Insulated Concrete Forms

[JATO_RaT]

Anyone use or familiar with using ICF to build a home? It looks very interesting. Simple, fast, superior insulation, quiet, and apparently cost effective. I've been building homes using conventional stick framing since 1972 but this looks like how I would like to build my own home. Any thoughts would be appreciated, Rat...

 

[gerard]

Haven't used them myself but being kind of a "home improvement" buff I've seen many of them go up on tv and seen them at various home shows over the years. If I were building my own house I'd use them in a second. Great idea, you get a poured foundation without the cost of the forms, it's already insulated, and you can do it yourself after the footing is poured. Only caution is to do a single pour all the way around; let set some, then do second pour to top off. If you do a full pour to the top you stand a chance of blowing out the form which would not be fun!

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Rat,

There have been several discussions regarding ICF construction on the Rural Living form. Just do a search on "ICF". You might also look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.icfweb.com/>ICFWeb</A>. Lots of builders and manufacturers participate on that site.

We're still considering building with icf, but one thing is holding us back. We will be using the house as a weekend home in the beginning, and there may be times when it is closed up for 3 to 6 weeks. ICF construction is so tight that you have to have a good ventilation system running all the time, and I'm not sure that's a good idea for a home like we are planning. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

 

[JATO_RaT]

Thanks Bill, I checked out the website. I didn't even think about doing a search here.

 

[TAB]

I have used an ICF system for the foundation of a house project my students built. We just did the foundation so that the students could get experience on set-up and pouring concrete, but still have the framing experience on the walls of the main floor. I had just built my house with a wood foundation and framed walls, but would very seriously consider building my whole house with the ICF.
I used an ICF system called Blue Max, but they have changed their name to Aarxx I think do to Dow having rights to anything foam and called blue.
The main thing I liked about the system I used was that the horizontal rebar locked into clips and then the verticle bar would slide down the wall between the horizontal. This made it easy for the students to know they had bar in exactly the right place. When we finished the lower level off the drywall could screw right to the same strips that supported the form.
I had great support from the distributor. Used his form support system with integral scaffold. I will see if I can find a picture Monday and post it for you. One thing the distributor emphasized was to make sure you have openings properly located before you pour. Tom

 

[JATO_RaT]

Tom, thanks for the info, I have only one brochure and contact and that has been arxx, the company you mentioned. I remember it being called BlueMax and wondered why our local concrete/ICF supplier had switched. Now it makes a little more sense. I would like to do the entire wall system with ICF. Out here in CA we don't build cellars or basements much, don't know much about them other then they are cool in the summer and that would seem reason enough. Thanks for the info again, I am getting a little more excited about doing this home with ICF all the time. Rat...

 

[GaryM]

Our new home is being built witrh the Arxx blocks for the foundation and SIPS for the exterior walls. The ICFS seem to cost a little more than the stripable conventional forms, but you end up with a well insulated wall from the start. Just screw the drywall or paneling to the plastic webs!

We're expecting to start construction in a month or so.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Gary, that's the same thing I want to do- an SIP home on top of an ICF basement! Please email me and let me know who you're using, etc. Thanks.

 

[GaryM]

Here's a shot of an ICF foundation that is almost complete. It's a complicated layout that would be difficult with conventional forms. Notice the varying wall heights.

 

[GaryM]

This is another view, back down the driveway toward the entrance road. BTW, this is NOT my place.