roll-up shutters that can withstand winds of up to 110 mph.  As a special feature in the house, a safe room capable of resisting winds of 200 mph - with reinforced concrete walls and ceiling and steel door - was built into the master closet.

ICF homes also require fewer repairs due to moisture.  Neither the concrete nor polystyrene will rot or rust.  And the reinforcing steel is buried deep inside the concrete and protected against corrosion.

More For The Money
More than 10 percent of new home starts in the United States are concrete, according to the Portland Cement Association.  And that number is expected to grow as many home buyers learn that they can get more from a new home constructed with ICF.

ICF offers concrete solutions for a multitude of problems that plague homeowners - from energy loss to noise pollution - at a cost of about 5 percent to 10 percent more than an ordinary wood-framed house, Pocock said.

Concrete Value
Pocock considers himself the leader in ICF construction in South Hampton Roads.  He said he has built more than 40 ICF homes.

Formerly a structural engineer, Pocock's interest in concrete home building was sparked in 1993, during his transition into full-time custom home building.

"I had designed buildings and bridges, and I knew a whole lot about concrete design," he said.  "In the past, (concrete-home builders) could get the strength of concrete and forego the insulation or get a very well insulated building and forego the strength.  I use Polysteel to get the best of both worlds," Pocock said.

Pocock's first experience with ICF was in building a 6,000-square-foot home in Woodard's Mill.  Today, Dominion Building Group builds exclusively with ICF technology.  It currently is the principal subcontractor for Lynnhaven Dunes, an upscale condominium development on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach.

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CREDIT: Home-A-Rama 2000.  Supplement to The Virginia-Pilot.  October 2000.