I am an owner/builder in Orange County, NC (Chapel Hill area).  I am considering ICF's for my walkout basement with two stories above.  Since there is a lot of information regarding ICF's out there I think I have a pretty good handle on things but I would like to hear from some owner/builders and ICF "experts" who have used these things in real life settings.  Here are some questions that I have.

1.  It seems like the overall quality of ICF's is pretty good for all brands but are there ICF's on the market that are more user friendly than others?  Less likely to have blowouts or problems at the corners?

2.  The pour scares me the most, can you have too much bracing and strapping for the pour? 

3.  I plan on taking a class from All South Supply this spring (if held) and they have Logix and Amvic ICF's available, if I learn to do one brand can I pretty much tackle any other brand?

I would appreciate any additional suggestions, information, and thoughts any of you may have. 

Thanks

Jon

We are a small GC planning our first ICF job right now, and I have asked some questions specific to our little walkout basement plan here on this forum. Search around and you'll see.

Same as you, we've got local suppliers stocking Amvic and Logix, and we would not consider another brand, unless it was stocked and supported by local people. Others have said here that both brands are quite good, Logix in particular because of their corner design. I'm sure you'll be OK with either.

As for a builder class from one mfgr versus another, and whether one will suffice for both, I'll bet the answer is yes. I have read the entire installation manuals from both Amvic and Logix, and see few differences.

I am not seeing anyone else other than Logix recommending use of the wire "FormLoc" reinforcing. Feedback is quite positve on that stuff.

Yes the basics of ICF are the same for most brands, there will be some differance but not significant you are both taking the correct approach and the two brands that you have mentioned are good products. They are not my brand but we are not yet in your area so I will not attempt to sell you on it.

Good local support is one of the biggest factors with any construction product so I hope they give you the support you need.

In regards to the block lock or wall straightner great product you will not regret using and yes there are several brands that recommend the use of wall straightner but do not require it.

On the pour side again most manufacturers will recommend the bracing requierments, OSHA regulations say you should not span more than 6' on your planking so that is where most will set the bracing distance at. Over bracing can make the final wall adjustment diffucult so do not over do it. Double check areas that you have created a splice in the wall, as well as around openings and at bulk heads, these are generally the areas that need extra scabbing and bracing. The best way to help insure that these areas are reinforced is to mark them so they are noticable as you are building and then go after them before the pour and scabb them with lumber, plywood works well for us and we cut up or scab material so we will span the splice from one tie to the next. Keep in mind if you place your splice at an opening when ever possible this will reduce the amount of scabbing you have to do. Occasionally forms are damaged in shipping we have found and made a habit of grabbing the tie at each end of the form and give it a tug if a form is cracked it is very obvious, and scabbing will be required.

The next thing is the pour time it self make darn sure that your slump is correct according to your form supplier and that you use the correct consolidation methods. DO NOT short change at this point these are very important items. Have blow out restraints ready to go just in case, if a blow out should occur have the pumper move away from the area and continue to pour have someone else dig out the concrete and replace the foam and then scab the area. fill it up when you come back around. With experiance it is very rare for a pour to go bad but you do have to start some where and that is with training and support.

Cattail Bill, I'm a little perplexed at you post in the last few days! On the" gable frame verses ICF" post you are blatantly showing your project as Amvic. On your next post " Subject OB advice" you claim Logix and Amvic are not your block, and "Logix and form-loc" you taut your special brand that you will not disclose, which is it!

Dave

Dave: I have never used Amvic and I have never shown any pics of my projects on this form so now I am confused as to where you are looking. Perhaps you have confused me with someone else on this site.

The rules of this site request that you do not advertise and I have tried hard not to advertise and unlike some of the people who blatantly advertise their brand on this site will continue to not do this until I decide to buy the advertising space that they request we do. But I will also say that it is not Logix either.

We do use Bloc Loc on our walls for the very reasons stated by others who use it including pcoughlin who is a logix guy

Jfrank,

Both brands you are looking at are quality products and you can get a good result from both. I have installed both with great results and I have put a 2" or greater vibrator down in these blocks on 8' to 10' walls with a 6 to 7 slump. The determining factors I believe for you will be support first, then what kind of cladding are you putting on the outside. Because as stated above 1 corner is way superior to the other as far as corner attachment.

ICF Contractor

Sorry Cattail, I confused you with Dalas Bill my fault. But I still maintain that bloc-loc type product is a sales gimmick/ poor form aid!

Dave

Thank you Dave.

You have a right to your opinion and I will not begrudge you that but lets consider that every form is different and yet similar.
The more features that get added to eliminate inharant issues of foam forms the more costly the form becomes, some brands may add certain aids or build methodology to compensate for that difference, but it all comes down to the desired end result which in many cases is also attached to total cost of a project.
One contractor may feel that the benefit of Bloc Loc has less cost factor then the time it takes to straighten a wall at the end of the pour, the next may go the opposite way. All in all experiance level, availabilty of product, and training will dictate each contractors opinion and choice of products they will use. I believe it is our job to inform them of the options and let them formulate their own opinion.