Posted By billybob on 12 Jul 2012 08:04 AM
. My priorities in order are Strength from Hurricanes and Tornadoes, then Energy efficiency, then sound and I want to build it myself. Lbear, I just did a search on the "scip" which I haven't heard of before, I guess its just a strong SIP. The little I saw didn't seem very DIY with the cranes and shotcrete. I am a formal pool builder and it is hard to find good shotcrete guys here also. I am going to open myself up to the idea of the foam sandwich" idea again and talk with the build a block guy in Baton Rouge, which appears to be a flooring company??. I guess Im a little disappointed that no one seems to have experience with the Apex block. It looks like a great idea for me to build by myself and seems pretty forgiving. I do worry about blowouts and consolidation on the other type systems so this seemed perfect. Keep the info coming! Thanks!!

SCIPs require a very well trained Shotcrete crew that have done it many times before. It's not a DIY job, that is for sure. While saying that, ICF is not a beginner DIY either, but if you are experienced in concrete and building, it is possible to DIY with ICF for an experienced builder. Although I would recommend at least getting a qualified ICF contractor to help out as a consultant.

A lot of these building techniques are regional dependent. In some states you won't find any qualified contractors, while others they are quite a few.

None of the technologies you are considering are common practice, including conventional ICF in many, many markets. But the composite ICFs and AAC are a special case. A mason who can lay up a straight wall using concrete blocks can surely do the same with Apex. I suspect you can find lots of underemployed masons in La. as I did in Pa although you must find one with a sense of adventure. The rest is up to you and your engineer: proper lintel design, steel placement and so on. (Yes, your building inspector likely will ask for engineering on unconventional construction methods.)

On the plus side, the manufacturers are missionaries in the true sense of the word, and helpful to a fault. Gotta say I'd rather deal with the factory than a distributor or dealer who seen one or two built and makes his money elsewhere. Wholesale prices are another plus.