Hello,


I'd like to build a Single-Family Home that is 'Net Zero Energy' and/or 'Passive House' certified.

I have some plans in mind.
Boxy (rectangular) but good design.
4 external corners
Simple roofline.
Two or three stories
~3000-3400 sq ft.

I was originally thinking that once all is said and done it should come out to be ~$100/sq ft... but I think I'm living in the wrong decade.
Maybe $120/HSF? $133/HSF?

Do I have champagne tastes on a beer budget?

I've been reading house-energy.com until I''ve become blue in the face for the past few years now (Disclaimer: I have no affiliation/association with the website)

Of all the construction materials discussed therein, I've concluded that I like ICF best (in comparison to SIP, AAC, wood frame).

BUT... while it seems that Wood Frame contractors are around every corner, ICF contractors are hard to find.

I recognize that ICF construction requires I plan things out well as  rebar and concrete are by nature quite inflexible, but my hope is that if built well,.. the next owner simply inherits stewardship of the home - i.e. there is little maintenance/upkeep required for decades to come. Am I wrong in thinking this?

Of the Passive House contractors/builders in the area, all of them seem to be in love with pre-cast concrete.

I recognize that GC's like to work with known entities - familiar teams - but still,... I would think *some* GC's would be willing to explore the possibility of working with an ICF contractor/material instead of trying to sell me on their "tried and true" methods.

Why is it so hard to find a GC who works with ICF in a fairly major metropolitan area  the Triangle - Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill - in North Carolina (NC).

Can anyone point me in what they believe to be the right direction?

Do I seek help from outside the state?
If so, what kind of state radius limit (if any) should I pose (e.g. only bordering states like VA,SC, GA, TN) if I were to perform an outside state search?

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

-Bill
Transplant from NY to PA to CA to NC

I know one in your area but I don't want to post his e-mail on here. He used to post here but he hasn't in quite awhile.

I have interests along the same lines. when you find out some answers and have some opinions please personal message me with your thoughts. I will PM you some names I already have but you seem to be further along in the process.

Well I can't send you a PM for some reason (gives me an error message) so here is my post. Mods can delete if it is not appropriate.

I am kind of doing the same thing you are but you are further along in the thought process. Where I am in NC the chances of getting a contractor here is pretty slim. Here are some names I have been collecting via the web and at some point I was going to call them and pester them with questions. Maybe this will help. Let me know if you find out anything interesting.

PHIUS Certified builders
Anchorage Building Corp.
Karan Gupta

XXX-XXX-XXXX (Phone #'s and email addresses are not allowed in forum posts)

ICF manufacturers
http://www.nudura.com/en/divisions/home_owner/findingabuilder.aspx
http://www.quadlock.com/ICF-Floors-and-Roofs/quad-deck.htm

windows
http://www.zolawindows.com/passive-house-windows/
http://www.marvin.com/windows/wood-casement-windows/

Companies whose windows have won certification, and the certifying agency, are:
Alpen High Performance Products of Longmont, Colo. (PHIUS).
Northwin of Vancouver, Canada (PHI).
Marvin Windows and Doors of Warroad, Minn. (PHIUS)
Casagrande Woodworks of Paso Robles, Calif. (PHI).
Wooden Window Inc. of Oakland, Calif. (PHI).

www.gnphouse.com you might try that website, we specialize in Net Zero Energy Houses, that is all we do, Design/Build, thanks

www.gnphouse.com you might try that website, we specialize in Net Zero Energy Houses, that is all we do, Design/Build, thanks

Hello, I have over 18 years of experience designing and building with ICF’s, I’m based RTP area, feel free to call or email. Andy Horgan XXX-XXX-XXXX (Phone #'s and email addresses are not allowed in forum posts)

Well...I was getting ready to give you that guy's e-mail address but I see the mods have gone back and deleted all that were posted. Actually, he's not exactly in your area but not that far away. His name is Manfred Nobel. Company is Moss Pointe Builders in Chocowinity, NC

You can also contact XXX-XXX-XXXX (Phone #'s and email addresses are not allowed in forum posts) or their toll free number.

Cheers

Hi am wondering if anyone has a suggestion for;
an ICF, Net Zero, Passive House GC/Contractor/Architect for the Englewood, Fl area. Right off of Manasota key. We have bought in a 100 year flood plan and may need to build on stilts. Thanks, Krsi

i am in stuart florida and in the icf business since mid 90's.
we work with most icf companies and their distributors in the south east and caribbean.
send me an email and i will gladly connect you with our icf architects/engineers, distributors and builders.
insuldeckfloridaataoldotcom.
peteratinsuldeckdotcom.

I am an ICF installation contractor.  Let me know if I can help you.

Thanks
Brandon Petty
ICF ICF LLC

info at icf icf dot com