<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> I posted on the wrong forum before, so here goes again. 

I am planning to build a simple rectangular 1200 sf ICF house, which will eventually be earth sheltered on three sides, in the central Wisconsin area.  I prefer a flat wall ICF and have narrowed my choice of manufacturers down to A-One (carried by County Materials, a large midwestern company) and BuildBlock.  After reading over the websites, I have to say that I do prefer BuildBlock's structural design over A-One, but have never seen either one used on a project.  After emailing and speaking with their Wisconsin rep, A-One comes across as having excellent service and support and while I missed the BuildBlock guy's call yesterday, they certainly got back to me fast enough that I suspect they do too.  Both have dealers or distributors within a 50 mile radius of the build site.  Hmmm...  I'm looking for something that will tip me one way or the other…ease of construction, water tightness, blowout resistance, and any other details I may have missed.  I am really interested in people’s opinions and experiences using either of these forms- particularly in which one is would be easiest for a contractor with extensive concrete but no ICF experience to construct.  Thanks.

We are an ICF contractor and I would use Build Block in a second over A-1. We have not used build block in the field yet but we are going to this spring. We have built with several different blocks and for the last few years have been using reward. Build Block will give you great support. As we have been considering changing blocks they have been very good to work with and we have spent a year talking with them before we were willing to switch as we think the block is that important to quality of the job. There block is very comparable with the best blocks out there, you will like there long corners and there block markings, its completely reversable so less waste,I could go on and on. I am not ripping A-1 I am just complimenting build block on a very good product. We are in Western WI, and I would be happy to give you any advice that may help. Good Luck.

Of those two use BuildBlock, no doubt. A-one is fine but BuildBlock is flip-able (no top, no bottom and better yet nor right or left corners). Bonus BuildBlock has ties every six inches.

But you did not mention price, service or support.

In the interest of balance, particularly for the potential homeowner who is researching their options in connection with an anticipated custom building project: All ICF's are not "blocks", check out www.tfsystem.com (a vertical ICF system) I believe that you will find mostly positive posts on this forum from both the pros, and homeowners, who have used this product.

And, yes, as mentioned in a previous post, our firm is a distributor for TF in California, and we are supporters of this website.
TF management will forward all product inquiries for our area to us for appropriate follow up.

Any web site for A-one???

http://www.a-1form.com/index.html

Thanks everyone. All things being equal, I intend to go with BuildBlock. However I am waiting on a reply from their sales rep, and my final decision will be heavily based on the sort of customer assistance available for each block in my area. I must admit, I do find the vertical ICF system fascinating though.

Try calling the Build Block master distributor there in Wisc. His name is Randy Moore 1-920-734-3660 he will point you too the right rep.

Dave

I used BuildBlock for my house. I liked the reversibility, the webs @ 6" spacing, and the reinforced portions of the web every 8" vertically. I hung Hardiplank with nails in the reinforced sections. My top course was 1/2 block high. Because of the reversibility I could use both halves of straight and corner blocks on the top course. I like the large nubbins that lock the blocks together. I had no blowouts, nor any near blowouts even.

I encountered two issues, one manufacturing and one design. When you get your blocks, from anyone, stack a group of corner and straight blocks to about the planned wall height. Measure both stacks to make sure the corner blocks and straight blocks are the same height. The ones I got weren't. Six corner blocks stacked about 3/4" higher than the straight. That created all kinds of consternation in getting the walls aligned and level. Do a search of my posts last spring to learn all the gory details. The design issue is a shortage of web material on the outer side of the corner blocks at the corner. I had to embed a 3" wide strip of OSB in the block surface, fastened to the large web @ mid point in the height of the block, in order to have a place to nail the ends of the Hardiplank at the corners. Not a huge deal, but an aggravation nonetheless. I put a 3/4" conduit in the corner hole for fastening, but that proved to be difficult to hit with nails or screws.

I was able to make solid T-wall connections with the straight blocks, but it was a bit time consuming to do so. Would I use BuildBlock again? Probably, but not without at least looking a bit more at some of the others first!

I'm building this summer and did a bunch of research, finally settling on Buildblock myself. They are excellent for all the reasons noted by others, and they came in at the best overall "Point of R-Value per $$$" as well.  I even paid for my wyfe to attend their building class earlier this month to get some first hand knowledge of the product, and there she met the local dealer whom we'll be working with.  (I myself attended a Polysteel class a couple of years back so I got some of the basics down.)

Earlier last summer I visited two houses constructed with Buildblock and the O-Bs couldn't say enough good things about the product. 

I would heartily recommend Buildblock myself, if you haven't already made a final choice.

Steve

Thanks again for all the replies.  I plan to go with BuildBlock for structural reasons (structure of the block, that is), though I do have to complement A-One on their quick replies to my email inquiries and excellent customer service in the Wisconsin area. 

We use A1 a lot and even on the Habitat homes generally we stack and pour the same day. We use a 1.5" ostec internal vibrator and pour  in less than one hour, followed by the basement floor.

The form holds very under these pressures and dose not settle, you will need to st rape the corners.

Other than that the form is molded correctly. Reversibility or support is a bit of a non issue as long as you order the right number of forms.

My only deciding factor would if you supplier has bracing available.
Eldon Howe

I just ran across the thread from way back. Things have changed with A-One, New owners, flippable reversible and Super Size corners. The best value in ICFs.

I want a BuildBlock