Help prevent hurricane damage and danger by making key choices when building a home The official start of the 2007 Hurricane Season begins on June 1, but just because tomorrow kicks off the season doesn't mean it's too late to learn to how protect one of your largest investments: your home. Homeowners can strengthen the exterior of their homes to prevent wind-born debris from tearing apart the structure of a home through better choices in the new construction phase. Walls built with insulated concrete forms (ICFs) -- permanent foam forms or panels used to hold concrete in place -- provide homeowners with sustainable structures capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. "ICFs are easier to clean up after hurricane weather or flooding, and provide the homeowner with moisture resistance in the walls themselves, when combined with appropriate interior finishes." says Dr. Ronald Zollo, professor of civil and architectural engineering at the University of Miami and a licensed professional engineer. "While ICFs meets some of the United State's most strict building codes and is up to nine times stronger than traditional wood frames, it's not just for hurricane protection," says Jeff Van Sloun, business leader, Fold-Form(R) Insulation. "We're seeing a dramatic increase in consumer demand throughout the entire United States for building products that are greener, offer greater energy efficiencies, air and moisture management and contribute to greater comfort levels by reducing noise in the home."
