My wife and I are in the design stages of our home and are contemplating adding a covered porch which would have livable space above it.  I am wondering if this is feasible with ICF construction and what I should keep in mind with my design? 

If this porch can be integrated it will facilitate the exact design we are striving for, I just am struggling with how we would support the block.  Cost would also be a factor as well as heat loss.

We are in a climate that get's very cold (ottawa, Canada) so please keep that in mind.  Any guidance is much appreciated, even if it means not to integrate the porch.  Cheers.

Brad

Like any other engineering problem this is do-able depending on the engineering. We are stacking forms on formed concrete elevated beamson concrete columns. We have stacked on steel beams. Cost is always an issue. You may want to integrate frame constuction.

Brad. as stated above it can be done simply by designing steel columns and beams to support the upper area. You will run into engineering cost with this method though it shouldn't be expensive especially if you are already hiring an engineer.

Dave

Thanks for the responses folks, we have decided to alter our design to include a sunroom rather than a covered porch which will cut down on our engineering costs. Cheers and as always you guys rock.

Anyone have any block suggestions in the Ottawa, Canada area? I will get pricing from IntegraSpec for sure due to their proximity and I was also thinking Nudura, any others that are in fairly frequent use in this area of the country?

As another local option, amvic is manufactured in Toronto. www.amvicsystem.com
Kevin

I realize you've already changed your mind but you could do it without beams, your walls would serve as the beam and you would build a temp. frame wall below to support it between your columns.

I use Logix here in FL but heres a link to Ontario distributors   LINK