I believe ive changed my mind about going from a tradition basement to an ICF basement. Im curious how most people are 'finishing' off hte inside of the ICF block on the interior ? Not that I really want to have a 'finished' basement here but it seems it would be VERY easy to damage the foam in the basement and with a couple of kids who knows what could happen. What should I do the interior of my icf basement and how difficult is installation.

All icf manufacturers have furring strips either embedded or at surface. Any finish can be applied how long it'll take is up to you. In my area the bas. has to be covered. Have you checked w/ local authorities?
Cheers!

doesnt have to be covered here...

So applying plywood would be no issue ?

use drywall, please. Plywood is a fire feeder/fire hazard. Even though EPS in ICF has a fire retardant it will burn as long as the source of the fire burns. You don't have to finish the drywall etc. This is a standard requirement across most of the country. Drywall is also cheaper than plywood.

In my area, the rock does'nt have to be tapped(glad I am) but has to be on for retardant. Manfred is wright it is cheaper. The choice is yours but do consider fire as an issue eventhough you are not required. Fyi, since were talking fire, the foam itself, if eps, does not off-gas but does melt.
Cheers!

Thanks guys...

So im assuming the SheetRock, screws right into the ICF block with nothing additional needed ?

sheetrock will screw into the webs of the foamblock. Some are 6" oc, some are 8' oc or some are even 12" oc. Screw the sheetrock into the webs and nothing else is needed.

...Or might want to consider a "Lop-sided" ICF (Example: 2" EPS - 6" Concrete - 3/8" Hardieboard, MgO2, Viroc etc.)....Yes they are available! This would eliminate the Dry-wall (AKA wet-and-mold wall)

What about Integraspecs EIFS (I think thats what they call it), it has ICF one side, and concrete the other, yet is supposed to stack like ICF forms.

I am really don't know much about it, never used it or tried it, just know it exists. If you leave the plywood on, it would be the same as plywood over icf, without the foam of course.

Mark Ross

It pays to finish the basement to a minimum point, which would also include some electrical outlets, maybe cable and phone.

where are you building, and which code is current in your area?

Im building in Maine where its nice and cold, there is no code in the basement to have it finished as far as ive been told where i am.

Le Canuck,
Integraspec does offer this option ECF (exposed concrete face). You stack the blocks on one side w/ regular spacers and on the other slide the furring strips only in the spacers w/proper width of backing between the 8'' o/c spacers. Hope this clarifies.
Cheers!

I thought you didnt get mold in an icf house so why are you worried about drywalling? Isnt that one of the selling features of icf ?

You certanely need to control humidity and indoor air quality no matter the building system.  Left to its self almost anything will develop mold and rot.

Donnerwetter, can you please elaborate on the financial impact for MgO2, Viroc and HardieBoard vs. drywall. Assume that the basement is ventilated. It has to make financial sense to build with these products, don't you agree?

Manfred; I will be happy to

Product Material cost/sqft Delivery Charge Installation Cost/sqft minus 2" EPS TOTAL

Drywall $ .22 $ ????? $ ??????? $ 0.00
HardieBoard $ .65 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 ($ .50) $ .15
MgO2 $ .92 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 ($ .50) $ .42

Drywall prices based on $ 7.00 per 4' X 8' 1/2" thick sheet
HardieBoard prices based on $ 9.00 per 5' X 3' - 3/8" or 1/2" thick sheet
MgO2 prices based on $ 29.44 per 4' X 8' - 10mm (+/- 7/16") thick sheet

Note: Both Hardie and MgO2 come already pre-installed on the lop-sided ICF. Furthermore, one must also deduct the 2" thick EPS @ =/- $ .25 per board foot.

Not to mention the far superior quality of MgO2 (and to a lesser extent Hardieboard) as well as the performance of a lop-sided ICF Vs. conventional (as now documented by ORNL - see the thread in "Lop-sided ICF").

I hope that this will (in part) provide some answers. Thank- you for your questions and concerns.

With utmost respect
Heinz

jimmy48;

Sorry about the misunderstanding RE: Drywall. Just meant to point out that when drywall gets wet - it's done. Every once in a while, Mother nature throws us a curve ball (i.e. Hurricanes, Tornado's as well as floods); which can also effect an ICF building with drywall installed. Products such as MgO2 and Hardie would not be affected.

Sorry about the way my tables and "Spreadsheet" turned out in the above post. Hopefully someone could fill out the ???? marks concerning Drywall delivery and installation costs (untaped). It seems that I also forgot the Screws to fasten the drywall.