Anyone use this system? Buildblock
- Thread starter Roothawg
- Start date
Graymills - Craig
Well-known member
Looks far too convenient and accurate.
hydramatic
Well-known member
The Tower, at Montgomery Motorsports Park/drag strip, was constructed using that method.
Xclnt insulation
Xclnt insulation
Milton Shaw
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2011
- Messages
- 4,835
I have seen on some HGTV shows of problems with blowouts with all the weight of concrete pumped in. Have not had any personal experience with it but have seen the basic type material a couple of places. As always foam would have to be covered with a fire rated material or fumes would be killers.
ConCretin
Well-known member
There are many ICF systems out there. There are not big differences between them when it comes to construction and performance. Some systems break down and can be shipped more efficiently, which saves some money.
Generally ICF's are more expensive than wood framing especially if you contract the work out. On a DIY scale of 1 to 10, they are probably a 9.
They do offer significant benefits in strength, energy efficiency and sound deadening.
Personally, I think they are tough to beat but I'm in the business. We are planning a modern home utilizing ICF's for walls, floors and roofs.
Generally ICF's are more expensive than wood framing especially if you contract the work out. On a DIY scale of 1 to 10, they are probably a 9.
They do offer significant benefits in strength, energy efficiency and sound deadening.
Personally, I think they are tough to beat but I'm in the business. We are planning a modern home utilizing ICF's for walls, floors and roofs.
wssix99
Well-known member
Lot's of good ICF options out there. IMO - there's nothing better and I'm just about to build an entire house with them.
As Milton Shaw points out, the thing that will ruin your experience is blow-outs. I don't have experience with the brand you are showing but would recommend that you not install it until you find someone who has used them in a similar application and not had any blowout issues.
As Milton Shaw points out, the thing that will ruin your experience is blow-outs. I don't have experience with the brand you are showing but would recommend that you not install it until you find someone who has used them in a similar application and not had any blowout issues.
banzaitoyota
Well-known member
MY crawlspace under my modular home is ICF construction, best thing I did
Zeke
Well-known member
It's popular in the dry climate zones because there is not a lot of ground water. Great for building on a slope back into the excavation. I't not hard to put an EFIS exterior on the foam, but a lot of jurisdictions don't like that product. Drywall is similarly easy to attach to the exposed interior surface.
If I were contracting out the job, I'd probably go with concrete block.
If I were contracting out the job, I'd probably go with concrete block.
imthenewking
New member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2011
- Messages
- 1
A company that I used to work for made BuildBlock ICFs. We also made Arxx ones.. which has a stronger internal web.. I'd recommend them over BB.
ConCretin
Well-known member
As with any type of concrete form, 'blowouts' are 100% avoidable. If you have built the forms correctly, its a matter of controlling the rate of placement. Because they are made of 'styrofoam', ICF's obviously aren't as stout as a plywood and lumber form.
You need an elbow on the end of the pump boom to slow down the concrete, you must place the wall in lifts and space out the loads properly so you don't fill the wall too fast. It's not rocket science but it can get expensive if you don't get it right.
You need an elbow on the end of the pump boom to slow down the concrete, you must place the wall in lifts and space out the loads properly so you don't fill the wall too fast. It's not rocket science but it can get expensive if you don't get it right.
shanker
Well-known member
my whole house is framed using ICF blocks, good for 200 mph winds, heck of a good insulator, and got a discount for being fire proof, i live 20 miles from the gulf of mexico....
which state?
what do you think the costs were above a stick frame? 10-15%?
banzaitoyota
Well-known member
my 24 x 36 x 12 shop was quoted at 16K for walls and slab
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I was very surprised that my sister's new home (supposedly 5 star energy rated) with a walk out basement did NOT use ICF !
I am in Texas just south of houston, north of galveston, about 15 % above stick, but more than enough made up for it, reduced a/c equipement and operating cost, Fire insurance discount, (dont have to leave for a hurricane ) nice and quite,
Hey man, is it you that I was thinking about that posted up in the newbie section about these ? I know somebody on here is into these and was going to recommend them, but couldn't remember who it was.
ConCretin
Well-known member
Yea, we chatted a bit when I came on. Nice hearin from you again. I still spend way too much time on here.
Sureshot
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That is about the only thing you see here now. Some truck shops with 16 and 18ft walls are being built this way. Not sure if all one pour or stages.
We used ICE block brand ICFs on our own home 15 years ago and have been very happy
with the system. The vendor mentioned potential blowouts during pouring process but
we had none. We used a peagravel mix with fiber to cut down on voids and honeycombing. Inside we used dryvit for the wall finish. Our soil type is heavy clay so
we backfilled with peagravel to one foot from final grade to cut down on backfill pressure
and to help with drainage. We wanted a 9 foot finished ceiling height in the basement
so 7 courses of the 16" x 48" blocks gave us what we wanted without the big upcharge
that basement contractors want for the additional 1 foot of form work.
with the system. The vendor mentioned potential blowouts during pouring process but
we had none. We used a peagravel mix with fiber to cut down on voids and honeycombing. Inside we used dryvit for the wall finish. Our soil type is heavy clay so
we backfilled with peagravel to one foot from final grade to cut down on backfill pressure
and to help with drainage. We wanted a 9 foot finished ceiling height in the basement
so 7 courses of the 16" x 48" blocks gave us what we wanted without the big upcharge
that basement contractors want for the additional 1 foot of form work.
I was visiting a friend yesterday who has done his home with this system. He has no interior or exterior finish yet so it was all exposed. 12' walls. Clean, straight and plumb! Very impressive and I might say, very well done. He took a router to the interior space where necessary to get electrical to some places, but I noticed he didn't do a lot of it, indicating great forethought on his part. Having seen this, I am going to consider it for the shop, garage, apt I'm hoping to build next year.
I have done about seven project so far with them, we use "REWARD" brand but basic the same. as far as blow out, if you get in a hurry yes. dont pour too wet and we limit ourself to 1 foot in height be hour and no more than eight feet in one day. In other words, GO SLOW.