Hi All,
If we have some dimensional plans with all openings with specs on windows, doors, etc.:

1. Do we need an architech with ICF experience?
2. Would there be an advantage?
3. I know many SIP MFG's wil convert your drawings, do the block manufactures take your drawings and change them for you?
4. We plan on having a full basement completed in ICF with SIP's on top. Are there other hidden benifits an architech with ICF experience may help? 
   
   We want it done right and we are not sure if this is a safe (monitary) corner to cut.
   Please share your experiences and thoughts. 

Thanks,
Marc & Kemella
Athens, TN will be building in Charleston TN

 

An ICF friendly architect can be helpful in making a few dimension changes so that the layout of the house will work with the block coursing and with the ICF cut patterns (save having stack joints on every wall). But you do not have to have one. That would be your one big advantage.
I have never heard of and block manufacture changing the drawings because with ICF's we can work from any type of drawing.
The ICF architect may tell you to do away with the SIP's altogether and to keep it simple, go ICF to the roof, which brings me to my next question, why are you making the change to SIP's and not going to the roof with the ICF, you did say that 'we want it done right...'?????

Paul Stevens

PS
Another advantage of working with an architect who has done it all before with ICF is just that, he/she has done it all before. There is no new learning curve that they have to follow. You won't get an extra expense because it is new to them and will take longer. They may have past experiences that will benefit you in the long run, and may be able to make some suggestions that you wouldn't have thought of yourself.

Experienced architects and engineers make the project go smoother, mind you everyone has to start some where at some point....do you want to be the test pilot?

ICF conversions from stick are fairly straight forward, something that needs to be kept in mind is ICF walls (6") are upwards of 12" thick out to out of block, obviously thicker than a 2x conventional wall. So bearing that can you move the exterior walls out to keep the interior dimension the same as currently drawn with stick or are set backs restricting you to where the plan is currently set making the interior dimensions that much smaller?

I am just getting ready to start a project and I had to do all the engineering/architecture since the engineer claimed ignorance about ICF and wanted nothing to do with it (The original design he did was a stick frame house), so I did all the design work and had him stamp the drawings for the building department (I am not a licensed engineer, so even though I know the formulas and how it's done, it means nothing). But now that it's done I'm betting this guy copies my work for the next time he runs across ICF work.

Make sure engineer is ICF friendly as well. Today the engineer will not accept Nudura's stamped drawings. He told me he can't figure out how it will work their way and I am to double up all of my bar which ended up costing the customer an extra $2000.
Make sure if you are going to do an ICF project, research your engineers to make sure they will be ok with the ICF companies specs!!
Paul

Paul
Please define Nudera's "stamped" drawings. Are these sealed by an architect or engineer who practices in your state?

Marc
Using an architect or professional designer typically provides insight into design elements you may not have even considered. In your case using ICFs only for the foundation is pretty straight forward but if you have someone addressing the "marriage" of the two systems AND also providing the design assistance to balance(for lack of a better word) your initial sketch designs, your project should evolve into a nicely developed home.

What many people skimp on is the other facets of design...such as heating/cooling systems, window types, house orientation, etc, etc.

Think thru your project and try to determine what you don't have, then figure out how much you are willing to pay to iron out the deficiencies!

In Nudura's installation manual section 'D' they have their Wall Design Tables, design Limitation and Tables for Above and Below Grade Walls. These tables are stamped by Tacoma Engineers who did all of the work for Nudura. These are the tables that you can refer to for your rebar pattern, as long as you are not building in a seismic zone greater than 1. I followed these patterns because thats what I quoted for the job, 6" wall, and when the engineer did his calculations said that there is no way that this way would work. Even though the majority of ICF installation nationwide is done with 10m bar on either 16" or 18" horizontal and 16" vertical, and since this guy is the engineer for the job, we have to do it his way. That is why I recommend finding an design team who have ICF experience.
Paul

Marc,

I agree with James, the sooner you get a design professional in your corner with ICF experience the easier your project will become. Way back when I first started I would take on just about any project that came along, the projects that were the hardest and least satisfying for me and the client were when someone thought they could be a design professional with no practical experience or design education. Today I won't even look at a project or give someone an estimate that doesn't have a designer or Architect in there corner. It just doesn't make sense to bust my hump on a project wrought with so many possible pitfalls. The least you should do if you have a set of wood plans or a design in mind is have them drawn by some one who knows what there are doing. I would not go to a General Practitioner for my brain surgery; this is down the same line.

Paul,

It always amazes me that people don't realize that engineers specialize in things or at least understand specific engineering aspects better than others. A good example is I would not have the local structural engineer who does everyone’s house plans engineer a bridge. They have all of the same data as a bridge engineer but they don't know all of the in and outs of it. The same goes for concrete, some engineers may understand wood but they may not understand concrete. I was having a discussion with an engineer the other day that for the life of him could not see how to make a 6" basement work because he has always does an 8" basement because that is what he was comfortable with. Once I explained to him the virtues of a higher strength concrete, grade 60 rebar over grade 40, and the proper placement of my verticals in the wall it all became clear to him. So educating yourself on the engineering of concrete, mix designs, steel, and loads can be very beneficial to you and your clients, because you may need to educate your engineer.

ICF Contractor

Paul;

You saw first hand what I had to go through here in CA with engineers...it was a nightmare with a number of them, they can't see the woods for the forest. Fortunately I have found a few that will actually listen to my reasoning for needing/wanting bar at certain intervals. The 'Girls' job we are starting next, that engineer threw his hands in the air and I ended up drawing everything up for him, presented it to him and he reluctently stamp and signed it after hymming and hawwing asking me questions to which I answered immediately giving him faith that the product does work. Now keep in mind this engineer was 'Mature', everything was still hand drawn, manual calculations (He doesn't own a computer), his only modern piece of equipment was a fax/answering machine

Check with Tacoma on the siesmic value, I believe the most current set of Nudura stamp details do cover Zone 4 (now Zone F), I believe Ottawa has a higher siesmic zone then your location. But in my siesmic area the drawings only act as a guide and must be redrawn and job specific, but the proof is there with both a Canadian and American engineer signing the details.

Thanks for your all your responses. Originally we thought an architech with ICF experience would be a good idea. Then as the reality of cost started attacking, I decided to get a second opinion. We are convinced an architech with ICF experience can actually pay for itself or at the least connect the dots between the contractor and Engr. & ICF company. After all, in our situation, we want the foundation/basement to maintain it's integrity.
Thanks again,
Marc and Kemella