Green Building - Insulated Concrete
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matter99
09-17-08, 09:40 PM
I am strongly considering installing insulated concrete forms for both my basement and first floor walls.
I have done some research, and while it is slowly catching on in my area, not many homes are built this way around here.
I know the benefits of ICF's, but I would like to learn more about any drawbacks inherent with installation or finished product. My family and friends and I will be building much of the house. Due to my unfamiliarity with ICF's, I want to be as prepared as possible for any potential pitfalls.
- matt
I have done some research, and while it is slowly catching on in my area, not many homes are built this way around here.
I know the benefits of ICF's, but I would like to learn more about any drawbacks inherent with installation or finished product. My family and friends and I will be building much of the house. Due to my unfamiliarity with ICF's, I want to be as prepared as possible for any potential pitfalls.
- matt
pmgca
09-20-08, 07:52 PM
Hi Matt,
As a matter of fact, I never hear bad reviews about ICF, on the contrary, all the ICF users are very pleased with the results
IMO, for optimal results with ICF, there is one important point--> the ICF project. ICF is a green option indeed, however, green building means not only green materials, means also avoid waste.
The ICF manufacturers and sales people will tell you that you can build any project with ICF, and this is true. However, if you don't adapt you project to the ICF modules, you will waste money and green resources
As a matter of fact, I never hear bad reviews about ICF, on the contrary, all the ICF users are very pleased with the results
IMO, for optimal results with ICF, there is one important point--> the ICF project. ICF is a green option indeed, however, green building means not only green materials, means also avoid waste.
The ICF manufacturers and sales people will tell you that you can build any project with ICF, and this is true. However, if you don't adapt you project to the ICF modules, you will waste money and green resources
Concretemasonry
09-27-08, 09:50 AM
matt -
The biggest problems I have seen with ICFs is the construction process and knowledge required.
All too many people think you just stack up the big Lego blocks and dump in concrete. They do not appreciated what can happen and what the future problems are.
Stacking blocks is very user friendly. The walls after stacking must be braced and held in place absolutely rigidly.
When pouring concrete, all to often the concrete is too wet and dumped to fast. Ideally, the concrete should be pumped and have a 3" - 4" slump with plasticizers. The walls should be brought up slowly, working around the foundation two ir three times to allow setting and elimiating unbalanced loads and shifting near openings and at corners.
The concrete must be vibrated with the vibration going through on lift into the previous lift. Under openings and at corners are the places where the most common problems occur. You vibrate the concrete and not beat on the forms or rebars.
If you take a chance on an ICF basement, you must be much more careful about the comrete placement and vibration than above grade. Because the forms are left in place, there is no opportunity to correct the mistakes made the day before. Any repairs later then become major and expensive because they usually end up with water, moisture and mold plus property damage.
Above grade, the concerns should be maintaining a square, plumb and level structure. A little honeycombing of the concrete is not a strength problem, since the walls are far stronger than necessary. - Make sure you have a good roof that is securely attached and a good garage door for your home if you are in tornado or hurricane country.
For a DIYer, hire a few people or a contractor that is experienced in placing pumped concrete and then use yourself and friends labor to do as directed by him. - This is expecially true when it comes to a basement where dumping concrete out of a truck backed up to the wall is asking for trouble or a $15,000 chunk of concrete you have to remove.
ICFs are good, but they are not as simplistic as they appear at first blush.
Dick
The biggest problems I have seen with ICFs is the construction process and knowledge required.
All too many people think you just stack up the big Lego blocks and dump in concrete. They do not appreciated what can happen and what the future problems are.
Stacking blocks is very user friendly. The walls after stacking must be braced and held in place absolutely rigidly.
When pouring concrete, all to often the concrete is too wet and dumped to fast. Ideally, the concrete should be pumped and have a 3" - 4" slump with plasticizers. The walls should be brought up slowly, working around the foundation two ir three times to allow setting and elimiating unbalanced loads and shifting near openings and at corners.
The concrete must be vibrated with the vibration going through on lift into the previous lift. Under openings and at corners are the places where the most common problems occur. You vibrate the concrete and not beat on the forms or rebars.
If you take a chance on an ICF basement, you must be much more careful about the comrete placement and vibration than above grade. Because the forms are left in place, there is no opportunity to correct the mistakes made the day before. Any repairs later then become major and expensive because they usually end up with water, moisture and mold plus property damage.
Above grade, the concerns should be maintaining a square, plumb and level structure. A little honeycombing of the concrete is not a strength problem, since the walls are far stronger than necessary. - Make sure you have a good roof that is securely attached and a good garage door for your home if you are in tornado or hurricane country.
For a DIYer, hire a few people or a contractor that is experienced in placing pumped concrete and then use yourself and friends labor to do as directed by him. - This is expecially true when it comes to a basement where dumping concrete out of a truck backed up to the wall is asking for trouble or a $15,000 chunk of concrete you have to remove.
ICFs are good, but they are not as simplistic as they appear at first blush.
Dick