I admit I have never built anything with ICF however your poll question largely irrelevant.

From my studies and the advice of my son who is a degreed construction manager and a senior estimator, the product  brand and features of the ICF are not the important consideration.

Obviously all of the "top ten" products would all work.  However would you want your home built with number 1 by newbies and inexperienced crew, or number 10 built by trained, skilled and experienced craftsmen?

I know what I would do; find the most experienced, proven contractor and use their product.

ICF Builder Magazine has already done that for us. Top ICFs is subjective, by sales, by price, by value, availability or by personal preference? http://www.icfmag.com/documents/ICF_COMP_CHART/08_composite_comp_chart.pdf http://www.icfmag.com/documents/ICF_COMP_CHART/08_ind_comp_chart.pdf

yes, and i would like the ten top brands of plywood, 2x4's and cmu block...
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Dido that, we need to get away from brands. There are subtle differences, but let your ICF contractor take care of it. After all lumber is rarely specified.

Sorry but this is a old ? What will we get out of this? How you work with the block and att. to details is so much more important.

Hmmm interesting answers.
insuldeckflorida, I dont think you can place ICFs and 2x4's in the same category... Can you? If you could than this forum would be useless...

Brad, your link does't work...

However, I do agree that a good contractor plays a vital role in the success of the ICF job. Their experience transcends quality, price, ease of insatallation etc...
Suppose you were a contractor wanting to get into ICFs... How do you pick which ICF you go with - obviously if you are a good contractor & you want the best.

Please copy and paste the address, to get to the comparison charts.

We compare wood framing and ICFs all the time, my favorite thread is "Wood is no good". But there is enough good ICFs out there that for the customer not to be concerned about brand, but rather some specifications, let the contractor met those specs.

Contractors should be constantly researching changes, new forms and value.

Hmmm that chart has got the top 200 :)

OK... thank you - will try to sort it out...

Baldwin,
What result are you looking for; I mean are you looking to start an ICF construction company? Build your own house? Have your own house built by a ?.......

I think brand is an important factor guys. I will gladly use reward, nudura, quadlock, but won't touch any of the others. While I appreciate the non confrontational approach and I don't mean to cause a firestorm, some of the icf blocks out there are junk and a good contractor will still have issues. I don't care about brand loyalty, the better ones and the better ones for a reason(s).

rykertest,
Why would you not use ICFs such as BuildBlock, Fox Blocks, Logix, Amvic just to name a few.

*sigh*..do we really want another thread that goes "there"? Hindsight is 20/20 and I maybe should not of even replied. I can make a list but it's MY opinion and people get defensive when you do anything other than rave about their product.

I have used all the ones you and I mentioned, except Quadlock, and a couple more. I find they have subtle differences only and are all very good products. The biggest difference is some are flippable and some are not.

But yeah, I would be interested to hear your thoughts, at least on the ones I mentioned.

"All ICFs are not BLOCKS" I'm just suggesting ithat anyone who is interested in ICFs (who doesn't have a vested interested in a specific ICF brand) check out TF the "vertical" ICF system at www.tfsystem.com It is now even more user friendly with its 8" oc "stud" (tie) spacing.

I have, and I hope to use TF some day.

Rykrest,

W/O trashing anyone can you tell me why you think these 3 are in the top? reward, nudura, quadlock

But you are right - don't point anyone's weaknesess.

Any ICF is a good ICF, most are great. But in my book the top ICFs are a flat-wall form, full or nearly full height ties, good corners, at least 2.5" of high density EPS and with no top or bottom (flippable). Then price and availability.

This is soooo funny here to read. Everybody believes he has the best. What is this here a contest of who is who or wasn´t it designed as a platform for ICF´s DIY´s or just people that want to know: WHAT COMES AFTER STICKHOMES. HOW CAN I SAVE ENERGY My grandfahter always said to me: you can be stupid but don´t be DUMM I really have to overthink if it makes sence to give many Years of experience into words to help others to make the better decision or if I only spend time here to read about : IAM THE BEST or I KNOW BETTER. You all have a great DAY