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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) > Subject: Warping/twisting of ICF walls

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mckinlayUser is Offline
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Posts:17
06/17/2008 10:42 PM  
Effective bracing of ICF walls to prevent blowouts during the pour I've read about but I'd never heard any discusion of warping or twisting and or bowing of the wall as an artifact of the curing process. This issue came up as a discussion about pros and cons of ICF construction but I'm somewhat dubious of this negative "claim" beyond it being a product of poor foundation/inadequate bracing of the wall? Any thoughts about this from those that have multiple job experience with ICF installs would be appreciated. If it is "bunk" then call so! Cheers
icfcontractorUser is Offline
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Posts:237
06/18/2008 1:43 AM  
Mckinlay,

With hundreds and hundreds of pours under my belt with wood forms and ICF forms I have never seen a wall twist or warp as a normal part of the curing process.  Any time we have had a bulge, bow, twist, warp, or misalignment, it was due to our own doing or misdoing.  Way too many contractors want to blame something or someone other than themselves for issues that occur with a poured in place wall or floor.

ICF is no mystery product, it is a form that holds concrete.  Concrete shouldn't be a mystery since we have been building with it for over 4000 years.  The problem is too many people take concrete for granted since it is so common place and they don't educate themselves on the product they are building with.  Concrete shrinks when it cures, so yes it does move a bit, this is why concrete cracks.  To get warping or twisting the concrete would have to cure extemely unevenly.  One of the hallmarks of ICF is that it is one of the best way imaginable to cure concrete; covered, slow, and insulated.  The finest and straightest wall I have ever poured are always ICF walls.  The only way to do better is with expensive metal forms that a fairly new.

So I say "MYTH BUSTED" to your group who where stating otherwise.

ICF Contractor
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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) > Warping/twisting of ICF walls


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