When a homeowner builder comes to this forum looking for help it makes me proud as an icf installer to read posts that address the issue at hand by individuals who actually have icf building experience and who care about both the finished result as well as the icf industry as a whole.  Thank you!

With that being said it irritates me to read jaw flappin BS by individuals who pose as icf industry professionals who claim to know what they are talking about when they clearly don't.

As an icf installer who takes pride in her work I surround myself with like minded people (many who post on this forum).  There are those amoung us who have dedicated themselves to the icf industry and have been around since before there was a green bandwagon to jump onto.  Thank you!

Helping the homewoner builder was where it was at in the beginning because they were the ones who got the big picture and were willing to invest in icf when there was a preimum to build this way.  Thank you to those icf pioneers.  Now that more and more commercial buildings are going up icf the incompetent and unethical icf installers/sales persons are falling by the wayside (but not fast enough).

So many have received such excellant advise from icf industry leaders who monitor this forum and share their knowledge freely.  This knowledge was not free to them however and sometimes it came at a great price.  They did it anyway because they truly love the icf industry and truly believe in what they are doing.  For them it is not all about the money (because in the beginning there was none) for them it is about building the world a better place.

So if you don't know what you are talking about or do not have the actual hands on experience of building with icf all I want for Christmas is for you to give it a rest.  I for one am weary of you making the rest of us look bad.

icfgal

I couldn't agree with you more! So, a holiday quiz. go to this link. It is very interesting. Once you have read this article about Frank Pringle, post back here on this thread with the answer to the following question:

Which person that posts frequently on ICF web would be most likely to take credit in some way for the results of this person's pioneering spirit and drive for accomplishing something and Secondly, would be quick to point out the flaws or shortcomings in such technology and lay claim to reasoning for additional research?

Here's one of the many links to Frank Pringle: LINK

Ian can you please make this a multiple choice question instead of essay?

ok, ok, I'll check out the link...

Kevin

icfgal : What is your affiliation ? Product Rep? Contractor? Trainer? Order desk?

I am assuming your question is what is my affiliation to the icf industry.  Today, my company's core business is as a distributor of icf products.  We also provide training to contractors and homeowners on various levels from basic intro to icf to advance training where we actually stack and pour out a building.

Many years ago we started as simple icf installers.  As concrete contractors we were introduced to icf by a buddy and the rest is history.  Over the years as our knowledge increased and we honed our technical skills our company grew by word of mouth.  We took to promoting icf at local trade shows to get the word out about the beauty of building with icf.  That was back in the day when people would point and laugh at the notion of building a styrofoam house.

As we grew in the icf industry we recognized a need for quality installers, distributors, and substantive training.  We were not able to locate anyone to fill the need we saw so we made the decision to take a year off from building and filled the void ourselfes.  Hence fast forward to today.  Today our focus is on growing the icf industry as a whole.  We do this by being distributors of icf products, we provide quality installer training, we provide support and assistance to contractors and home owners alike.  Over the years we have developed relationships with engineers, designers, code officials, concrete companies, pump truck operators as well as belonging to our areas building organizations.  We continue to foster relationships with people who have integrity and quality in mind.

In my state if you set foot on a job site and so much as pick up a tool you are required to be a licensed and bonded contractor registered with the State.  This is not cheap and although we currently are not actively building we keep our contractor's license so when we step foot on a job site we are within the law.  This is important to us because we believe integrity and being ethical are invaluable in our lives.  Integrity and ethics are two of the qualities we look for when doing business with others.

icfgal

Icfgal, thank-you for the response.
Integrity and ethics are highly commendable qualities.

Icfgal.....what part of the country are you in??

Dear Robinnc,

I am in the Pacific Northwest...why, where are you?

icfgal

Hi icfgal,

I'm in the Charlotte, NC area.

So where are you now with your company?

How many project are you doing as we speak?

What happens now, what are you doing activly in ICF industry?

How much do you know about building a zero energy house?

 

Do you know anyone that you can recommend in Southern California?

 

You indicate many year how many years are you talking about?

Where do you plan to take your company from here?

Are you satisfied by being only a good installer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

will you be able to send some pictures or post them the least!!

what  goes around comes around you should know that,  at least with market being slow right now there may be still possibility for you to get the handel on what is coming down as the green building initiatives are concerned .

Good luck to you,