Builders Race for Green Building Education!
With so much emphasis on green building education, RASTRA is leading the way as the premiere builder in these ecologically challenging times. The company coined the term “Insulated Concrete Form”, a revolutionary building system which offers simplicity in use, quality and strength at an affordable cost. ICF was invented by RASTRA in 1972 and they have been the company behind reliable buildings ever since! Most people know that exterior walls built to-code are commonly built from 2x4s and insulated with fiberglass insulation. Unfortunately, despite the problems associated with this method, wood frame construction still represents 90% of today's new home construction. But as homeowners search for more energy-efficient solutions, this old standard is losing favor with homebuyers. So the question becomes, is this how you want to build your exterior wall? Look at some of the reasons why not:

• To begin, building exterior walls from 2x4s is only possible today because it was "grandfathered" as an acceptable practice when building codes were first created. If a wood frame & fiberglass wall was subjected to today’s code approval criteria, it would never be approved. No testing agency would approve a solution that shrinks, burns, rots, splits, supports mold growth and frankly isn't all that strong. The quality and strength even varies from one 2x4 to the next.
• RASTRA outperforms wood frame walls in every important category and exceeds today's minimum code requirements by huge margins. In fact, RASTRA has been tested to be over 700% stronger than a wood frame wall. RASTRA also outperforms wood frame walls in other critical areas including cost-of ownership, safety, service life, indoor air quality, comfort and resale value.
• Wood framing members have an R-value of about R-1 per inch. This means anywhere a 2x4 is installed, the wall only has an R-value of R-3.5. On average, 27% of the exterior wall surface is made up of framing members. So no matter how high the insulation's R-value, or what type of insulation you choose to install, an average 27% of a wood frame exterior wall will only be rated R-3.5.
• RASTRA has been tested to be over 700% stronger than a wood frame wall. RASTRA also outperforms wood frame walls in other critical areas including cost-of ownership, safety, service life, indoor air quality, comfort and resale value. RASTRA believes we have a clear choice – either continue to accept mediocre energy performance and embarrassing durability or step up and build homes that provide lasting value. Today, RASTRA is not only recognized as the original, but also as the best product of any ICF category.

The production of RASTRA is considered to be ecologically-clean. Producing one RASTRA panel requires less than 2kWH and at the same time eliminates the need to produce other products including, lumber, insulation, plastic vapor barriers, membrane and wire lath. All production waste is recycled.

Although RASTRA has been around for over 35 years, Americans are just now realizing the vast benefits that come from building with ICF and the environmental impact this product has on our future. RASTRA only uses recycled Styrofoam products to produce their materials, thus creating a better place for us to live. Both commercial and residential builders are scrambling to get the corner on this market before waiting lists are too long from the company that invented the product! Our disregard for the environment has to change so let's start doing the right thing, not because we're being governed to do so, but because we want to. Contact RASTRA today to become an environmentally conscious builder who uses this product at www.RASTRA.com or contact them directly at 866-272-7872.

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