Keps ICF in Quebec
Last Post 21 Jul 2009 08:12 PM by dwangle. 4 Replies.
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suenormUser is Offline
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17 Jul 2009 07:04 PM
 
Today I visited a icf project with a system that I fond very interesting , base on a panel and  spacer. I was surprise by the density of the foam : 2 pounds/cubic feet and by the fact that there almost no waist .Bracing look very easy ,1  2x4 on each side every 6/8 fout , very strong wall before the pour.
Anyone got experience whit that system or have any opinion , I planning a project for next May In Lac St Jean and find it very interesting for a DIY job. http://www.keps.ca/en/products.php
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19 Jul 2009 08:45 PM
I visited their site and found nothing different about this product and any other knock down product. It is my humble opinion that any site assembled ICF is going to be more difficult and confusing for a first time DIY.
I would suggest maybe doing a bit more research about any other block. I don't know about all ICF's but I think most ICF's are usually only braced every 6/8 foot on one side (usually the inside, but not necessarily). Also, when I figure a job, I figure about 1% waste. Not very much. I tell my customers if they have more than 10 pieces over 8" long, they wasted block.
 I am not knocking the Keps system, just their advertising. Most of the claims they make can be made by the majority of the ICF manufacturers.
My opinion would be to get a nice pre-formed ICF that offers full technical support, and you will be miles ahead. Of course, like I have said before I am kinda partial to Nudura, but they are just one of a few good blocks.
Please keep us informed.
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21 Jul 2009 05:44 PM
Dwangle

You told me that you don't see any difference from other , from what I saw they use the same bloc for every thing ...no corner block, no T block (small and long) for me it a big difference . Using the same block make the lost to minimum . and they also offer prefab wall , that tell me that there block are stiff enough to stay in place and there locking system is unique . I saw in your comment that your more interest to drop your Nudura in my post that relay see the difference in this product . That said, I don't want to sell this product... I want to buy some Icf but I think this one have something different ....
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21 Jul 2009 05:53 PM
Contact Polycrete they are manufactured in Trois-Rivieres.
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21 Jul 2009 08:12 PM
That is right, I don't see any difference. A knock down system is a knock down system. (Pretty much.) There are other system that offer the same features as Keps. (QuadLock, Integraspec, Logix, along with others). And yes, I am sure their locking system is unique. That is what makes every other system different. I am sorry, but I still think the only big thing different about this system is it's name. I have heard every argument in the book why a certain ICF is the best. That is why I am skeptical. For instance, I heard an ICF company explain why their EPS was so much better than another brand. The interesting thing is that they came out of the same EPS manufacturing plant with the same bead. I am just warning you about jumping into this project without researching all of the other systems available in your area. If Keps is what you pick, so be it. I would be interested in seeing pics, hearing about your experience, etc. I am just excited to see someone joining the ICF team.

http://www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums/tabid/53/view/topic/postid/48066/Default.aspx This is a previous discussion on knockdown ICF's.

I was not trying to advertise for Nudura on your post, so I am sorry if I came off that way.  I just try to point people to a good system when asked.

I have talked to someone that sells Quadlock (what I would call a very good knockdown system) and they told me that a knockdown system is not the best for the DIY. Their suggestion was that if you were stuck on a knockdown system, hire it out to someone that has used it before.

One last thing you keep mentioning is the lack of waste. If it is money cost you are worried about, think about it like this. For every hour you spend sliding in webs, you could waste approximately 11.5 square feet of block. Let's say if you were going to do a house 50' X 50' x9' (1800 sq. ft. of wall), the waste of a preformed block would be approximately 18-24 square feet. So if it took you three total hours to slide in webs on the whole house, you have wasted money. If it is environmental concern, recycle all of your waste.

I have rambled a bit here. I hope I haven't stepped on any toes. If I did, I didn't mean to. Please know, I commented with good intentions.

ICF for life
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