We are about to start building a new custom home (approx 7000sf 2 story home).
We have been pretty set on doing ICF, however now our general contractor suggested we could use precast tilt-walls instead.
It's quite a bit cheaper, almost $70K. The tilt wall system can get us R15
Quote from their website: Wall panels are available with cast in 1.5" thick GreenGuard insulation board that will provide an R7 in a 5" panel and an R8 in a 6" panel. Hint: Double the insulation board in a 6" panel and get R15).

Our contractor then would like to apply a Icynene type spray insultation on the interior to add another R-7 for a total of R-22.
 
Any reason why ICF would be much better than that?
I'm thinking with the $70K saving we could upgrade to top of the line windows.
Any opinions on this? The home is in Central Florida BTW.

 

What type of tilt system is this? Web site? How is the GC gonna spray foam on the 'inside'?..Assuming the tilt is like ICF which  doesn't have interior studs on the outside walls.

http://www.precast-homes.com/index.html

Have to find out about the foam for the inside.

Schmausser

Please correct me if I am wrong - but this does not seem right. ICF's (Labor and materials) run (give or take an average of $15.00/sqft. If we were to assume a 60 sqft X 60sqft "Box" (no windows or doors) 20 feet high; would this not be equal to 7200 sqft (3600sqft per floor) of ICF's? If so than simple math would be 60+60+60+60=240 lin. feet X 20 feet high = 4800 sqft of walls. This X $15.00/sqft would = $72,000.00 (if it were ICF's). Therefore one must deduct that your contractor will only charge you the sum of $2,000.00 ( $72,000 for the completed ICF - the $70,000 more = $2,000.00) for this 3,600 sqft; 20 ft high "Box".

Hmmmm (and WOW) Tilt-up must really be cheep :)

This project consists of 3 buildings. The main house which is approx 3000 ft down and 2000 sf upstairs. A detached 4 car garage with a 1200 sf guest apartment above and another 1 story "game room building" 600 sf single story. The tilt wall quote is arround 80K from what I understand und the ICF quotes (we have 2 so far waiting on some others) are around $150K. Does that sound right? (These quotes don't include what we are paying our GC which is a fixed fee regardless of what we chose) I don't have all the details on the quotes but will get them in the next few days.

Do you have a web site for the insulated tilt-up walls.  Do you know how the panels will be attached?  Will they be bolted or welded together?  I am interested in a source for insulated tilt-up walls for the Orlando area.  I was hoping for a higher R-value.

Have you considered using closed cell polyurethane instead of the open cell you mentioned?  The R-value would be higher and the moisture transmission would be better controlled.  Of course, you may have to furr out the walls before any kind of foam is applied.

Schmausser,

When trying to identify price its hard to say 3000 sqft basement 2000 sqft first floor etc, because we sort of live in the square foot of wall arena. In my opinion your ICF price for labor, material, turnkey install, you should be at around 12.50 or so, maybe more depending on the size of the ICF and the complexity of design. If that is the case, your wall area should be around 11,000 to 12,000 sqft. Is that right?

If that is the case and tilt up is 1/2 the price of ICF the tilt up price sounds a little low to me. Does that include studding out for put in the insulation? That could add some more money to the tilt up quote. If you have to add the Icynene...look up the price per square foot...it can add up quickly. If the wall area is 11,000 sqft and you add $4.00 per square foot for the Icynene...that's $48,000. Pretty soon you can be close to or more expensive than the ICF wall and wind up with an inferior product. Sometimes its easy to look at the low number, but you get really pissed when change orders or "things" happen where they increase in price significantly. Just my thoughts...renangle. Best of luck

It sounds like you are going to build a very nice house...if I were you I would want to know a little more. I am also not a big fan of bolting concrete walls together.

Best of luck,

renangle

I've

After watching the video.....the inside wall is concrete so ext studs will have to be added. This will probably increase framing cost by at least .50/sf. plus the cost of the wood. The foam insulation costs which someone else mentioned will cost significantly. Since you have the plans, can you do a take off of the s/f of the walls? You may need to buy an archetect ruler for this for a few of bucks.

I came up with about 6500 sq ft net wall area. 6" forms about $24,000 ,120 yds cement, pump rental twice and let's say 350 pcs. of rebar.

It can't be $70,000 difference 6500sf of ICF walls equals about $78,xxx.

I'm confused......is smartwall the same as original poster??? Under a different name?

No

I'm in NY not Florida.

smartwall.....where did that 6500sf come from??

Schmausser,

I know I am late here, but here are my observations: An ICF form by its design has about R22. I agree with ICFConstruction, the material and labor cost should not be more than $78000.00
THis would safe you the extra Icenene insulation. Plus the ICF is monlithic once poured, not fragmented like tilt-up.