Hi folks!  My hubby and I are thinking about building an ICF house and would like to see some examples of these houses being built.  Do you have an ICF blog that you follow and/or recommend?  Thanks so much!!

Most ICF manfacturers' websites have technical libraries with pubs and videos that take you through the process.  They may vary on specifics but are consistant on concepts.  For example, here's Logix video;    http://www.logixicf.com/index.php?n...stallation


Here's an excellent home owner blog:  http://icicleearthhome.blogspot.com/


Quite a few photos of homes:  http://www.icfresource.com/webgallery/gallery.html  


OwnerbuilderBook website has many blogs of what folks have done.  Did an advanced search for ICFs for the following:   http://www.ownerbuilderbook.com/search.aspx?q=%2bicf%2b


Here's a prescriptive document for residential ICF:  http://www.huduser.org/Publications/PDF/icf_2ed.pdf


These should give  you an idea of the range of info out there.  There are books that cover the above info if you're looking for an all in one source.  But when you're ready to solidify your plan, you need to determine which ICF and builder you'll use and what they're specific requirements are.   If you are the builder then you should get hands on experience with a few other projects before yours. 

Of course there are some threads in this forum with photos that would be helpful.  Good luck,  Dave

The best favor you will do yourself is to interview several ICF builders in your area. Get references from them and then check the references. Take responsibility for the due diligence. Concrete is far less forgiving than wood, so mistakes are significantly harder and costlier to fix. Better to minimize them in the first place by hiring a competent professional.

If you plan to do some of the work yourself, hire an expert to work alongside you in the beginning and to be there when you pour. How do you find an expert? Follow that due diligence model. Good luck and have fun.

Check out: http://www.arxx.com/Projects/ProjectGallery.aspx. But, I totally agree with BrucePolycrete, contact the manufacturers themselves and ask them to connect you with preferred ICF contractors in your area. Go with the one you feel most comfortable with.

Thanks, everyone!

Hi Kelhuk,
We are in the process of building a full two-story ICF home in Ohio. In fact, we're about 2 weeks from moving in! We have blogged about the whole experience explaining why we made the choices we did, in hopes that others would find it helpful as they build their own homes. Our goal was build a home that was as green, energy-efficient and with as much universal design as we can afford.

www.dejongdreamhouse.bloghouse.com

Posted By icfgreen on 03 Feb 2012 09:57 PM
www.dejongdreamhouse.bloghouse.com

Bad link.

DMac,  I found it by searching for dejong dream house.   Petty nice home.   Dave

http://dejongdreamhouse.blogspot.com/

Argh, this is what I get for being online late at night. Thanks, FarmBoy, for posting the correct link (blogSPOT, not blogHOUSE!)

@ICFgreen- I know!  I already follow your blog!!!  :)    I was impressed that you hit 200k hits!  I would love to find other blogs like yours.  We won't be doing the work ourselves, but seeing a house in progress helps me understand the process better.  Hmmm, maybe I need to start a blog for our house.

Speaking of blogs (you all know I regularly go slightly off topic). You should check out my Ultra-marathon training blog.

I'm training for the JFK 50 Mile ultra marathon and dedicating this effort to the Semper Fi Fund for Injured Marines. My goal is to raise $10,000 by 11/15/2012. Here's the url for the blog. http://bruceultrablog.blogspot.com/

@Kelhuck, aha! So you're one of our silent lurkers! And yes, you should definitely start your own blog. There aren't nearly enough out there chronicling the ICF experience. I don't know of any others.

Here's another very well documented home project to include solar PV.  The author identifies not only successes but the inevitable problems that pop along with the fixes.  There are other good blogs on this website.  

http://www.ownerbuilderbook.com/blo...ewood.aspx

@icfgreen- you caught me! You do a great job with the blog. I did decide to start one, too. It's something I've been thinking about for a while; hopefully I can be a help to others in our shoes. It's http://thehomeonthehill.blogspot.com/ Posting will be slow-going for a couple of months, but will pick up when we start building.

@Bruce- man, I'm tired from just READING about all that running!! Great cause and great exercise- can't get much better than that!

Farmboy- thanks for the link!

oops

YAY! I'm so glad you did. And you will be, too. I find it so helpful to go back and see why we made the decisions we did, and it really encourages you to take pictures of the whole process, which has helped us several times when we've had questions about things later on. i look forward to reading along. (p.s. thanks for the link!)

I am going to give this a bump for future reference for other people out there and add mine.

http://icftfsystemshome.blogspot.com/

I see this is an older post. I am wondering if you went ahead with your ICF home and how it turned out. We are just beginning the process and are just beyond the footings and drainage work. My blog is at www.ourseasongcottage.blogspot.ca
Kathi in NB Canada

Hi folks, I am chronicling our ICF home at http://www.ourseasongcottage.blogspot.ca Word of advise dont hire your neighbors that you wish to remain close to. Our neighbor the backhoe guy miscalculated digging out the foundation for the ICF add-on to our existing cottage by 9 or 10 ". The contractor didnt catch the mistake til the footings were poured. Means a low ceiling in the basement...not a happy camper. I do not mention this on the blog because its our neighbor we want to remain on good terms with.