Hello all,

My wife and I are going to do a 800 sqft addition on our existing house (2 story).  I'm looking into different types of constuction and the ICF seems interesting.  I having little contruction experience but have family help (contractors) to use from time to time.  How difficult is ICF constuctrion vs. standard foundation and wood frame practices?  It looks so easy to do vs. wood framing?  Any thoughts or comments?
It looks like it is more expensive and we live near the ocean (mild climate) so energy saving would not bethat much.  Is it worth the extra costs if it is that much easier to build?

Inittowinit,

I don't know where you are, but if you are near the ocean and there is any chance of getting hit by a hurricane, I would definately consider building iwth ICF. If your family has skilled work as carpenders and the design of the addition is simple then it might be worth a shot. The major hurdle would be bracing and the number of windows you are looking to do. If the house has few corners and the demensions are within an inch and not 1/2" or 1/4" then I think it might be okay. I would also strongly urge you to go to an icf class or hire a contractor to help you set up and pour the wall.

Finally, since you are near an Ocean if a hurricance heads your way then it could be a saferoom as well.

Inittowinit,

If your "in it to win this one", such your name states, you should consider professional help. Not as in "Dr.SoinSo" to get your head examined , but a skilled set of hands to run this project. I'm an engineer and have 15+ years in the construction world. I still count on folks that know their job better than I do. I agree that ICF looks as simple as stacking Legos, but there not. This is what gets a lot of people in a pinch. By the time you rent bracing, walk boards and a vibrator. your costs will start to add up.

I reccomend you get someone to handle your project. If you go T&M, Time and Material, you can save what ever labor you and your family/friends can contribute.

Going with ICF construction is smart for many reasons, soilid/safe/efficient. I would not choose ICF over wood because it's easy. both require a skill set. Every mistake you make comes off your botton line of savings. You make a bunch, and it ends up costing

Can it be done by an inexperinced person, you bet with some research and learning.

Patrick T.

We deal with room addition inquiry all the time. In FL we encourage the idea of using icf for additions. It will give you a storm resistant structure as well as the added ICF benefits of the addition itself. Are you tying into a masonary building? The size you are building seems like a manageable job. Hopefully you have some ICF support in your supplier or general area. GR

Sometimes by using ICF for the addition you don,t need to upgrade your HVAC system because you are so well sealed in with the ICF.  Just add another duct to the new addition.