West Michigan Insulated Concrete Forms ICF Builder ICF Homes ICF Construction Company

Welcome to R Value Concrete Structures

Award Winning!

Earth Shelter Project Michigan week 4 from Adam Bearup on Vimeo.

(You will have to fast forward about halfway through this to see the part about the ICF's)

Helping our customers build with benefits like:

Ultra Energy Efficient
- Ten times less air infiltration
- No thermal bridging
- Much higher r-values
- Use up to 70% less energy to heat
- Use up to 30% less energy to cool
Significantly safer
- The strength to withstand 200 mph winds (See the video)
- Explosions
- At least 4 x longer fire rating
More comfortable
- Remarkable even temperature throughout the home
- Holds the temperature longer
- Not even a hint of draftiness
- Warm, dry, and pleasant basements
Healthier air
- Potential for mold growth is significantly reduced
- No air infiltration means controlled and consistent indoor air quality
- No off gassing of materials
Silent
- Four to Eight times quieter
- STC rating up to 60
And best of all, cost-effective!
- Construction costs are more than offset by energy savings
- Typical cost increase is 7% ($21,000)
- At 6% for 30 yrs. this is $125.91/mo
- Typical energy savings are 60% ($1,600/yr.)
- Typical insurance savings are $150/yr.
- Net monthly cash flow is a positive $19.92/month
- For this reason, our system is also a popular choice for low-income housing.

I know this seems too good to be true; but it is NOT hype. Our many satisfied customers are the best proof. Read and call our list of references from the "More Information" page.

Residential: Find out why our system of building is commonly chosen for LEED homes, the ultimate in green building guidelines. R-Value has experience in maximizing your points in both the USGBC's LEED for Homes and the NAHB's Green Built programs. In fact, R-Value's system is an integral part of the first Platinum rated LEED home in West Michigan, and we also contributed to one of the first LEED homes in the Grand Rapids area. Two of our current projects are also projected to hit the Platinum level.

Commercial: This is how we cut our teeth, and it is ripe for a better way of building. Let us show you how we can benefit your bottom line on your next commercial project, whether it be an apartment, hotel, church, retirement home, warehouse or other. ICF walls are quickly becoming the product of choice for architects and building owners seeking to combat rising energy and maintenance costs. They also easily contribute up to 26 points to a LEED-NC project. R-Value will work with your architect and other subs to educate and train them in the ICF building process.

Our homes are quieter, safer, healthier, and more energy efficient than any other system. Best of all, there are no design limitations! Angles, curves, arches, cantilevers, and anything else you can imagine are simple to incorporate into our buildings. When you own one of our homes, you will never have to learn that the sweetness of low cost is quickly overcome by the bitterness of low quality.

Learn more about what we do as you explore our site. A quick introduction is in the video section of the More Information page. You should check out the FAQ page, then visit the Building Process page. Be sure to check out the links, sign up for our newsletter, and give us a call. We will help you through the building process; and even have a page listing recommend architects, builders, and subcontractors.

R-Value Concrete Structures LLC is a Grand Rapids, Michigan based concrete subcontractor that specializes in installing ICF’s. We are the area's leader in ICF installations, and have the experience to give you the highest quality installations and the best value. We pour floors, footings, driveways, conventional walls, and ICF walls just to name a few. We work as a subcontractor with you or your builder to incorporate ICF’s into your building project. If it’s concrete, we can build it! As the area's leader, we are often quite busy, so please try to schedule your projects more than a couple of weeks in advance!

"I certainly appreciate the high quality work and attention to detail"--Paul Shreve, R-Value customer

Since 2004 we have been installing custom residential and commercial buildings with state of the art insulated concrete forms, better known as ICF construction. We are Michigan’s premier ICF installers. R-Value Concrete is not a builder or general contractor; we are concrete subcontractors, specializing in ICF installation.

ICF construction is one of the most durable and energy efficient building methods. Since all walls are poured with concrete and sandwiched by insulation; ICF's ensure higher performance, eliminate unwanted drafts and maintain the desired temperature. ICF basements have all the comfort of above grade rooms, maximizing the living space in your home. There is no need to finish the lower level; it is fully insulated, furred out, and waterproofed.

We install not only residential buildings, but also commercial buildings. Commercial ICF construction will keep energy and maintenance costs to a minimum. If your commercial building requires climate control, nothing beats ICF construction.

ICF buildings can be designed to withstand over 200 mile an hour winds, which is stronger than some of the most devastating hurricanes ever recorded. Imagine living in a house with a fire rating eight times the average rating. And if your building needs to contain explosive materials there is nothing better than a completely concrete structure to withstand blasts.

Green construction has gained much popularity in the last few years. Concerns over global warming and terms like carbon footprint and alternative energy are becoming more commonplace. R Value Concrete Structures believes the process of going green is about more than just changing out a few light bulbs. True green building starts with an energy efficient home envelope that will last longer, conserve more energy and reduce the effect on local land and animal populations.

ICF, or insulated concrete form, is the basis of all construction. ICF homes offer many advantages over traditional stick homes including reducing heating costs by up to 70% and cooling costs up to 30%. Less greenhouse gas emissions and a reduced carbon footprint make this form of green construction even more appealing. Sustainable homes are an important part of keeping earth healthy and your wallet full.

R Value Concrete Structures is not a green construction company. Instead, they specialize in insulated concrete walls that provide safer and healthier homes and businesses to the people of. With ever changing environmentally friendly construction styles, contractors are forced to consistently relearn the process of creating a home that is eco-friendly. R Value Concrete Structures is different. Molding concrete forms into any shape and size is a perfected process. With an architect and subcontractors to finish out the home, the owner never again needs to worry about the structure being green or earth sound.

Safety is another huge advantage to ICF construction. Materials used in the building process absorb CO2 instead of pushing it into the atmosphere. In addition, the structure will be built to withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour. ICF installation offers a fire rating that is 8 times better than stick built homes. But, what does this mean for the homeowner?

When a home is more energy efficient and safer, cost of living drops dramatically. ICF homes cost less to heat and cool and annual insurance costs are reduced, as well. R Value Concrete Structures can build a home or business that actually pays the owner back over time. How is that for sustainable homes?

Want to go greener? ICF installation requires far less energy than traditional homes which means alternative energy needs will be lower. Solar panels, wind turbines or hydro turbines can be easily installed on a finished home to decrease electrical load even more.