Joe,

This is our prefered way of doing it.

ICF Contractor

I take it the slight difference in thickness between the plywood and sheet rock doesn't create a problem? Or do you have the drywall guy tape over the plywood? I'm planning on doing this in my house but have wondered if the thickness difference might create a little problem.

We use 1/2 " ply behind the base base, 1/2 shorter than the trim. also have the joint mudded. I also like to use plywood behind the kitchen cabs, holding the ply just inside the cab outline. this allows you to firmly screw the cabs to the wall.

Wouldn't this be alot less expensive and less labor?

LINK

You can mark on the floor where you place them for baseboard. I'm still very new to ICF and want to learn all I can about the intricacies of building them. I plan on building an ICF for myself this spring.
Anybody here used these? Pros- Cons??

This is how I do it, your trim carpenter will appreciate it. As to the grapplers, how do you know where your trim carpenter is going to want to secure his baseboard? I use grapplers too, just not for nailing with finish nails.

As to the cabinets, my cabinet-maker makes full-back cabinets and likes to screw them directly into the webs. I mark the locations of the webs on the floor before the sheetrockers get there, and then on the walls before the finish flooring gets there, he screws them in. I have heard stories of where this might not be a good idea, but so far it seems to work, and mine aren't the only ICF installs he does.

My only comment in regards to the cabinets is make sure you check out the screw pull out test for your ties, some do not have the ability to hold the load with only a few screws, that is why some use the plywood method which is attached in a grid not more then 16" on center and then the cupboards to the plywood.

This does not mean that the product is inferior as the ties will hold sheet rock and siding just fine as there is very little load on those items but cupboards have a whole different load factor.

The point is if your product has a low screw pullout test use plywood if not attach directly to the tie. ( the load factor should be available from the factory and should exceed wood screw pullout).

I don"t know guys a tap con only costs $.25 each and they will go any were you need them. (4-1/2"x3/16")No pre plaining
Just saying we sometime over think this stuff and it just easer to do it. (and faster)
Just think about it we all have a 6"x 3/16" hammerer drill bit how long dose it real take to drill it and run in a tap con?
know what about remodel time ( mud the hole and your done)
I have had to put wood backing in steal studs for years .(What a pain)
Base molding can be shot in almost any 8" or 6" with my finish gun on most blocks I just use a little pL 200 on the back or (A Little) enter bond foam on it.(its glued and nailed)
I also use trim skews in the ties they work awesome for holding over trim nails
One thing I like to do is mark the ties on the floor at splice planes (Bastard seams) and at the corners and pull out my tape it all their than (the lay out is their on the tape)
I have been a finish carpenter for years (mostly commercial) and this is not any different than steel studs.
Most of the trim is glued on with just a few air nails at opposing angel in the dry wall will hold it until the glue drys. (Try and pull it off after)
A good carpenter will know what I am talking about icf is not hard to finish of just think out of the wood box thing .
I hope this helps you see that you don't need to work (think) so hard and you will get a better finish than wood homes gets.
ENTER BOND is you friend Like Carpenter in a can.
I don't sell the stuff so I hope you don't flag me Im not advertising it.(I just love the stuff it work great and fast) Try it for your self an you'll see.
Joe I hope you enjoy your new ICF  home.
Regards,
Scott
 DOW you can send me a can or 2 for all my typing!!!!

I agree with Woulf, opposing 16g trim nails from a gun with a little glue.

I also think that many people try to overthink using ICFs.......and they spend their time and money wastefully! And that includes owners who think their time is worth nothing, so they do it the lo....ng dra....wn o...ut w...ay!!

Read thru the past threads here, and give the recreating the wheel a rest!!:-)

Speaking from my own experience, no doubt about it. You weren't thinking of me when you wrote those words, were you Jim? I wouldn't blame you if you were!!! :-)

But in my case it seems I've had greater problems in those areas where I under thunk!!!!!! The key is to strike a sane balance.