Hi, I was about to order Nudura but have a question about Site Rep cost. Nudura wants $750 to send a rep out for 3 days to help / instruct me how to build the ICF (I'm doing a 40x50 rectangle). They also want to charge me $150 to receive training (cert. training). Is this normal? I thought one of the main selling points of ICF was reduced labor costs? I'm the homeowner purchasing the ICF, but I have a contractor working with me. Also, from what everyone tells me, installing ICF isn't overwhelmingly difficult. Sounds like after 4 hours I would have the hang of it.

I don't know why you would need a representative there for 3 days, seems a bit much to me, based on the coplexity of the build. Will they bring bracing to the job and/or does the contractor have ICF bracing? That's the important part in my opinion.

Is there a distibuter perhaps of another ICF type form that can "assist you"? Or more to the point, where are you - someone here may be able to help. A rectangle shouldn't be that difficult to do, especially if you have a competent contractor who is careful. I would put OSB around the corners.

renangle

Few rocket scientists are wasting their careers as ICF installers, but if its taller than a foundation wall or any situation where a blown-out form would be a disaster it's probably worth SOME amount of training on the subject.

Three days & $750 sounds a bit steep, but if doing all of the details right the first time saves you from having to fix it later it could be money well spent. Depends on just what you get out of it- the training & certification arm might be it's own profit-center.

Three days does sound like a bit much for a simple rectangle. Ren has some good points. I would add: Read the installation manual.

They want an additional $590 for bracing rental and delivery.

Thanks Bruce.

ICF_Build, the brace rental sounds a bit high to me too, well unless you are building one heck of a rectangle.

If you tell us where you are, its possible that someone may be able to help you or we may know of a distributer in your area.

The most important part of the job is the pour. If he's not going to guide the pour save your money and find someone who will.  Usually when I deliver to a new customer I get them set-up and running, then I schedule the bracing delivery so I can answer questions before the pour.  In some cases I do the pour.

ICF_Build,

I should know better than to jump into this mess but here are a couple of points:

--- 40x50 rectangle we'll assume 10' (I don't believe you ever stated height?) would yeild1800 square feet. That's less than 9 cents per square foot to be trained at $150-- you be the judge --- do you need/want to understand what they are doing at a detailed level? -- and if so, it may be worth 9 cents per square foot. Unless you are an experienced builder four hours of training will only give you enough data to hurt yourself.

--- Assuming this rectangle is as simple as stated and ignoring brickledges, arched windows, tall walls, or other not mentioned or other unsung complications this is a two day stack job (for an experienced 4-5 man crew) -- 900 square feet per day --- pour on the third day - at least with Nudura. I don't usually jump out their with brands but you brought it up and Nudura is very fast.

--- Ren mentioned boarding up the corners above, he knows a great deail about ICF but perhaps has not worked with Nudura -- I wouldn't bother boarding up the corners and never have -- I've worked with several installers with over a million square feet (mostly commercial).

--- $750 for three days consulting is about 40 cents per square foot. That's not bad if you pour on the third day.

--- Your bracing rental may be a little high depending on how long you intend to keep them and how far away your Nudura guy is.

good luck , Regards.

P.S. Dana1 -- there are plenty of rocket scientest installers out there! Just ask them

Sometimes we forget that ICF Systems are Engineered, thus there is a responsibilty by the manufacturer/distributor to ensure that their products are installed in the correct manner. Training courses are useful in that you get an overview of the product , technical manual, and installation procedures...but nobody should ever think that they can go straight to work, unless they have years of concrete construction under their belt, after taking a day course. As far as the rep goes..... $250 a day for an experienced technician to personally coach and oversee your project while you build is very cheap insurance indeed. True enough, stacking block is not difficult, but that is the least time consuming part of the process. The layout, prep, bracing, bucks ,embedded items , pour rate, pump selection, mix selection, crew co-ordination and experience is what you are paying for. If you are not a concrete contractor to begin with, hire the rep. Best of luck.