ICF construction in Dublin and Leinster — we pour to your engineer’s drawings
We build structural Insulated Concrete Form envelopes for new builds, one-off homes, and high-performance extensions. We are familiar with all common ICF systems used in Ireland.
We build the ICF system specified on your drawings
We are familiar with all ICF systems used in Ireland. Whether your architect or engineer specifies Amvic, Nudura, Logix, Quad-Lock, Fox Blocks, BecoWallform, Castleforms, or ICF Tech / Polarwall, we read the engineering drawings, set out the forms, install the rebar, and manage the continuous concrete pour.
We are not locked to a single supplier. We work directly with your structural engineer to verify steel reinforcement sizing, concrete mix specifications (C30/37 with appropriate slump), and reveal detailing.
Thermal Mass
The concrete core retains room temperature, preventing temperature swings and creating a draft-free interior.
Acoustic Performance
Dense solid concrete core provides 50dB+ sound reduction, blocking external road noise.
Common Irish ICF Systems
We install the specified system per structural engineering schedules.
How an ICF pour week runs on site
Formwork stacking, laser alignment, and continuous pour management by trained contractor crews.
Slab Set-Out & Starter Bars
We establish the wall footprint directly on your foundation slab and drill/epoxy structural starter rebar into place to tie the wall to the floor.
Form Stacking & Rebar Placement
Interlocking EPS blocks are dry-stacked with staggered joints. Horizontal and vertical steel reinforcement bars are positioned per engineering drawings.
Bracing & Window Bucking
Heavy-duty turnbuckle alignment scaffolding is anchored to the interior slab, and treated timber or EPS window/door bucks are secured with airtight seals.
Concrete Pumping & Laser Leveling
Ready-mix concrete is pumped in controlled 1-metre lifts around the perimeter, internally consolidated, and laser-checked for exact plumb accuracy.
Deep ICF reveals require custom aluminium window sills
With ICF wall thicknesses reaching 350mm+, standard concrete sills create massive thermal cold bridges and fail to project cleanly past the finished exterior render.
Our sister company, Cills.ie, fabricates custom powder-coated aluminium sills in our Inchicore yard with welded upstands, thermal breaks, and extended drip edges engineered specifically for ICF envelopes.
ICF Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) and how does it work?+
An Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) is a modern construction system consisting of interlocking high-density expanded polystyrene (EPS) hollow formwork blocks. The lightweight blocks are dry-stacked on site to the full wall height, reinforced with structural steel rebar, and then filled with ready-mix concrete in a continuous pour. The EPS forms remain permanently in place on both the interior and exterior of the wall, providing dual-layer thermal insulation, soundproofing, and a structural concrete core.
Which ICF systems are you familiar with?+
We are familiar with all common ICF systems used in Ireland, including Amvic, Nudura, Logix, Quad-Lock, Fox Blocks, Beco, Castleforms, and ICF Tech / Polarwall. We are not locked to one manufacturer. We read your structural engineer's specification, source the specified block system, and pour the walls per the structural drawings.
How much does it cost to build with ICF in Ireland in 2026?+
The structural shell of an ICF house in Ireland typically costs between €180 and €240 per square metre of wall area for supply and installation of formwork, steel reinforcement, concrete pumping, and alignment bracing. While the raw material costs of EPS forms and concrete are slightly higher than hollow blocks, ICF significantly reduces crane hire, removes the need for cavity wall pumping, and speeds up the structural build timeline by 40% to 60%—lowering total site labour costs.
How does a typical ICF pour week run on site?+
Prior to pour day, our crew erects the interlocking EPS blocks on the cured slab, installs vertical and horizontal steel rebar according to the engineer's schedule, anchors window and door bucking, and installs heavy-duty alignment bracing with integral scaffolding walk-boards. On pour day, concrete is placed using a boom pump in controlled 1-metre lifts (typically 3 to 4 passes around the perimeter) and consolidated with internal vibrators. The walls are immediately laser-checked for plumb and leveled before the concrete begins its initial set.
How do you detail window reveals and sills on deep ICF walls?+
ICF walls typically feature overall thicknesses of 300mm to 400mm. Standard concrete window sills create massive thermal cold bridges and cannot overhang deep ICF reveals safely. We install bespoke powder-coated aluminium window sills fabricated by our sister workshop, Cills.ie, in our Inchicore yard. These sills incorporate welded watertight upstands, thermal breaks, and extended projection profiles to ensure zero water ingress and zero cold bridging.
What is the difference between the structural engineer's role and the contractor's role?+
Your appointed structural engineer designs the foundation slab, specifies the steel reinforcement bar sizing and spacing, calculates wind and soil loads, and signs off on the Part L / Part A compliance certification. Isotherm acts as the specialized installation contractor: we set out the site, stack the formwork, place the specified rebar, supervise the concrete pour, manage alignment, and apply the external Sto or Baumit silicone render.
Which counties does Isotherm build ICF in?+
Our direct installation crews build ICF structures across County Dublin, County Kildare, County Meath, County Wicklow, and County Louth. This allows our project managers and structural supervisors to physically oversee every stage of the build from slab set-out to final pour.
Planning an ICF build in Dublin or Leinster?
Send us your architectural drawings or schedule an initial consultation with our technical team at our Inchicore yard.
