It seems like the weather has been unusually crazy this year. We in Minneapolis have had our share of wind, hail and tornadoes. But we have been lucky compared to other parts of the country. The damage from a tornado easily shows how well a home is built.  When my wife and I built our house 6 years ago. we decided to use ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) construction. It is a Styrofoam block system with 2 inches of insulation on each side with 7 inches of space for reinforcement rods and poured concrete. Our house is built completely with concrete. We have areas in the basement where even the ceiling is concrete.  Many contractors use the system for basement walls for it's strength, water protection and energy qualities. We used it for all of the exterior walls, all the way to the rafters.  Are we scared of tornadoes? Sure, but when we are at home, we feel safe.

Our house is currently for sale and I am marketing this construction as an added value. Check it out.  18660 Lander Dr NW, Elk River.  mls # 3998554   or   www.henryhoefer.com