ICF Homes: What Builders Get Wrong (and How to Do It Right)

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BUILD BETTER HOMES

PLIRIS

12 episodes

1 week ago

The Build Better Homes Podcast is where construction expertise meets real-world experience. Co-hosted by Royal Mortier (President of PLIRIS) and John O’Shea (COO of PLIRIS), the show dives into the tools, strategies, and lessons that help builders, designers, and homeowners create smarter, stronger, and more efficient homes. With decades of combined experience in engineering, contracting, and operations, Royal and John bring unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s construction industry. Each episode features insights into building science, team structures, design processes, and the practical details that separate successful projects from costly mistakes. Whether you’re a builder just starting out, an industry professional looking to scale, or simply passionate about better homebuilding, this podcast will give you actionable knowledge, candid stories, and proven strategies to help you build better, every time.

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ICF Homes: What Builders Get Wrong (and How to Do It Right) | Royal & John ft. Robert Klob

BUILD BETTER HOMES

58 minutes 6 seconds

1 month ago

ICF Homes: What Builders Get Wrong (and How to Do It Right) | Royal & John ft. Robert Klob

In this episode of Build Better Homes, Royal and John sit down with ICF expert Robert Klob, a designer with over 40 years of experience in residential and commercial construction. Robert specializes exclusively in insulated concrete form (ICF) home design and has reviewed, designed, or consulted on hundreds of projects across the country.

We dive into everything homeowners, builders, and designers need to understand about ICF construction from design nuances and common mistakes to engineering pitfalls and the massive impact of proper planning. Robert also shares how the ICF industry has evolved, real stories from the field, and why this construction method is transforming resilience, safety, and energy efficiency in modern homebuilding.

If you've ever wondered whether ICF is worth it, how it differs from wood framing, or what pitfalls to avoid during design, this episode is essential.

What We Cover

How Robert went from framing contractor's son → apprentice designer → ICF specialist
Why early ICF systems failed (and how the industry fixed it)
The real benefits of ICF vs. wood framing
Structural differences every builder must understand
Why HVAC design is non-negotiable in airtight homes
Cost misconceptions: where ICF saves money and where it can add complexity
Plan-conversion mistakes (and why some designs should NOT be converted to ICF)
Over-engineering — how bad design adds tens of thousands of dollars
Why California makes ICF adoption nearly impossible
When DIY ICF works… and when it becomes a disaster
Safe rooms, hurricane zones, snow loads, and fire resilience
Block manufacturers, installer support, and what actually matters
The single most important question: “Does your designer understand ICF?”

Why This Episode Matters

ICF is one of the most misunderstood methods in residential construction. Done right, it’s incredibly strong, quiet, energy-efficient, and durable. Done wrong, it can be expensive, frustrating, and structurally problematic.

This episode gives you the clarity that most homeowners, builders, and designers never get.

Guest Links

Robert Klob Design

Website: rkdZNs.com

Connect with PLIRIS

Website: https://pliris.co

Engineering • Plans • ICF Design Support