Hi Guy's

          Was browsing the Internet looking for something better or similar to Form-a-Drain or technique to do a
monolithic Footing/first row.... Then came Across this: http://oikos.com/esb/40/polyform.html

Anybody used this or is it fairly new?

Wolf

It and variations have been around for awhile.

I prefer to use  http://www.fab-form.com/

 for my footings.

In any case, you could do a mono pour of footing and wall, however I wouldn't do a very high wall. 4' probably max with an open style system.

We also use fastfoot on all of our jobs, however we don't do monopours. We pour our footings and stemwalls seperate. This alows us to have the ability to get our stem walls set truely plumb and square.

I hope it's ok if I piggyback off of your question. I've got what is probably a dumb question. The ICF guy we're likely going to use recommends Form-A-Drain. We were talking to an excavating guy last night who also does footings and he said he typically just digs a trench and pours the concrete. I've seen that done quite a bit (although not with ICF) around here. Is that a bad idea?

Unless you are in the dessert I would recommend some sort of drain tile system for those of us using Form a drain we are sold on its efficiency and the fact that we do not have a bunch of footing forms to clean up. As for trench pouring yes this can be done but you will then have to dig out the soil to properly place the drain tile, also with a trench pour you will want to use a self leveling concrete or you will regret it when you try to level in your forms.

I'm really not sure how anyone can answer construction questions when we don't have a clue where someone lives?? Just my observation!

Trech footings were and in some areas are popular because it's slam, bang, footings are in! Are they bad?? Not really, because in most cases they substitue more concrete in exchange for accuracy. The real problem stems from whether the required doweling can be placed accurately, otherwise it has to be drilled and grouted or epoxied later.

And of course, the other major issue....footing drains? After pouring a trench footer, I have never ever seen anyone place a footing drain, after the fact! Think about it, they want the trench for simplicity, but then I know they'll indicate that drains are not necessary. Check your local code as to whther drains are required. You may be in an areas where they are not needed??

Form-a-drain! I have used it before and think it also is a good footing solution. They now have a taller size, 8" or 10" I don't remember, which I think would actually do better water removal. The old 6" style had a tendency to need water to climb up to a higher level. In those cases the footing could be immersed in water causing the rising damp or moisture transfer we strive to avoid. I will probably use the taller ones!

By the way, in trench pours self-leveling concrete means a properly designed mix, it does not mean add water until it just flows all over the place!!!

Good comments James Thanks for clearing up my post.

Wolf you have received some very good info here hope this makes your project a sucess.