I'm sold on building our new Arizona home with ICF, just not sure if ICF or composite ICF is the way to go. We've been looking at Fox block for ICF and Perfect Block for composite ICF and are torn. Looking for a push in either direction. Thanks. Michael N

I would stay away from Fox Blocks if I were you. Their reps are untrustworthy and unreliable. There are several good residential grade ICF products that can be found in your area. PM me for more information.

Miggy -- Two cents: Standard ICFs win in strength, flexibility, installation time, energy savings, Sound Transmission (STC), and they cost less. There may be some obscure advantages to composite ICF but they are small compared to the the above in my opinion.
Regards

Opinions are like azzholes, everybody has one, thanks Bruce. I built with Fox Blocks and Bucks and couldn't be happier. Here is a link to my build....http://kasshabog.blogspot.ca/ Hope you find the right product for your build.

Thanks TexasICF. Are you speaking from experience or is there a resource with this information? This is the first time hearing some of these things. Thanks for your input. Michael

Miggy,
I am biased toward regular ICFs. Over the past few years we have installed and/or consulted on several million square feet of Nudura jobs here in Texas. Nudura is not a composite type block . This is a very long discussion but here is a quick breakdown of what I listed above:
1) strength - composite ICF cannot get close in strength to regular ICFs anymore than a screen grid or waffle grid system can. This one should not take too much convincing.
2) flexibility - regular ICF allows taller walls and do not require bond beams over openings - just for starters.
3) installation time - composites are usually heavier and slightly more difficult to cut. Composite ICF are usually heavier and smaller. I have observed (not participated) 2 or 3 composite installations over the years and they were not very fast. Often composites don't have pre-made corners, forty-fives, brickledge (corbel), taper top, radius, multiple sizes, etc.
4) energy savings - composites offer similar R-values in some cases but significantly less thermal mass.
5) STC -- most regular ICFs offer test data showing STC 50-60+ Many of these hybrid systems haven't evolved to the point of providing test data. UL fire ratings and etc.
6) cost - if composites don't offer pre-made corners and etc. you will like incur additional installation costs from most installers. There are far fewer ICF installers experienced with them and they will often charge more. Some of our installers even charge more for installing other regular ICF systems.
Regards

+1 with What Stuie said. Building with Fox right now, Their rep in the Northwest has been great. Their tech department was great for the couple of engineering questios I had before we started as we went with a corbel ledge to support the floor trusses... I also like the Fox Clips. Makes tying the stacked block wall together VERY quick and easy.

Agree with all the reasons Texas ICF went over. The ICF build goes fast even for an owner and wife build team. It would be lightning fast with a experienced crew. We are forming window openings now, quick and easy using a Fiskars pruning saw for most of the cutting, and a table saw for when we need to cut thru crossties as that is a little easier that way. The composites would be more difficult to cut and form IMO.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

(post deleted due to changes in perspective.)

Fox Block, Nudura, BuildBlock and so on, all good flat wall ICFs, we have used most. I like composite ICFs too, for above grade walls. We are building our first composite ICF house in Argentina. The composite ICF are greener, better suited for stucco and plaster. Less suited for below grade. What else do you want to know? What kind of exterior are you doing? Can't go wrong either way, both flat wall and composite are way better than wood framing.

The Fox rep in your area is a good hand. He won't steer you wrong. You will be happy with Fox.