Posted By smartwall on 10 Aug 2018 11:12 AM
Reverse engineering. You have a block . Go to the block distributor and they can put you on to a contractor. I wouldn't stop with one block. Amvic is a good block and since it;s made in Canada near Toronto, then the shipping should be good. Also the Loonie is 75% to the dollar . I would also look at Hobbs. They have a distributor in Buffalo and the system kicks block in the ass as far as construction time and finished r-value.

That vertical ICF looks intriguing but their website leaves me with many questions. Is the height of the block ordered to a custom height? How do you install horizontal rebar? Do you have to avoid the thicker concrete "beams" while doing windows and doors??

Horizontal rebar goes in the beams. Windows and doors are done using the flat panels.

The blocks aren't completed wall panels. They're actual lego-style units. So, you stack them to the desired height, in the desired layout/pattern, brace, then fill them up.
To build additional stories, once the concrete is set up, you add a floor, and begin stacking a second level.

Most ICF systems have some form of connector (sometimes metal, sometimes plastic) between the inner and outer insulation.
These connectors/webs usually have someplace to snap the rebar into.

With doors and windows, you simply cut them where they need to go in the wall. You then block them out with wood, metal or synthetic bucks so the concrete is contained.
With windows, it's a good idea to leave the bottom window buck off until the day of the pour.
This allows you to pour into the area directly under the window and inspect it to make sure you have the proper level and consistency of concrete in there.
Once that's don't, you put the bottom bucks on and continue filling the wall cavity.

Sorry didn't read all your questions. The panels a made for the height of the wall that you need. They are wire cut from foam billets, which I guess means you could get up to 16'.

The beams at the top and bottom? Is that enough rebar?

Posted By thoner7 on 11 Dec 2018 01:16 AM
The beams at the top and bottom? Is that enough rebar?

You'll need to talk with an engineer about your rebar schedule (what type used for horizontal/vertical runs and the spacing between).

A little different from other forms. I believe they still provide stamped engineer drawings for each job. If you look at the construction it's actually Superior Walls in icf form.

I know its been couple months since you ask me about my project,been busy :). I did last pour in September no issues. I always planned to have my ICF rep on pour day. It just happen that by the time I was ready with my first pour he was away in warmer part of the country for few months. I end up working with 2 guys that been pouring concrete for big company doing state jobs like highways, overpasses, building garages. They have never seen ICF before until they show up to my site. They were little worry but after all done and complete one of them said it was easier and better to what they are accustomed. My other 2 pours were done with my rep and by then I was really into it and gaining confidence into the system and myself. No matter how much I prepare, the day before pour I always had butterfly's in my stomach. Blowouts were always on my mind even I didn't have any. To me it was experience of the lifetime and if I had time I won't hesitate to do it all over again. After all that, now I will attempt to pour on my own with few other good workers. I always had 4 people on site plus pump guy.
My FoxBlocks rep let me use his bracing for the pour but I only need it on the last floor. For my basement and first floor I had my deck installed before we pour :(. I know this is not how typically is done but I did it :). Its been hard work at times but fun. I won't recommend this to anyone, especially if someone doesn't think analytically. I been doing a lot by myself along with my wife. If you looking for contractors you will have a challenge. You need to take everything into consideration but I would rather hire someone that is not necessarily experience with ICF but open minded and exited to work with it vs experience but don't want to be on this job. Lastly find good rep or GC and go with forms they know.
BTW if you redesigning stick plan into ICF here is small tip. If you have any beam pockets landing on the inside corner remember that beam cannot be flush with wall it has to be away from the face of the wall thickness of the foam (in my case 2 and 5/8) so the beam sits on concrete and not foam. If I think of other tips will share these too.
Enjoy your build.

COVID messed up my project timeline, but now am ready to build. I have an ICF design, paid an architect to draw up the plans, but still having trouble finding a local builder who is willing to deal with ICF. Still waiting on my FoxBlock rep to give me a list of builders. Problem is the nearest FoxBlock rep is all the way across my state, so to are the builders most likely... I don't want to build the house myself or be my own GC, so really need to find a GC who can hire an experienced ICF crew in Western NY.

Again, if Fox can't put you in touch with a sub contractor in your area that can use their product and also complete your project at an acceptable cost, use another ICF product... Nearly all ICF products being sold today are great and it is way more important that the sub contractor or homeowner doing the actual construction be very familiar with the specific ICF product used for the project rather than what specific ICF product is actually used.

Posted By sailawayrb on 24 Sep 2021 03:15 PM
Again, if Fox can't put you in touch with a sub contractor in your area that can use their product and also complete your project at an acceptable cost, use another ICF product... Nearly all ICF products being sold today are great and it is way more important that the sub contractor or homeowner during the construction be very familiar with the specific ICF product than what ICF product is actually used.

I did hear back from the FoxBlock rep today, but no list of contractors. Recommended I talk to the nearest dealers to see if they can give me some names. Guess I'll do that (which pretty sure someone here mentioned earlier). I would have thought FoxBlock themselves would have a list of registered contractors, guess not.

Yes, Smartwall suggested 3 years ago that you check with places near you who are selling the ICF products. That's how you find the sub contractors near you who are doing ICF. You won't find GCs that know anything about ICF other than how to contract with an ICF sub contractor so as to make themselves a good profit. If you don't have a crazy complicated building design, ICF is as easy a DIY project as you can get. You will also need to DIY or hire sub contractors who know to do the rough electrical and plumbing too as ICF makes that different from what is typically done for 2x construction.