Hi all, I'm new to the site and I've been reading a lot of forum entries, learning what I can about ICF. I have noticed many references to corners - like factoring how many there are in the budget, and one person even said if he had to do it over he'd do less corners.

So tell me, what is it about corners? Are they hard to pull off successfully? Are they expensive? Can't seem to figure it out on my own...

Corners do add to the cost of a building.  We are building a house with 55 corners and 5 t-walls and 1 y wall.  Some of the corners are only 16" corner to corner.  Many of the corners are done for an "Architectural embellishment" only.  It will be a beautiful bet expensive house. 

I've been told that corners are figured in separately by many building officials when it comes to calculating building permit fees. Two houses of comparable construction and size can be charged differently, the one with more corners costing more.

corners, you're working them all the way from footings to roof.. time, time, time.. takes more time to layout the footings, more time to trowel out the slabs, more time to build the walls, more inside/outside corners to side around, and to landscape around, funky raftors and more hips and valleys when you get to the top. And more hips and valleys when it's time to re-roof.. corners = more work & time. But they do add strength to the walls.. twenty one corners...... wasn't my idea.. I wanted six.

Jelly: My answers to your questions would be no and no.

No, they are not hard to pull off.

No, they are not more expensive.

Yes, they are more time consuming but with a good ICF form there will be no waste, and yes there will be a little extra cost in rebar to accomodate the corners if using prebent rebar. Don't let corners scare you out of any design that you want, just make sure that if you are a DIY that you have good support and a ICF form that is corner productive.

Dave

Dave

I've got it - I'll build a round house! :) Just kidding - where's the drum player with the rim shot when you need him?

Thanks all for the replies.

Walltech,

The issue of cost regarding corners is often not even associated with the labor of the installation. The time consuming factor comes from bracing, which is where we often see an increase in the price, because you're using 2x the bracing at each corner vs. a straight wall. That being said, it's also more expensive to both purchase and manufacture the corners for about 90% of the forms on the market.

I believe that you should charge more for additional corners, and clients are typically receptive if it's actually explained as to why the price inflates. That being said, we design for ICFs all day, and you're right, if the dimensions of the form are layed out with foresight, you can certanily save money on not wasting material, or having to form corners.

Matt

Matt I think it's unfortunate that you have to use 2x4's on your corners.

Dave

walltech, what would be the better way to do it (as opposed to 2x material)? I'm still trying to soak up knowledge here...

It depends on your ICF, some require 2x4's, plywood, and or pull ties, fortunately there are forms that don't require the forementioned.

Dave

Right.

There are about 50 makers of blocks. I only trust a few: Amvic, Logix, Arxx, Reward, PolySteel. FoxBlocks might be OK ($cheaper).

And when you're pouring, don't let the direct force of the mud hit the corners. For the most part fill them from the sides.

walltech, Dave - which form systems don't require the mentioned bracing methods?

Quantum - what makes you trust those makers more than the others?

I have used many different forms in the past and would not trust any of them when it comes to the corners not moving some. I have seen all of the brands mentioned have problems when not braced at the corners, this may not be the products weak point but may have more to do with how the product was poured or assembled.The most important thing to use the bracing at the corners for is to insure that you are building plumb the added benefit of strength during the pour is just that. Not to be redundant but I agree that when you pour at the corners it is important to reduce the tidal wave effect as much as possible this goes for T walls as well pour away from the weak point.

I agree with Dave in regards to the trust factor but unless you have actually installed the product according to the manufacturers instructions you can not make a complete judgement in this regard.

I think Matt meant that you have to use two times (2x) the bracing at a corner; he didn't meant 2x lumber.