After much study over many years, I've decided ICF is the way to go for my ~7,000 sq. ft. home in/near Fort Collins, Colorado (1 hour north of Denver).  The posts in this forum (and elsewhere) have convinced me that I need an experienced ICF builder (contractor or general).  I'm trying to create a home design that elegantly integrates:

- ICF for 2/3-story+basement, quad-garage/shop, attached sub-ground atrium
- radiant floor heat
- geothermal heat pump(s)

I need "extra" structural support for large fish tanks on the main floor (e.g., one or more tanks at 4'x4'x8'), and I'd like to have an in-ground exterior pond that borders an acryllic wall in the basement (ok, weird requirement, but so am I).

The house has a number of other custom requirements (angles, etc.), but is mostly an open floorplan.  Ideally I'd do most of the electrical, drywall, and finishing myself, so it would be nice to have a fairly close working relationship with my ICF expert(s).

I'm pretty flexible to which ICF product, because I also agree with thoughts in this forum that we select a product with which a given builder is specifically experienced (and likes).

I'm having a hard time finding experienced ICF builders in the area... can anyone in this group offer suggestions?

You ICF experts out there... do you typically general the whole house, or contract your part?  Do you prefer contracting under a professional, or are owner-builders ok, or is it case-specific?  (I read with great interest the need to coordinate site construction with concrete delivery, something that's tough for an individual owner-builder to do, so it seems like the ICF expert really needs to be involved with quite a lot of the construction.)

Try a wonderful contractor in Colorado who is very knowledgeable in ICF his name is Bernie Colonna you can contact him at 970-625-3376 or 970-319-8706 or e-mail him [email protected] Tell him Bill From Minnesota sent you.

Charley,
I would talk to Mark Ross his is into all of what you are looking for(I don't know about the pool) arit.com
good luck,
Scott

Also, call Larry Douglas. He can be reached at 1-970-749-1814.

Walltech

Advanced Construction Concepts Inc.
Ryan Specht
253 SW. 42nd St. Unit D
Loveland, CO 80537
Phone: (970) 663-9313
Toll Free: 877-757-1804
Fax: (970) 667-6588
www.accproducts.com
[email protected]

We live in Northern Colorado too and are considering an ICF house, but not quite as big as yours. We have talked to Brad from High Plains Foam at several home shows. He is located in Berthoud and has built several homes in the area. He will give you references to check out and houses currently being built to go see. He is open to homeowners doing some of the work themselves, but he does inspections while the forms are going up and they have to be done his way. He insists on doing the concrete pour.

http://www.highplainsfoam.com/

970-532-1210

I've also met Brad. I think he's really good, and really expensive. You probably get what you pay for.

One of the things that intrigued us about Brad was that he told us to get a bid for regular stick framing and when we considered the cost of framing, insulation, footings, drainage, radon midigation etc. that ICFs  and Form-a-drain take care of, he thought his ICF bid would be very competitive.

We plan to let him bid on our project when we get to that point