Hey guys my wife and I are going to be building with ICF and I was wondering if anyone who was not a contractor or a builder has built with them. I am not a builder, but mechanically inclined and would love to be able to do it. It looks pretty straight forward but I am sure there is a lot that goes into it. It would also save a lot on costs which would be nice. Has anyone done this or thinks its possible? Or is it something that is too risky to not have a professionalk do? Any and all advice is extremely appriciated. Thanks guys!

Contact the local ICF providers and see if they they can recommend a 'project manger' to help you build. It 'should' be ALLOT less expensive than hiring an ICF GC. It needs to be built right...and safe.....

Take a class from ICF manufacturer that you will use. Check out BuildBlock. Success with ICF is largely about proper bracing which you can rent or purchase and sell when done. We prefer steel bracing, but check out Zonts and Zonkles. Assembling the walls is trivial for simple house footprints. Pouring the walls requires more experienced hands on deck. Lots of homeowners have successfully built ICF homes themselves.

I don't know where you are located but I want to build my own ICF house close to Jacksonville Florida end of the year. I even want to build its shed roof out of ICF. I have watched tons of YouTube videos and have taken the one-day Nudura ICF training. I even have a certificate saying that I am a certified ICF installer (LOL). Anyway, there are multiple ICF suppliers and you better off selecting one based on your location and the support that they would provide. I already know that I can rent the steel bracing from Nudura and hire them to check my ICF walls before the concrete pour. I will probably hire a concrete contractor for the actual pour because I don't have helpers and concrete will not wait for me. The ICF is already part of the construction codes, so the calculations / requirements like the re-bars around the windows are already available. Design 100% of your house on paper (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.) because iICF is not like wood construction that can easily be modified. I wouldn't mind getting involved with your project if you are close to Wash, DC or Jacksonville, FL.

I designed and built my own ICF home in SC, largely single-handed. I was lucky enough to have a local ICF contractor that coached me, and I did hire his crew to fill the forms. I felt a lot more comfortable having a pro do that crucial step. He also rented me his bracing system for a nominal fee. All in all, it was easy; just different than what I'm used to. I'm not a contractor at all, I'm a toolmaker by trade, but I did all my own work, including electrical, plumbing, interior framing, roofing, flooring, cabinetry, windows and doors, and most of the HVAC. Many of these tasks were for the first time, so it took me along time, but the house came out great, and is incredibly efficient and comfortable. There are lots of little tricks of the trade, much of which I learned on-line, such as running electrical wiring. I would link you to my build threads, but sadly, they have been broken by the Photobucket extortion scheme, so there are no longer any pictures. You can always PM me with specific questions, if you like.

Russ and Roya, I have a full day ICF installation class coming up July 27th in Fort Worth, TX. I teach the class every few months or so. There are usually about 5-10 attending that are contemplating your course of action. We usually assist about 10-20 per year that go down this path. Also, sometimes they meet someone who intends to install for a living at the class and they choose to go down that path. You can find the class information on Futurestone dot com. Regards, Cameron

Texas....I wish you were in NC! Near Charlotte.

Just remember, you cannot "unpour" concrete. There is no substitute for experience, or at least get an experienced person to spend a few days with you and be there during the pour. The few thousand this costs is better insurance then blowouts, out of plumb walls, pour workmanship, and the other issues that can arise. Good luck.

This is a great building system. We are currently still building our house. I would not call it a cost savings. There is more time in wiring, drywall install, window install, also your exterior can be harder. I wouldn't do it a different way but is not easier or a cost savings.

Buy your ICF from someone who services what they sell. I'm a Fox rep and I assist couples doing this all the time. I review plans and site conditions. I deliver, and train. I spot check throughout the job and do a pre-pour inspection. I also try to be there on pour day. I wish more reps would do this. If one job goes south it hurts us all. I can get you in touch with a Fox guy if you email me. [email protected]