A detached concrete garage built with insulated concrete block forms is wind and fire-resistant. They also create energy-efficient and moisture-resistant detached garages. Moreover, the concrete block garages provide the design flexibility that can accommodate any garage plan, and because it is fast and simple to install, it saves time and money during the building process. 


Why Build a Detached Garage?

Along with parking cars, a detached garage can provide space for an apartment, a workshop, organized storage, and more; all features desired by many of today’s homeowners. 

Notably, a detached garage is a good investment. The 2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value report found that building a freestanding two-car garage provides a return on investment (ROI) of 64.8 percent. Furthermore, a rented apartment may result in a 100+ percent ROI for the detached garage.


How to Build a Concrete Garage?

Two common concrete products for building a garage are concrete blocks and insulated concrete forms (ICFs). Both concrete block and ICF are mass wall systems that provide energy efficiency through mass, rather than insulative values. They both also create durable and disaster-resistant garages. 

There is one important difference between ICF and concrete block garage construction. Building a detached ICF garage is simpler and faster to construct, which saves time and money over concrete block construction. 

Concrete block garage construction has become more time-consuming and complicated because of the way concrete block builders and designers have chosen to keep up with homeowners’ demands for improved durability, energy efficiency, and fire and wind resilience of wall systems. Instead of improving on the concrete block, builders added new components, like durable roofing options for detached garages, extra layers, and more steps to concrete block construction. These materials and steps require more money and time, and a higher chance for errors during construction. 

ICF wall systems for a detached garage reduce labor, save money, and lessen building risks over concrete block wall systems. 


Six Benefits of Building a Detached Concrete Block Garage with ICF 

A modern detached garage serves as an annex of the home and includes many of the same features like energy-efficient lighting and heating and cooling components. Importantly, a secure detached garage protects the cars, possessions, and equipment stored within its walls from theft, fire or natural disasters. 

An excellent product for constructing a wind- and fire-resistant, energy-efficient and moisture-proof detached garage is the ICF. ICF is also quick and easy to install and allows for the design flexibility required to create attractive and multipurpose detached garages.

Insulated Concrete Forms maintain their integrity during intense winds of over 200 mph and also resist damage from debris flying over 100 mph.

ICF has a high ASTM E119 fire rating of four hours and ASTM E84 values for flame speed of zero and smoke development of twenty. A high fire-rating product more contains a fire and limits the spread of fire to nearby properties compared to a lower fire-rated product. Because the ICF blocks achieve the ASTM E84 and NFPA 286, they fulfill the NFPA 101 code.

The ICF blocks are a high thermal mass material that creates a tight building envelope for an energy-efficient detached garage. The R-value of ICFs per inch is 1.84. The ICF system provides a high-level of continuous insulation (CI) with a whole wall R-value of 14 that resists the transfer of heat by conduction, convection, and radiation. Continuous insulation is vital to reducing air infiltration, stopping the flow of heat and energy, stopping thermal bridging, and increasing the effective R-value in the wall system of a detached garage. 

ICF Air and Moisture Barrier limits thermal convection by preventing the infiltration of air and moisture to the interior of a detached garage. Moisture resistance is critical to stopping the growth of mold. Mold is unhealthy to the occupants of the garage. Mold can also degrade the integrity of the structure and destroy the items stored in the garage.

The ICF concrete block system, with a recycled content of 28 percent by weight, saves money and time because it is a lightweight panelized ICF wall system that remains in place and is simple to install. ICF blocks also provide structure and CI in one product.

The design flexibility of ICF blocks creates functional and aesthetically pleasing detached garages. Whether the detached garage is used for parking a car or includes an apartment and workspace, ICF accommodates all garage plans.

ICF garages are also compatible with all finishing or siding products: brick, stone, wood or vinyl siding, plasters or plasterboards, etc. along with other non-structural building components like flooring, roofing, and utilities. ICF construction creates attractive and multi-use detached garages.  

Insulated Concrete Forms protect a detached garage and the contents from wind and fire. Also, ICFs create energy-efficient and moisture-resistant detached garages. Importantly, ICF blocks provides design flexibility and save time and money during construction because it is quick and easy to install.

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Matt Greenfield

Matt Greenfield

Matt Greenfield is an experienced writer specializing in home improvement topics. He has a passion for educating and empowering homeowners to make informed decisions about their properties. Matt's writing focuses on a range of topics, including windows, flooring, HVAC, and construction materials. With a background in construction and home renovation, Matt is well-versed in the latest trends and techniques in the industry. His articles offer practical advice and expert insights that help readers tackle their home improvement projects with confidence. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a seasoned professional, Matt's writing is sure to provide valuable guidance and inspiration.

Learn More