Why is Quad-Lock the most award winning ICF brand?
1) Versatility - can vary wall thickness or insulation to adapt to any design.
2) Shipping - fold-flat ICF ships the most product per truckload which is a great fit for remote locations such as Baja.
3) Corners - bracket support system saves the need to strap corners with extra bracing while securing a concrete pour free of blow-outs.
4) Foam - interlocking knob and tie system reduces spray-foaming block seams reducing cost and labor by a factor of 90%(bottom row and common seams still get spray foam).
5) Local support - Quad-Lock's staff combined with Nextwave Baja provide experienced support to help see the installation through to the finish.
6) Service - your Quad-Deck roof & floor pieces will arrive custom fabricated for drop-in for quick installation reducing job site waste and work hours
7) World Class - Quad-Lock has set the standard world-wide with accreditations from ISO for standardization & environmental impact, Miami-Dade county for hurricane resistance, and BBA for meeting requirements for overall resilience.
Quad-Lock is Recognized World Wide for:
Structural Strength
Standard of Quality &
Environmental Product
Hurricane Resistance
Building with ICF is a quantum leap above all methods of building.
What is the Quad-Lock ICF building system?
Quad-Lock is an ICF for both the wall(QL) and Quad-Deck floor/roof(QD) made of high density EPS(expanded polystyrene), a surprisingly light-weight yet durable form for concrete pours. While being non-toxic and hypo-allergenic, mold can not grow on it, and it has a unique moisture dispersion characteristic keeping your walls dry while remaining as your permanent insulation.
8 Steps in the building process combined into 1
* Concrete Form - lightweight EPS panel, easy assembly
* Wall Structure - framing is done
* Insulation - R-59+ and absorbs sound
* Furring/Sheathing - insulation needs no housing and provides a more workable surface for fastening
* Air/Vapor Barrier - important for climate control
* Cut chase-ways into the wall for electrical and plumbing without hammering or cutting masonry.
* Interior/Exterior finishes: parging application of base coat, eliminates "floating"and plaster phase, wall is plumbed same day as the pour.
* Clean up - job site stays relatively clean as concrete pouring typically takes about 1 day. No forms to remove, clean and store or throw away.
12 ways to save $
* Reduced crew size.
* Reduced installation time.
* Ease of building makes for smooth and stable project flow.
* Low to no scheduled maintenance as ICF is it's own moisture barrier congenial to pristine structure and finishes.
* 50%+ energy savings and smaller HVAC.
* Accomplish passive cooling and heating design goals.
* High performance homes increase property value.
* Sound dampening and comfort are attractive features: tenant retention.
* Consistent occupancy helps ensure protection from crime
* Surfaces are protected from water rot and mildew: a stable environment for, not only your home interior but your building structure as well.
* Fewer respiratory and allergenic health problems
* DIY-friendly
* Mitigate damage from natural disasters
7-fold disaster protection
* Extreme temperatures
* Flood Area Construction
* Storm Resistance
* Impact Resistance
* Seismic Resistance
* Fire Resistance
* Rot/Mildew Resistance
Summary:
Storm Resistance - ICF buildings stand up to hurricanes and most tornadoes
Impact Resistance - ICF walls and roofs can withstand the impact of most incidents of flying debris from extreme winds with little or no structural damage. High speed auto impact stopped by ICF walls, with zero structural damage!
Seismic Resistance - shear strength of steel reinforcement and concrete design mitigates the risk of building collapse due to earthquakes
Fire Resistance - up to 4 hours per fire tests
Flood Resistance - elevated concrete slab construction option seen in many coastal communities for decades, raising the entire building off the ground to avoid flood damage.
Fast Building - combine many construction steps into one step, often shaving weeks or months off construction schedules, financing budgets, and crews needed to finish the job.
Health & Comfort - sound insulation provides peace & quiet, no drafts or cold/hot spots, improved & controllable indoor air quality, no food source for mold or termites
Common predicaments observed when investors and ex-pats build in Baja that Quad-Lock solves:
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Build Schedule: long wait times due to personnel turnover and outdated methods of building.
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Energy: no design for insulation and air flow leading to exhaustive energy use and brownouts due to grid power failures.
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Summer heat: oven-like heat expels out of the walls during the night due to the thermal mass characteristic of concrete block.
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Coping Strategy: AC only for bedrooms provides limited relief contingent on power availability.
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Winter cold: initially dismissed as a non-issue, occupants climatize losing their winter coat and having to bundle up for warmth.
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Rising Crime: Many owners think only to build for visiting during the cooler season leaving their homes prey to crime in the off-season or having to find occupants to ward off theft & vandalism rent-free.
