winfield
Registered Users
Posts:7
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| 05/05/2008 10:40 PM |
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I stopped by a job site of an ICF contractor I was thinking of using for our house on Sunday. All the walls looked to be plum and straight but when I started looking at the windows and VBuck I saw that the bottom of the window area had been cut open on 2 windows and it was hollow down for about a foot. I went and knocked on the other VBucks and they all sounded hollow at the base. Is this something to be concerned about? I did not talk with the contractor so I don't know if he opened these up because he is going to do a repair or whatever.
There were also some ledger bolts that were out of alignment and some went thru the board and others were under the bottom edge of the board. I know that I am just learning about alot of this but it does not seem right. The roof was on and the framing inside was done and windows were sitting in the VBuck. Do I have good reason to look for another contractor?
Thank you Winfield
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:324
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| 05/05/2008 11:00 PM |
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| Without jumping to conclusions here, I would talk with the GC and ask about his experience and ask about the items of concern that you are seeing, if he says they are defects in workmanship inquire about other items as well that he has that you may not have noticed. |
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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winfield
Registered Users
Posts:7
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| 05/05/2008 11:08 PM |
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Thanks Chris. I pulled his permits for the last few years and he seems to do 1 or 2 homes a year. But of course this was the only house in progress that I could see the ICF and all before it was covered up.
Winfield |
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winfield
Registered Users
Posts:7
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| 05/09/2008 11:36 PM |
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With the VBucks is pouring concrete around them a problem? I saw where others use PT wood and cut holes or slots in them. How do you handle that with the VBucks?
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Chris Johnson
Registered Users
Posts:324
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| 05/09/2008 11:46 PM |
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I do not use V-Buck...search a few pages back and you can see what and how I use PT for my window bucks
Generally my window bottoms are 100% open to ensure full concrete placement...no voids. The first thing I do during any pour is fill my window bottoms which allows the concrete to flow also to the sides, once complete I get up top and start placing the concrete in the rest of the wall. Most times when I get to the window location the concrete is set enough to act as a plug, on occasion I can get some bubbling of concrete. If so, move on and allow it to set, have a worker trowel it smooth again, it should be set enough before the next lift.
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Chris Johnson - Pro ICF
Napa, CA
Come for the wine, Stay for the ICF work |
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winfield
Registered Users
Posts:7
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| 05/10/2008 2:53 PM |
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Chris, I found the page about the window bucks. Thanks, that helps out alot. So in the case with the V-Bucks should they put in holes to pump the mix in? I like the wood bucks better cause it seems that windows would be easier to install. Thank you for the info. Winfield
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bobgieser
Registered Users
Posts:33
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| 05/15/2008 3:21 PM |
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| V-Buck makes a bottom window shelf with the holes pre-made/cut for pouring concrete. Most V-Buck installers just use the solid channel and cut holes themselves. |
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Bob Gieser
Sales and Technical Support
Holdfast Technologies
Master Distributor for Nudura ICFs
(916) 214-4398-cell |
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Cattail Bill
Registered Users
Posts:245
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| 05/16/2008 9:24 PM |
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| I hesitate to comment because of the negative comments by others who had diffuculty with v-buck but will anyhow Less labor to make v-bucks less bracing if you know what you are doing and follow the instruction in my earlier post nothing to rot out and if you can install it in a wood buck it is the same for v-buck. |
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aronmac
Registered Users
Posts:39
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| 05/17/2008 7:43 PM |
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| If you are using v-buck or any thing like it for your openings you are going to have voids under any opening wider than 2 feet unless you have a very wet mix and spend a lot of time externally vibrating the area and tapping the area with your fist to make sure it is fully consolidated. Like Bob mentioned, all you need to do is cut holes in your bottom piece big enough to get your hose and vibrator in. I would have at least 1 hole every 16 inches. You can cut a nice round hole with a hole cutter big enough for the hose, which should look clean. No offense to Cattail, but I have used v-buck plenty of times, have been trained by their technical support team on our job site, and still prefer using wood. I use timber strand LSL. It is a little more expensive, but it does not cup like a 2x12 and is easy to work with because it doesn't bow or crown. |
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Alton
Registered Users
Posts:307
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| 05/17/2008 10:04 PM |
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Aronmac,
Do you use the Timber Strand LSL in contact with the concrete? |
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Alton C. Keown
Residential Designer and Construction Technology Consultant
Auburn, Alabama
334 329-0957 AT&T Cellular |
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aronmac
Registered Users
Posts:39
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| 05/18/2008 1:05 PM |
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| Yes, but I wrap it with a 12" wide protecto wrap first. |
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