Insulated Concrete Forms

[GaryM]

This shot shows the outside of the ICFs with the waterproof membrane in place. The section in the middle of the picture is made with the brick ledge form.

 

[banjobj]

Thanks for the info,I may just look into that system when I build a new house in a couple of years.

 

[JATO_RaT]

Gary, tell me why your choosing the structural insulated panels versus ICF, would it be primarily cost? Secondly, out here in California basements are almost unheard of and yet back in the midwest and east they seem to be just standard procedure. What is the benefit of a basement. Aren't they a considerable cost when you factor in the waterproofing needed and the extras like french drains and a sump pump? Thanks, Rat...

 

[GaryM]

The owner of Stitt Energy Systems, Orlo Stitt, has built some homes with ICFs "to the roof". I.E.,all the exterier walls are concrete and rebar. His current home is constructed this way. However, the materials cost is higher than conventional or SIP walls. I personally did not see the advantage for my needs. The SIPs are tight and very well insulated. We will have "Hardy Board" as the covering over the SIPs. This is rated the same as masonary as far as fire insurance is concerned. Orlo has this over the ICF/Concrete walls on his house.

Basements are the norm, at least in Missouri. Actually, our new place is like a two story with the "upper story" on the bottom. The main level has the Kitchen, Great Room, Master Suite, Guest Room, Mud/Laundry room, and Guest Bath. The lower level, not basement please, has the Recreation room, another Guest Room, Bath, Safe Room/Library, and Work Shop. The lot slopes, so three sides of the lower level is above grade. Only the East side is below grade. Lot's of large windows too.

We have some serious storms in the midwest. The safe room has all it's walls made out of ICFs, just like the rest of the foundation. It will also have a concrete ceiling. So if bad weather threatens, that's where we'll sleep. My wife does not care for storms!

I've attached a photo of Orlo's house.

 

[heehaw]

a guy i work with built a new house a couple years ago, 3000 sq ft with 1500 of it in the basement. the basement was built using the styrofoam forms, but i don't know what band he went with..he built the top 1500 ft using what we refer to as the "doug rye way", celulose insulation, caulking everything, etc etc..he put in a geothermal unit, actually 2, a 1/2 ton unit in the basement and a 2.5 tone in the top..he has meters on both units, and so far, his heating and cooling cost for 3k ft is averaging less than $30 a month..no to shabby..
heehaw

 

[GaryM]

We are considering a geothermal unit. But the folks from Stitt Energy say that with a tight, well insulated house, the payback is too long to be worthwhile. I'm waiting 'till the HVAC guy does his calculations and see what he says. But what you say sounds great.

 

[DocHeb]

<font color=blue>"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"</font color=blue>

Our "farmhouse" will be a second home for several years, then become our primary residence. We will be installing a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.aprilaire.com/product.asp?ID=1436C65E4C034782A5586DEDD3E363D3&categoryID=9CC6090D12294A40B6DBF3B28DADEFC1>Aprilaire heat-exchange ventilator</A> to try and remove some of the "stuffy" that accumulates in an unused house. Heat exchangers differ in design. Some just mix outside air with inside air and circulate it through the house. The better models use heat exchangers that don't mix the air streams, yet extract the heat. The best models (the enthalpic units) also exchange the humidity. It will be a few months until completion so I don't have firsthand experience yet.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Chris,

Thanks for that link. I've saved it, and I'll be following your progress as you build your second home.

 

[TAB]

This is a pic of the students setting up the forms. We used the wall braces with integrated scaffold. In the back you can see a window buck.

 

[TAB]

Sorry, I hope this time I do this right.