kosaic
New Member
Posts:9
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| 28 Jul 2010 08:02 PM |
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Hi all,
I've been quietly hanging around the site and have learned a lot about ICF builds here. I am a homeowner and started my new house approx. 30 days ago in Eastern Canada.
We decided to go ICF (9' Finish) for the basement of our new home.
I have put a small album of pictures together as we just finished the ICF pour yesterday and all went fantasticly well:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kosaic1
After clearing the lot of some 2000+ trees, we had a TOUGH time with rock ... the house is 75' long, 45' deep (5000+ sq. ft.) and at one corner we had to go down 11.5' approx. through SOLID rock ... Not one bucket load of dirt to be found. We even broke 2 excavator's along the way by busting pins on the hammers (and these were LARGE CAT excavators with massive hammers)
We used FastFoot for our footings (great stuff) , ARXX Prime blocks (Straights, brick ledge, 90's, 45's & 12") for the build and they were spectacular, ARXX lock, both 10m and 15m rebar due to the height of backfill required in places and behind the garage, and a CRAPLOAD of bracing :)
We hired "certified", local, ARXX installers (after checking many references) and I must say they did an absolute perfect job all around. The walls are straight, no buldges, no blowouts .... everything could'nt be better.
Anyhow, just wanted to share the photos.
Any questions, fire away. I'll do my best to answer.
Cheers,
David
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JohnyH
Basic Member
Posts:114
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| 29 Jul 2010 07:31 AM |
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You have a beautiful building site, looking forward to seeing more pictures as the house is built!
John |
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icfrook
New Member
Posts:7
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| 04 Aug 2010 03:58 PM |
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Hi David,
That it is a great looking project and very clean site! Why did the installer or you choose Arxx over NUDURA? It was weird that they chose to use NUDURA waterproofing on the job. I am fairly new to ICF's so just curious.
Thanks,
Rook |
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renangle
Basic Member
Posts:304
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| 04 Aug 2010 04:09 PM |
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Hi David,
I have a friend with a place in Nova Scotia, seeing the photos of your jobsite makes me miss Canada! Looks like a nice project and a beautiful spot. I am jealous! |
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kosaic
New Member
Posts:9
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| 04 Aug 2010 05:31 PM |
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Posted By icfrook on 04 Aug 2010 03:58 PM
Hi David,
That it is a great looking project and very clean site! Why did the installer or you choose Arxx over NUDURA? It was weird that they chose to use NUDURA waterproofing on the job. I am fairly new to ICF's so just curious.
Thanks,
Rook Hey Rook, Clean? I just did not take any pictures of the garbage :) I lay down the law with each sub-trade I bring in. They are to each clean their own garbage and haul it away ... otherwise as part of final inspection for their piece of the work, they wont get paid until it is done. Simple and I'm very upfront about it. As for the ARXX ... They were the block of choice for my installer (and he's certified in 6 blocks, Nurdura included) ... I more or less followed his lead, but did do some reading/research myself just to be sure.. As for the Nurdura waterproofing .... this simply came down to someone local having it in stock, for a decent price. No more than that. So far, so good. My framer (30+ years experience) said this is the straightest ICF foundation he has seen in all his years. (other sub-trades who have been on the job site have said the same). I'm happy this far and look forward to standing an actual house on it now :) Cheers, David |
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Full ICF Homes
New Member
Posts:73
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| 04 Aug 2010 05:42 PM |
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Posted By kosaic on 28 Jul 2010 08:02 PM
Hi all,
... I have put a small album of pictures together as we just finished the ICF pour yesterday and all went fantasticly well:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kosaic1
Am I misunderstanding this corner, or is the bottom row of blox continuous through this corner, as I see the lugs right through this corner? Would this not be a corner that is very prone to breaking ... regardless of how much rebar is in it? If all went correctly, there should be a photo from the above album and a blow up of the corner. |
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kosaic
New Member
Posts:9
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| 04 Aug 2010 05:48 PM |
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All-Sask ICF Builder,
Can you tell me which corner you are talking about specifically ? (Picture number or name)
I'd be happy to take some close-ups, if I knew which corner seems to concern you.
thanks,
David
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Full ICF Homes
New Member
Posts:73
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| 04 Aug 2010 05:48 PM |
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Let's try those photos again (photo is near bottom with the bay window on left (photo 0193).
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kosaic
New Member
Posts:9
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| 04 Aug 2010 06:02 PM |
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This help ? I know we used 90 degree blox for all corners ... but not sure what you are referring too exactly :) I'm just the homeowner, not the installer. However, any and all comments welcomed.
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Full ICF Homes
New Member
Posts:73
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| 04 Aug 2010 06:09 PM |
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I don't install that brand but I would guess that the misaligned blocks might be due to a cut block that was put in upside down (but not sure of that). They should align.
No, it is the wall in the foreground of this photo (where there is the small 6" projection extends LEFT beyond the 90 degree corner.
(My photos don't want to upload.)
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kosaic
New Member
Posts:9
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| 04 Aug 2010 06:15 PM |
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On the left of that photo, is where th 45 degree blocks start (for patio door upstairs)
As for the misaligned studs, there was something funky with the corners, I remember asking, but not sure what the answer was. |
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Full ICF Homes
New Member
Posts:73
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| 04 Aug 2010 06:22 PM |
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No, it is the wall at the bottom edge of that photo. The 90 degree corner extends out 6 or so inches. The bottom (horizontal wall in the photo) seems to go thru and the one going vertically (with the patio door projection) seems to butt up against the horiz wall (with the foam showing in the top of the concrete). |
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wes
Advanced Member
Posts:810
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| 04 Aug 2010 08:23 PM |
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I think I see what All-Sask is talking about.
When I look at the photos, it is #26 of 37.
The corner in question would be, as you stand uphill from the foundation, looking toward the lake, the left back corner.
This corner is not build with corner blocks. The back wall appears to project past the corner by about 6 inches.
I would definitely wonder why that was done that way. |
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| Wes Shelby<br>Design Systems Group<br>Murray KY<br>[email protected] |
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kosaic
New Member
Posts:9
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| 04 Aug 2010 08:36 PM |
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Ok, I'm with you guys now :) :) This is an optical illusion (in the pictures) No corners pertrude other walls, promise. This is the corner you are referring to here:
This is another angle of the same corner:
That portion of the wall has a row of 12" block around it, as I have to pour a large slab behind the house (in that indent behind the garage) for a dog run .... so we added a row of 12" to bring it up a little more above the land. Mystery solved? Cheers, David |
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Full ICF Homes
New Member
Posts:73
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| 04 Aug 2010 08:51 PM |
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Yep, that is quite a depth of field illusion.
This is much like the camera illusion when shooting a fight scene. When you are to hit someone, you can miss them by 2 feet as long as your hand passes thru the camera line at their chin. When well done, it looks like you really cranked them.
It looks like a well done install. You'll be a happy camper ... even happier if it is ICF to the rafters. |
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wes
Advanced Member
Posts:810
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| 05 Aug 2010 09:36 AM |
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Very interesting.
I would call that an optical DElusion. |
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| Wes Shelby<br>Design Systems Group<br>Murray KY<br>[email protected] |
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