I went to a Home Show in Chattanooga Tn and I saw a display of Superior Walls. I was initially impressed with their presentation and I thought this would make a great basement structure to put my SIP Panels on.
Then I searched our forum and found a few comments. All of them were negative.
Can someone help with either finishing off my desire to use these walls or re-assure me these things have a secure place in home construction.
One thing I have heard is about their use of gravel for a foundation. Can they be used on a normal footer?
I would respect and appreciate any help. 
Thanks,

Marc
[email protected]

Are Superior Walls superior? NO. Are they OK? Yes. I have used them, at customers' request, on two projects. They seem to work as advertised. Except, I think they are too expensive, and I don't truly believe that they are as waterproof as they claim. Their concrete skimcote skins are in theory waterproof. But the joints are just caulked. Its OK for now, but without any type of waterproofing membrane, there is no protection from the ground water. What happens after 10-15 years of exposure to this groundwater and the trace minerals it contains. I know that 'old fashioned' tar waterproofing drys, cracks, and shrinks after about 15 years in our area. What will happen to the caulk in the Superior Walls joints? As an aside, the owner of the second project dealt with the Superior franchisee directly, and when he had some minor issues, the franchisee was a real *&^ about correcting the problems. I don't know who you saw in Chattanooga, but these guys service the Nashville/middle TN market. As to the gravel footers, Superior is not the first system to use them. I first saw them several years ago, used with a permanent wood foundation. You can put them on a regular concrete footer, but because you have no way to adjust their heights on site, your footers must extraordinarily level, or you must shim the walls off the footer to level. The gravel can be adjusted as the walls are being set.
In conclusion, I have been around most of the different methods and materials used to construct basements, and I will my own home's basement with ICFs.

Thanks Wes,

That is the kind of information I was looking for. Just factual and what you will be using. Speaking of what you wil be using.... Do you think there is a whole lotta difference in ICF's?

What ICF will you be using?

I look forward to hearing other opinions

Thanks,

Marc and Kemella Allyn

Marc&Kem,
I've used ICFs from several different companies over the years. Started out with what was then called AAB (then it became BlueMaxx, now called Arxx), it was (and, I guess, still is) a very good block. Then we went through several different companies and styles of block (8 or 9 altogether) with less success. Now we use Logix blocks. It is a very stronge, solid product with good workability, they stay locked up, and have good concrete flow. (no blow outs). They are very similar to the old AAB blocks I started out with. (The Logix block is mfg by a group of companies that were Arxx franchised mfg before Arxx moved all production back inhouse). They have made a few positive alterations to the orginal forms and supply a quality product. If you have more specific questions, please feel free to contact me directly at 1-877-659-1950, or [email protected].
Wes.