Benjamin, what brand of ICF has gone MMU in your area, and six weeks reeks of high cost to manufacture the blocks for a home of this size. Regular under roof manufacturing would be a couple of days.

Dave

Thanks Quantum.

I had looked at several floor plans there and have find one that is in about our budget.

I am still looking at some other floor plans , but here is the funny story about our financing the construction.

I went to the MidCountry Bank and filled all the informaiton they pre-approved me for the amount we wanted but then told me that in order for the to finalize the loan and approve me they would want me to go with one of their ICF manufacturers, when I told them That I have my own and do not need to go to soem one eles they told me that they can not accomodate me and I have to have some money for the down payment.

This clearly is not a good financial instetituion for doing ICF projects if it has to be their way or no way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They do not even want to consider looking at our system, even that they know it is the best ICF there is !!!!!!!

Regards,

 

We have Our Own Mobile Manufacturing Unit (MMU) it is very simple and cost effective, I rented the unit and will manufacture my ICF blocks and then return it to the company.

I is very simple to use and very economical infact you can eliminate distribiution cost and lower your overall coast of manufacturing.

it runs about $4.00 SFT not installed. by the way the blocks are 4 feet by 4 feet or they can be manufactured at 4X8 feet long.

Regards,

What kind of block is it? Is it made of polystyrene?

Hm, I'd like to know what blocks Mid-Country wants. I presume they'd turned down your MMU blocks? If not, what brand did they turn down?

It appears to me Ben, that you are trying to cut costs by going with this MMU. It is one of the oldest ICF manufacturing methods, but I think you'll be disappointed with the quality and actual cost. If I were you, I'd concentrate on cutting labor costs.

Not knocking your idea of doing a MMU...seems pretty neat, but I can't justify spending $4 sq ft on manufacturing a form that has to be put together. Does that figure also include the labor of running the unit? Even so comparatively speaking price wise the average price of a standard 16"x48" icf from a majority of the big manufacturers is going to be in the $3.00-$3.50 sq ft price range delivered.

Does anyone have a pic of what a MMU looks like? Ive never seen one before lol.

I don't get it Benjamin.

You could buy blocks for less than $3.50/ sq ft delivered to your site in 1 day and be ready to pour the next day but instead you are going to rent a machine and have your crew manufacture blocks for 6 weeks (only 80 sq ft a day) at $4 per sq ft.

So how does that lower your costs?

No this is not a machine.
it is the mold cavity which we manufacutre our spacer and then glue to the EPS system. it is very cost effective and very easy to use, infact you can manufacutre it at cost about $3.00 SFT give or take a few cent.
I can send you photo is you send me your e-mail information.
Regards,

yes I can send you photo of my operation currently in process if you send me your e-mail information.

This is very unque and cost effective because this way we can eliminate the shipping cost, in fact in larg projects this becomes very cost effective if your are builder owner , we will be sending you our MMU and you manufacture at your own paste and with your own labor, which could be your immidiate family.

Very easy to operate and very economical and environmentlaly friendly manufacturing setup.

Regards,

Hi Quantum,

Yes If I can cut the Cost of the Blocks that are currently availble in the market and reduce this cost by eliminating the surface aeras that are in fact foam and then have to be preped to do stuco or any exterior finish. By doing this I can use the hardy plank or any other exterior surface and eliminate the addtional foam cost that would be enough saving to get us through this project.

I can reduce the Block cost perhaps by $1.00 a Sft. In large project this cost will definately cone into realization and can contribiute to addtional advantages of flexibility of forms and shapes I can come up. In fact we will reduce the bracing and other labor cost as well.

If interested let me know and forward your e-mail to me and I wll send you some photos.

Regards,

Hello Jelly,

Our ICF system is composed of a spacer of 6 inch wide made of concrete fully and internationally patented and also we can use this 6 inch spacer and glue any type of panel to either end.

It is the fastes and most economical and environmentlly friendly manufacturing system there is in the industry with minimum startup cost.

If interested send me your e-mail information and I will send you some photos.

Regards,

Benjamin

Sounds like to much work and more costly than traditional ICF.

Dave

I'd still wish I knew what blocks Mid-Country wants. I presume they'd turned down your MMU blocks? If not, what brand did they turn down?

Mid-Country has arrangements with Reward and Polysteel that I am aware of. There may be other brands that they will finance.

I do not understand why a lender or building department would turn down a brand of block.  Aren't they essentially a concrete form?  What sort of issues do they have?  My opinion on the site manufacturing is that it is way too much work for whatever gain there might be.  The cost of all materials related to ICF, concrete, block, steel, etc. for my house was only 4% of the total cost.

John

Benjamin,

You came on here asking for information and it has become apparrent that what you are really doing is trying to hawk your system. I'm not amused. And your system appears to be prohibitively expensive.

Dear gregj,

 

In response to your recent comment for my topic of interest in the forum it appears that every one has the right to his opinion.  

 

If this is what you would like to believe and think so be it.  I suppose you know a lot about the ICF? Therefore you make judgment and comment of your opinion on the internet.

 

Whether I am trying to seek your help or opinion it is irrelevant to the fact that I am trying to build an ICF house with my limited budget and the fact that what I have find in the industry is much better and superior to any system out there in the market.

 

 

All that said should give you something to think about in event that if someday you  decide to build an ICF house you may consider looking out of the box and think smarter rather than making judgment on things that you have yourself not given it enough thought or the least chance to learn about it.

 

  

 Again want to thank you for your suggestion and I am not here to sell anything to anyone nor am here to discourage anyone from what they are using. If interested to see photos send me your e-mail and I send you information, then you be the judge foryourself, and not others.!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

JC.....just curious. That seems very low IMO. Is this for just crawl, one story, two story.....All ext. walls made with ICF?

The lender will only qualify loans for Polysteel and Reward blocks, if you do not use any of these blocks the lender ask you to put up 10% down. one would think that the bank would not care what system you will use as long as you have secured the loan and are able to pay for it.
In this case I ma going to shop as many as financial institutions as I can to find the right lender and once we do this one house the next one would be faster and I would know what and how to do this again and again. In fact I am putting a consortium of professionals who would like to partner with me to do this as a development group.
i know one thing for sure that is the house will be an ICF house a showcase of the best of the best product that I can get in my budget.
all that said I am in fact buying stocks in all companies whom I will be buying products from, and try to setup a consignment agreement to get the best deals.

Benjamin, maybe your do it your self block machine hasn't been around long enough, and the bank is concerned that some failure with the equipment or the system could stall your project midstream.

Dave