BTW, i have read this forum alot for the last 2 years, and it has helped me alot during building of the structure of my new house ( ICF of course ) THANKS TO ALL FOR NICE INFO SHARING :) So my exterior walls and basic floors beeing installed, i am up to a point where i need to take some decisions and make some design about the few next things for the build. - Interior walls i personally hate wood framing moving and blowing nails during the night, and simply do not wish to experience this in my new house so i was looking for alternative, and only found steel framing first impression is that it doesnt' seem too strong without the use of a good gypsum board and it feels like thermal bridge everywhere, though i could always work around that then i thought about using regular 2X4, getting some very dry ones, and using OSB panels on each side so it would be super strong and give me plenty of fastening surface what do you think ? is there any other "super" method i haven't seen yet? any future tech stuff? - Exterior and interior use of ACP i want to use Aluminum composite panels for the exterior of my ICF house, the style of it should fit the ACP easily ( or the other way around ) But i would also like to use the same 4'by 8' ACP on almost half of my interior walls, and on all of the ceiling walls i really really hate gypsum and it's dust, non possible modification etc ... the only positive i can find about gypsum is fire and price the ACP will give me heatsiking surface for my all LED lighting on the ceiling and i would like to to install them with showing fasteners so can be removed anytime for modifications of electrical/wiring/AC stuff anyone has experience with using ACP for interior? thought about installing osb on all the ICF walls to be able to fasten it to the ties ( quad lock ) and then it would be possible to place the fasteners on the ACP at aesthetical locations also still wondering how i will attach the ACP to the outside of the house, after installing the Tyvek, the ties location won't be easy to spot and i didn't want to install wood strips problem is that the 2" of foam, refrains the use of regular clip installation becuase of shear loading of the fasteners very fun time :) Also about window installation, i got windows from fibertec ( sponsor!! :) ) with exterior nailing fin we used 2by12" for window bucks how should i "flash" the windows ? at first i wanted to install flashing tape of 9" from exterior on the foam to the wood buck and then use a 4" tape to seal the nailing fin against the first flashing but then i realised that this wouldn't do much more than using only a 6-9" wide tape directly on the foam and the nailing fin I am trying to build this house with the highest quality i can, as i wish it to be in perfect condition for 25 years to come ( near to parent's house, buisness location ...for my new family ( 7 month kid ) )) thanks all JIN

Whoa that's a lot to take in! It sounds like your problem is trying to figure out how to come up with a easy fastening procedure for your ACP's. What ACP system are you going to be using?

Hi pcoughlin, thanks for the quick reply

well i will not be using a system, since i haven't found any that could be easily used or are worth the cost for my project

the panels temselves are 4' by 8' and cost around 2$/sq ft
the systems that' ive seen cost more than the panels,
wich to me seems plain ridiculous

any idea?

here is a few quick pic of my project from diff step right now i have installed foam with drain on the flat roof, but not the exit cabin i used some 6mil poly to cover everything up for winter until i decide on wich membrane system i'll use .. right now pretty settled on 2" latex concrete with some hydrophobic admixture and 10-20% metal content + poly fibers Also would like to know what you guys think about using SIP method to diy my exit cabin on the flat roof wich will be around 18' by 16' wide featuring 3 windows and a 8' wide patio door since it'll be the highest point of the house i want something very efficient on the thermal side so i thought about using 6 t 8" core EPS with OSB glued with some contact cement ( already contacted 3m and they seem to have a product sold in gallons for that) with as less thermal bridge as possible picture links : http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php? image=2blocsat2.jpg http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2emepresqueachevexf0.jpg http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=toitavantcoulagekb2.jpg

what is wrong with this board?
it doesn't seem to enter my returns at all
putting it all in 1 text
sorry guys for the layout ..not my fault here!

Yes they are very expensive. In my opinion it sounds like they may be more of a pain in both the wallet and install then they are worth. Not trying to knock the idea of using ACP's I just can't think of any easy solution for your situation. Getting that 'seamless' modern look with acps is not an easy task. Around here we can get drywall hung, taped and textured for around .90 sq ft and its easy to apply any color paint. :)

pcoughlin: but i do not want / care for a modern "seamless" look
i'd prefer some big tile looks, but i cna always repaint all of the ACP with latex paint later on
we thought about using a very light silver for the ceiling, and repainting all of wich will be on the walls.