ICF construction opinions

[spectras only]

Buddy is local builder that we may use to build a home here if we get the lot near our house.
He owns https://extremehomebuilders.com/penticton-custom-build/
He's using ICF for foundation. Went to see he's house building it with it. He's saying, with building materials increased %, ICF costs nearly identical. His coach house is finished with room to park moho, 5th wheel and several cars inside. Coach house is nicer than some homes, lol. The foundation for the 11,000 # feet house with 60' infinity pool overlooking Penticton with Okanagan and Skaha lake view is done and the whole process of this ICF is impressive.
You builder guys here, what is the pro and con input of yours on ICF

The red house in the front page pulls up on the website is my friend's finished last year completely. That house has 4 car garage underneath, 3 car garage on its side and there's a separate garage that holds 6 cars or toys.

 

[NicPaus]

I built 2 houses on my block with ICF for the basement and first floor framed the 2nd story. Biggest issue was the structural engineer we hired and the city structural engineer. Plumbing them was harder as well. It cost more at the time and if I did it again I would of only used ICF for basement. The R value benefits here in so cal not worth it but any where with extreme temperatures it would be a no brainer to use ICF. Used Fox blocks. I did a previous basement with ARXX. The Fox blocks were faster.

 

[Deckin Around]

Interesting, it's been around for decades and the "technology" hasn't changed. ICF usually requires more rebar on the engineering and definitely more labor forming from my viewpoint.. Is the savings just in the concrete wood form boards or is it also accounting for an insulation cost on the concrete I don't know about? Maybe it has a better benefit in freeze areas than sunny So Cal, I've never insulated concrete.

 

[NicPaus]

Super fast to form. Should be the same amount as rebar as pour in place but our stupid engineer kept mentioning the foam when he talked about strength. The foam is only to form it the concrete is the structural part. He added more rebar than it was designed for.

The clips used on the Fox blocks were much faster to use than ARXX. The foam doubles as a form and insulation.

In So Cal not much benefit with our weather. In Havasu it would be well worth it. Houses you could run Hester for 20 minutes and be good until next day. The inside Temps barely changed. On the hottest days the basement was always cool.

 

[Canuck 1]

ICF has its benefits but as others have mentioned it make other areas more expensive to finish. Definitely more of a quality way to build then stick framing.

Is he doing suspended slabs for main and upper floors

 

[Justfishing]

Foam thickness varies to get best insulation level for area. Concrete does not have much r value. They are very air tight homes by nature and that can be a saving on construction and utilities. You cant be to air tight.

 

[JDKRXW]

Super fast to form. Should be the same amount as rebar as pour in place but our stupid engineer kept mentioning the foam when he talked about strength. The foam is only to form it the concrete is the structural part. He added more rebar than it was designed for.

The clips used on the Fox blocks were much faster to use than ARXX. The foam doubles as a form and insulation.

In So Cal not much benefit with our weather. In Havasu it would be well worth it. Houses you could run Hester for 20 minutes and be good until next day. The inside Temps barely changed. On the hottest days the basement was always cool.

I used Fox blocks on my cabin and bunkhouse (no basements, just gradebeams). Very happy with how they went together and the final results. I used a lot more rebar than recommended, but I always do this.
For basements and gradebeams - I wouldn't use anything else.
There's a few cabins at our lake with ICF formed basements and walls - right up to the roof and the peopel with them are all very happy. I'm not sure I'd go that far with it though.

 

[spectras only]

insulation rated R40 I think. You finish the outside which ever covering you want. The foam walls are 2" thick, can be thicker higher if you live in the Arctic.

 

[NicPaus]

Instead of drilling studs for electric. You just make a stop on electric chainsaw and run it. The boxes were a little trickier to keep true to the wall.

Basement had 8" forms first story was 6". Between the 2 houses we poured a lot of mud. I stamped the basements with a tile pattern and that saved on flooring. I still have everything to build them.

Rented the wall braces that doubled as scaffolding. Guy we rented from is out of San Diego area. He taught me all the tricks to save time and money on the build. Easy to build and I learned a lot. Just need a customer now that is set on building with them. It's not common here most builders are doing stick frame.

Stucco we used same staplers just shot the lathe into the form webbing.

 

[parker112]

Who is doing ICF block construction in Lake Havasu and will come down to Parker?

 

[25Elmn8r]

We're meeting with a builder here in N. Idaho who specializes in ICF. The additional R-Value will be a nice bonus in winter time, and it's supposedly quicker to build as well. We're also meeting with traditional stick builders as well to get a comparison. We're hoping to get started on the new house next spring.

 

[NicPaus]

Who is doing ICF block construction in Lake Havasu and will come down to Parker?

You subbing out the build or doing it yourself? I bought the fox blocks from a rep in San Diego and rented the alignment scaffolding from him. I know a concrete guy in Parker can ask him this weekend if has done any ICF.

 

[parker112]

You subbing out the build or doing it yourself? I bought the fox blocks from a rep in San Diego and rented the alignment scaffolding from him. I know a concrete guy in Parker can ask him this weekend if has done any ICF.

Subbing it out.