Hi I am planning a ICF House and had a question on the exterior of the House. I am trying to keep below budget and was told that Hardiplank was the cheapest solution vs Stucco or Stone Veneer. Someone else mentioned that since it is ICF Forms that it is actually easier to do to Stucco as there not need to add all the steps needed like in a wood frame house. Even Hardi plank would need additional supports frame in order to attach it to the ICF Form and maybe cost more than what I was told of being $1 a sq ft vs Stucco at $6 a sq ft. A third option is stone veneer but I would think you would need some sort of supprt/framing for this also like the hardiplank or would just mortar or glue onto the icf form work for that also. Which is better and of course cheaper to do. I am in the country so looking at something that is easier to maintain also.

In my area, real stucco is $6.00 per square foot. Field stone is $12.00 SF. Used Hardiplank several years ago and do not know the current price. Three coats of paint in my area is expensive now.

You shouldn't need a support frame for hardi. Stone veneer will need a wire mesh to help transfer the weight to the ICF crossties and spread it out across the surface of the ICF. Basically scrub oxide off of block surface. Screw wire mesh to crossties with screws and washers(spacing per stone manufacturer's specs). Trowel on and tool/groove scratch coat. Mortar stone to scratchcoat then finish mortar/trowel joints, seal ect... Google "stone on ICf" and you will find all kinds of examples from ICF manufacturers, stone manufacturers, even videos of installations... Likewise heard around 12 SF

I was looking at stone for the exposed basemet walls, but the more I look at it, the more I am leaning toward a stamped/carved CC block pattern(I have arched doorways to form around). And it will be less than stone...

The more I look at hardi the less I like it, especially for my very moist climate...

I'm using cultured stone on much of my build in New Mexico. As Ronmar has stated, metal lath needs to be attached to the ICF crossties and a scratch coat applied. But screwing the lath in place isn't the best way. Very time consuming. Use galvanized 15 ga. 7/16" x 1.5" staples instead. Staple on a 6" spacing. Takes no time at all, suckers hold like a bulldog and with the tight spacing, the lath lays flat.
I'm still mulling what finish to use on the rest of the house - stucco, EFIS, steel, or Hardie.

I applied Hardiplank directly on the ICF but with a couple on constrictions. I used Buildblock forms which have a reinforced web section every 8" vertically and the webs are spaced 6" horizontally. Therefore I used 9 1/4" Hardiplanks for an 8" exposure. 8" lap isn't very commonly used these days but it ended up looking quite OK. I used spiral siding nails every 6" into the reinforced web sections. The plank is on to stay. Spiral nails hold really well in the BB web sections.

Check with Hardi about paint durability if you are in a wet or alpine climate. In Idaho there was a real problem with paint peeling off Hardiplanks where snow piled up against the walls for extended periods of many weeks. A Hardi rep said they were having issues with paint in alpine climates.

I also used some artificial stones for some accent portions. It was mortared on in normal fashion using expanded metal lath nailed to the webs.

Real brick veneer in my area costs ~$4.00/s.f.

I saw your message that your built your own ICF house. We live in Clarksville and would love to get some ideas from you. We want to do a lot of the work ourselves.
Thanks
Doug and Shelly Rideout

Posted By shellyrideout on 27 Sep 2017 05:20 PM
I saw your message that your built your own ICF house. We live in Clarksville and would love to get some ideas from you. We want to do a lot of the work ourselves.
Thanks
Doug and Shelly Rideout

Whose message?

Posted By shellyrideout on 27 Sep 2017 05:20 PM
I saw your message that your built your own ICF house. We live in Clarksville and would love to get some ideas from you. We want to do a lot of the work ourselves.
Thanks
Doug and Shelly Rideout

I think that message was directed to me because Clarksville is just down the road from me.  I sent a private message with my contact info.

Alan

Hey samauto, the ICF manufacturers sell a type of paint to protect the ICF foam from sun. It looks like cement finish. Wouldn’t that be the cheapest?

Do you have a link or the name to the type of paint they use? I am used Nudura ICF blocks and didn't see any information on their website concerning that?

Hey Samauto, check out these links.

Dryvit
http://www.dryvit.com/systems/direct-applied/tafs-over-icf/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAN9E-AYXsY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ6Qqqt5wB8

Master Wall
http://masterwall.com/insulated-concrete-form-icf-coatings/

http://www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums/tabid/53/aff/4/aft/61319/afv/topic/Default.aspx
https://www.basf.com/us/en/products-and-industries/General-Business-Topics/senergy-eifs-stucco-specialty-finishes.html