I'm going to be building my first house within the next couple years. It seems like ICFs are the way to go, because I want a house that will be very strong and built to last. I'll be doing 90% of the work myself, as I have a few years of construction experience and should have some more by the time I start building. I also have friends who work in various trades.

I'd like to get some tips on designing for ICF construction with cost as a major consideration. Things like avoiding corners, 1 vs 2 stories, concrete vs. traditional roofs, etc. I'm looking at 2000sf or less of living area, if I can squeeze 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths into that space. I'd like pretty high ceilings in the main areas, as I'm 6'4" and I'm not going to feel cramped in my own darn house!

Thanks for any info :-)

Vermonter,

Corners are not really a "cost" issue when looking to build ICF by yourself, it is more of a time issue with possible extra costs for bracing. If I were in your area I would investigate local ICF distributers and determine who has the most experience and who will provide most assistance and training when building. We have assisted many couples who elect to build using our product, most recently a 70 year old couple that built a 2300 sq.ft. basement with 8 corners. Whichever distributor you feel most comfortable with in your area, use the measurements of their block to work with you so you can avoid making as many "cuts" as possible. Definately try your best to have your envelope measurements to an 1" and not fractions, as that will make getting the "teeth" to line up much more difficult. Make sure you brace your openings well and finally I would try my best to find an experienced pump truck operator. As for height, I wouldn't want to go over 12' on my own home if I hadn't had much experience with ICF (trying to avoid any blowouts). At 12' that should be an acceptable height for your ceilings, just make sure when you pour to only go in 3 foot lifts as you walk around the bracing system.

Hope that's helpful and best of luck.

Ren

Vermonter, actually there are allot of recognizable tips to help design to ICF's, only problem they are not generic because most "forms are different in dimensions etc. Most form bond out in 2" increments there fore there are better dimensions to use for that specific form.

Example:
AMVIC bonds out in odds from outside corner to outside corner, and evens from Inside corner to outside corner.
REWARD bonds out just the opposite!

So there are allot of design tips to mention a few, but it depends on the form and who's designing it. We have a design criteria for customers that are starting from a blank design to use to help guide there way, but again wouldn't work with other forms.

p.s. No I do not sell either of the forms above.

Dave

Check out the CAD designs on most manufacturers websites, add the length of the short and long return on your corners. Then add 4 ft. increments for ideal wall sections.
For instance, Buildblock' ideal wall section in 34'8 inches, or increments of 4' thereof, between inside corners.

Vermonter,
Design it like you want it! It is your home! Common sense approach in design will keep costs in line but there will always be a dedicated cost factor for materials and labor, by design or otherwise, for your area or anywhere else for that matter. As a Yankee transplant born in Brattleboro, I have forgotton basements. However, if you can keep it to 1 story it will save, as going up always costs more. Stacking a 16" high form , like BuildBlock, 7 courses will give you 9'4" H naturally. Find a supporting ICF dist./ contractor in your area for help. They are generally willing to help teach and give info about ICF. The Extreme Makeover show just did an ICF projct using BB in VT. That website will link you to ICF guys in VT. Good luck! GR

Vermonter, how long are you planning on taking to stand your walls, that would be an important question as to how to stand your house as a DIY project.

Second I'd recomend something like FoxBlocks (http://www.foxblocks.com/product_info/pricing.shtml) for the DIY'er because they are simple and very strong as well as being the cheapest real ICF on the market at the moment.

Take a look at the Amvic site for their manual http://www.amvicsystem.com/technicalmanu.aspx
Its a good manual that misses nothing and the principls can be applied to any block.

Don't get suckered in by people trying to sell you block by subterfuge, take your time and find your own way to a distributor by contacting the manufacturers themselves, ask questions about where the block is actualy made and post who you are thinking of going with here for suplementry advice ie are the people OK or not. I've just finished a 'rescue job' where the developer and the general were hopping mad because they were sold a bill of goods about support and didn't get any once the block had been delivered.

The design thought about making dimensions work to avoid block cutting is a poor approach in my mind. The full incremental blocks work pretty good for the foundation, but once you get to above grade walls with windows and doors, you wind up cutting and fitting anyway!

So that throws all blocks back in the mix :-)

Now find a designer who understands both design and concrete, and you'll work out together a design that will make you happy. Nothing worse than working with someone who insists on their way or their "idea" of a design and ultimately ignore the clients' real wants and desires.

The end element is more than which block do we use!!

Hello,

     My name is Roy and have been designing and testing I.C.F. for 13 years and the best do it yourself type system which I have found is a company in Virginia.  The name is AlphaRain Green Builders  They have recently built a 3,600 sq. ft. I.C.F. structure with a system called Igloo Panels. Their company is starting a subdivision of all Igloo Panel Homes near Austin, Texas next month.  The owners name is Brandy Dysart.  He is a great guy and very easy to talk too.  Phone # 540-222-1642 Please call during business hours.  By the way I am the Inventor and creator of the Panels and thought I would save you alot time and Money fighting the Block system which is very labor intense.  Brandy is very knowledgeable when it comes to Most all I.C.F.  Hope you build a wonderful home and good luck to you.  Thanks Roy Stephens Jr.  C.E.O. / Igloo Panel Homes.     Couldn't sleep tonight so I thought I would read my mail.

 

Mr. Stephens,

I hope not to step on your toes, however the spirit of this forum is to assist others investigating or learning more about building with ICFs, SIPs, etc. and not a place to advertise your product, which seems to be the case here. I am an ICF block distributor, yet if you read my earlier post (and others like walltech) technical information is given, but trying to specifically sell a particular product is not. Direct advertising on this site is considered "out of bounds".

In addition, I looked at your website and was confused due to the lack of information on how it would be helpful for a DIYer. Under "Services" there are only photos of your projects and under "About Us" this is no information available at all. I also went to the website for AlphaRain Green Builders and it appears that they are "metal roof specialists". Their website does not mention anything about the subdivision in Austin nor anything about Igloo Panel Homes. I am not trying to degrade your product or AlphaRain Green Builders, but the information you provided is very ambiguous, especially for someone looking to promote their product.

Please take note and act accordingly in the future.

Respectfully,

Ren Angle