Grizzy Bluff Lodge
New Member
Posts:2
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| 10 Dec 2012 01:24 PM |
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We are going to start ICF construction on a recreational property in July 2013. We will only complete the ICF shell of a home done this summer.
We were planning on leaving the ICF shell exposed to the elements for 1 year with no roof in place.
Is it a problem to have ICF construction exposed to extreme weather (rain/snow) for 1 year.
We would not be able to construct the roof and complete the home until Summer 2014. |
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Dana1
Senior Member
Posts:6991
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| 10 Dec 2012 02:38 PM |
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Rain or snow would have a negligible effect on an unfinished ICF, but the EPS is susceptible to UV radiation, which weakens it structurally and causes it to shrink and develop a crumbly-dusty surface. If you can either shade it or paint/cover it with an appropriate material to take the brunt of the sun exposure it should be fine for as long as you like, but vendors typically recommend leaving uncovered and exposed to sunlight for no more than 3 months. |
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Grizzy Bluff Lodge
New Member
Posts:2
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| 10 Dec 2012 05:48 PM |
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Thank you for the guidance! |
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dmaceld
Veteran Member
Posts:1465
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| 10 Dec 2012 11:49 PM |
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Considering that the length of time to construct the shell is probably no more than about 10% to 15% of the total construction time span I would rethink your timetable. I think you'd be better off to do the site prep this summer, including pouring the footings, and add a week or more to the start of the construction period the next summer. That way you could move right through the wall construction to the roof and exterior finishing. Then you would be safe in taking all the time you need to finish it. What climate are you building in? If it's cold and the ground is subject to frost heaving then pouring the footings a year early may not be wise since they won't be protected from the effects of the ground freezing. You really should have the windows and exterior electrical wiring in place before you put up the siding or stucco.
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| Even a retired engineer can build a house successfully w/ GBT help! |
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arkie6
Veteran Member
Posts:1453
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| 11 Dec 2012 07:20 AM |
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The walkout side of my ICF basement walls have been exposed for >1 year without any adverse effects other than a little chalky surface dusting in the areas that see some sun; however, my site is pretty well shaded with oak trees, so it doesn't see a lot of direct sunlight. I have cut up some old pieces of foam that had been lying outside in direct sunlight for > 1 year. Once you remove the chalky dust layer, which is less than 1/64" thick, the underlying foam is sound. |
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JakeG
New Member
Posts:55
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| 11 Dec 2012 08:15 AM |
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Hi Grizzly Bluff Lodge,
I've seen EPS ICF exposed for more than a year, and they still finished it with little difficulty as Arkie has mentioned. The chalky surface is gently wiped off and the normal finish is applied as usual.
Not to promote one product over the other, but the cement bonded wood fibre product from Durisol is often left unfinished in industrial applications. There is a building in Mitchell Ontario that is a few acres in size with 30 foot high walls that has been completely exposed for 20+ years - no finish. If you are already set on one type of product, I still don't think its a problem to leave your building exposed over the one year.
Good luck!
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lzerarc
Basic Member
Posts:423
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| 11 Dec 2012 09:00 AM |
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I would be more concerned about your sheathed deck than the ICF. (unless you will have a slab). Most osb subfloor products have 120 day exposure and less.
So far my ICF has been sitting outside since October with completely nothing on the surface at all, and I have full south sun. It will probably be exposed all winter too until we side it when it starts to warm up again. |
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Dana1
Senior Member
Posts:6991
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| 11 Dec 2012 11:32 AM |
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Just because the EPS doesn't crumble from it's own weight doesn't mean it isn't subject to shrinkage and embrittlement with continued sun exposure. (That chalky surface is telling you something about what's going on with the polystyrene bonds!) If you can cover it up or start in with the finish coverings without much burden it's better than just letting it go. |
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arkie6
Veteran Member
Posts:1453
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| 11 Dec 2012 04:01 PM |
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Posted By lzerarc on 11 Dec 2012 09:00 AM
I would be more concerned about your sheathed deck than the ICF. (unless you will have a slab). Most osb subfloor products have 120 day exposure and less.
So far my ICF has been sitting outside since October with completely nothing on the surface at all, and I have full south sun. It will probably be exposed all winter too until we side it when it starts to warm up again.
Advantech flooring has a 300 day "no sanding" guarantee. My 1-1/8" Advantech floor deck over my basement has been exposed for almost a year now with very little degradation. I've got a few edges that have ~1/8" swell that I will need to sand down. http://www.advantechperforms.com/pr...oring.aspx |
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dmaceld
Veteran Member
Posts:1465
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| 11 Dec 2012 05:03 PM |
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Posted By arkie6 on 11 Dec 2012 04:01 PM
Advantech flooring has a 300 day "no sanding" guarantee. My 1-1/8" Advantech floor deck over my basement has been exposed for almost a year now with very little degradation. I've got a few edges that have ~1/8" swell that I will need to sand down.
http://www.advantechperforms.com/pr...oring.aspx
I wouldn't push it though. I used Advantech and had quite a bit of fiber swelling after only about 2 or 3 months with quite a bit of rain during that time. I had to sand the entire floor which Advantech reimbursed me for. I would still use again though. I used 3/4" over joists @ 16" oc and it's very solid. No cracks in any of the ~700 sq ft of tile.   |
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| Even a retired engineer can build a house successfully w/ GBT help! |
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Alton
Veteran Member
Posts:2164
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| 12 Dec 2012 07:38 PM |
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I have used regular OSB and Advantech for flooring. Even the regular OSB was problem free after being coated with cheap latex paint. Instead of covering the floor with vinyl which I thought would probably blow away during a storm, we went to our local paint store and bought returned latex paint at a cheap price. One person poured paint from a 5 gallon bucket and another person rolled the paint. Fast, cheap and effective. Another advantage to this method is that it makes the OSB sub-floor easier to sweep.
In the past, I have applied Thompson Water Seal to exposed OSB floors. Some of the OSB boards still swelled. Returned wrong color of latex paint cost less than water sealers and goes farther. |
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Residential Designer &
Construction Technology Consultant -- E-mail: Alton at Auburn dot Edu Use email format with @ and period .
334 826-3979 |
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Farmboy
Basic Member
Posts:356
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| 13 Dec 2012 12:00 PM |
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If we have an extended time before siding the ICF walls I thought of getting the "oops" paint of whatever colors were available and creating a modern art exterior that would drive the neighbors nuts. |
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Dana1
Senior Member
Posts:6991
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| 13 Dec 2012 04:41 PM |
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Posted By Farmboy on 13 Dec 2012 12:00 PM
If we have an extended time before siding the ICF walls I thought of getting the "oops" paint of whatever colors were available and creating a modern art exterior that would drive the neighbors nuts.
Some neighbors ganged up on a guy in eastern MA a few years ago after failing to negotiate successfully with him, sued and obtained a court order forcing him to paint his house. He did it all in "oops" colors, in the rough form of a drooling dog staring down the neighborhood, but it complied with the order. I'm not sure the neighbors all agreed that it was any better for property values than the peeling paint look, but they're stuck with it. Apparently that case isn't unique: http://tomcornett.hubpages.com/hub/...aint-househttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012...next-door/Take care that you don't start a trend in the 'hood though, eh?  |
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Farmboy
Basic Member
Posts:356
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| 14 Dec 2012 10:13 PM |
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Thanks for the heads up Dana. Think we'll look for greens and browns and hide the house against the surrounding cedars and oaks! Dave |
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