Is anyone using Fastfoot by Monopour? If so, are the savings real? Likewise, is anyone using Form-a-Drain by Certain Teed? Same questions. We are evaluating Fastfoot for footings and Form-a-Drain for basements. Both will be used in conjunction with ICF's. Thanks.

Someone will be here soon to answer the fastfoot question.

I like the product, unfortunately shipping kills it, not that what I do is a equal comparison, but it works for me...Typar/Tyvek available locally does the same thing, as far as I can see. Now I maybe wrong in that statement, but we find if the dig is all over the place and rough ground/uneven, etc. or even prone to water (which will effect the MPA or PSI rating of your concrete) we will use tyvek after forming and prior to rebar.

Again with formadrain, great product, damn expensive compared to 2x and Big 'O', but again it has it's places. I am doing a small project right now and formadrain would have been the ideal product, however no one carries it locally, so I can order it from out of area and than add shipping costs and I just can't justify it.

For those manufacturers, as a suggestion, to perhaps help us have better more cost effective access to your products such as these, make deals with the ICF manufacturers and ship to their warehouses and have them divide up a load amongst their distributors who in turn can carry smaller quantities and get them to out to us installers. Not that I am trying to run your business, but maybe make less today but move more product

Chris, I have to congratulate you on offering solutions. Too often when people run into problem they just complain and have nothing constructive to offer. Hat's off to you.

I have a mono pour system that I first used with Form-a Drain. The product I use I designed for my projects and I don't know if it will be available for widespread use. It doesn't use Fastfoot. You can use hat channel, the only problem with it, it raises the bottom of the block above top of the footing form and the concrete can bend the channel if you pour it too fast.

Chris,

I appreciate the insights. What do you mean by Big "O"? I get what dimensional lumber is, "2X", but I am unfamiliar with the other term.

Thanks.

Big 'O' is a brand name weeping tile we use in Ontario

Chris, its seems you know me to well! I suppose I'm known as the designated Fab-Form guy on here.
Greg are you talking about using Fastfoot just for forming strip footings? Here is a good little project that shows its' use on a Rammed earth wall; http://muskokasustainablebuilders.ca/Projects/Pages/Marks_Home.html
In regards to savings. The savings you can have is in the embodied energy in forming footings. With Fastfoot you only ship 2x4's instead of 2x10's, and most wood can be reused as there is no concrete damage. As well as the time savings in striping the forms as nothing sticks to the lumber. Chris has used Tyvek to do the same thing. But Tyvek is designed to let moisture in/out. Fastfoot is a dampproof membrane that prevents rising damp in footings. Also it comes on a roll of 120' and is C-folded to make installation alot easier.
If you are asking about the Monopour system (http://fab-form.com/fastfootMp/fastfootMpOverview.php) to pour the footings/walls at the same time, there is significant savings. If done properly you can save a couple days eliminating footing layout and pour. And the associated costs in having the pump truck and crew come by twice.

You guys are rock stars. I think we have finally gotten our arms around what we need to do. Fast foot when we have crawl spaces and form-a-drain in basement applications. Both seem to fit into our "Total Cost Savings" approach to home building and also allow us to build a world class home.

Thanks, again.