We built our first house using ICFs.  We actually sold that house before it was finished and so I have no experience living in it.  The house we are planning to start this summer is a log house with a walk-out basement and a passive solar collector in the 3 story stair-well and wood heat.  To me, it doesn't make sense to insulate the concrete walls on the inside because it is part of our heat storage.  The other issue is that we have violent allergies to mold (a few years ago we lived in a '50's concrete house where the black mold completely filled the void between the sheetrock and the concrete- and we live in an arid but cold climate).

I'm a pretty good "googler" but I have not turned up much information, either about mold or finishing the interior without using ICFs.  I thought I'd try the experts

Are there ICF's that have a minimum of insulating on the inside and most on the outside.  What about mold?  Is it possible to do a standard pour and then finish the inside wall by parging so that it looks attractive?  I like sheetrock texturing, and got pretty good at it when we remodeled the house we're currently in.

Look at TF ICF's http://www.tfinsulatedconcreteforms.com/

It is what we plan to use for our passive solar home. There are a few people who have used Mag board or other products to form the inside wall and had all the insulation on the exterior.

....there used to be an ICF that had 2/3 of it's insulation to the outside, and 1/3 in.... but Green Block changed their design to "conform" with the other icf's in the market.... You could always add additional foam to to outside of your icf wall... This can be pricy ..... but I've seen it done. As for stripping the interior foam away.... mmmm...lotsa work!! I do agree with the principal of having your thermal mass exposed to the inside of your building...

> I do agree with the principal of having your thermal mass exposed to the inside of your building...

In the case of solar or wood where I couldn't do active storage, I agree. Otherwise I'd always prefer outside.

You can do non-icf concrete/foam/stucco.

Durisol ICFs are made without foam, instead using 80% recycled wood chips and 20% Portland cement for the form. The inside of the form has a layer of rock wool insulation outside the layer of poured cement, so most of the insulation is on the outside. They're R28 for above ground and R21 below. I'm adding 2" of SM to the outside of mine to boost the external insulation. See www.durisolbuild.com.
...Terry

A few companies offer systems with thicker foam outside than inside. TF System and Logix for sure, probably others. Logix' product is called XRV http://www.logixicf.com/index.php?n=news&mode=construction

Quad-Lock ICFs are another option.

http://www.quadlock.com/

And depending on what type of exterior you are planning, you could just add 1" thick sheets of EPS or XPS foam board over the outside of the standard ICF.