Hi everyone, My wife and I are planning on retiring in a few years, buying some land in the Southeast US and building a house. We're in the very early stages of designing right now, but we're going for a single-floor ranch with no basement (stairs are for young people 8-)). Given weather, termites, etc. I'm planning on using ICF for constructing the exterior walls, and there are a few things I'm not clear on: 1. Do you build the footers, put up the ICF walls, then pour the slab, or can you do it footers, then slab then ICF walls on top? I plan on putting Pango termite-resistant vapor barrier under the slab, and my thinking is that by having the ICF walls above the slab it reduces the risk of termites coming up from the ground through the foam. Leaving a small lip of slab sticking out around the whole house would allow me to more easily spot any termite tunnels heading towards the foam. 2. Can you put metal studs directly against the interior foam of the ICF wall? I plan on using metal studs and doing the interior framing myself (done a dozen or so projects with metal studs. Thanks John

Building the ICF walls near the edge of the slab would place a lot of weight that may require the slab to be post-tensioned. This may require an engineer to be involved not only in the design of the slab but also to observe the post tensioning. Switching to Structural Concrete Insulated Panels (SCIPs) would place the Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) between two layers of concrete which would make it much more difficult for termites to enter the home. Placing the SCIPs on the reinforced footers will insulate the edge of the slab. SCIPs can also be used for the roof to make the structure of the home resistant to high winds. Wiring, plumbing, etc. are hidden within the SCIPs before they are mortared, gunited, or shotcreted. In most cases, there is no reason to add steel studs to the SCIP walls. In other words, use steel studs only for the non-SCIP interior walls. Email me if you have questions about SCIPs or other building technologies. I do not sell any product or charge for my time. Where do you plan to build?

Alton,

Thank you for the input. We're still in the very early planning stages, but we're looking for somewhere like Mississippi or Alabama. I hadn't considered SCIPs - I'll have to do some research on those.

John

John, Be sure to look at this website: https://structuralpanelsgct.com/ Gulf Concrete Technology, 4739 W Oreck Rd, Long Beach, MS 39560. See this website for Bill Warner’s home built with Gulf Concrete Technology SCIPs in Alabama: https://structuralpanelsgct.com/residential-project-with-scip/ I think most SCIP home owners will be happy to tell you about their experience building with SCIPs.

Hello John, my name is AnnaMarie "Annie" aka Panel Queen. I have constructed with SCIP since 2003 (when I was first introduced to a SCIP factory in southern California). Have not built structures with any method since that introduction. In addition to US projects, I took the SCIP product to the Caribbean (Haiti) in 2010 whereby we were immensely successful to bring the SCIP system training local engineers to construct with the system. Now the proud owner of that SCIP product since 2019, having recently tested the system to 2024 IBC, ICC criteria we are pleased to be back in the US expanding the areas where we believe the system can best benefit others. Our panel product is direct descendant of the original steel-wire /EPS panel invented by Victor Wiseman in 1967. I would be happy to discuss your project for area. We are motivated to provide the build system in new locations with a generous pricing structure for product and installation. We seek to work with as many local trades persons as possible. Look forward to your response. [email protected]