Insulated Concrete Forms are the best way to reduce headaches and stress when trying to get a foundation in before the heavy snow flies and the ground freezes solid. Because of the insulating nature of the 2.5″ polystyrene panels on both sides, the system creates the perfect environment for the concrete chemical reaction to take place even when temperatures dip below freezing at night. This reduces the annoyance of trying to tarp and/or blanket the foundation for days or weeks after the concrete is poured. You can relax knowing that your foundation is as strong and robust as the engineer intended.
Exemplified in the video below, a DIY homeowner organized this late December concrete pour in Northeastern, WI. Both the conventional retaining walls and the TF System ICF basement walls were poured in the same day; however, only the top portion of the ICF wall needed to be covered and protected by blankets from the cold temperatures at night, whereas the conventional retaining walls needed to be COMPLETELY covered by multiple sets of blankets to keep the concrete from freezing before a full strength cure could be achieved.