Posted By BrucePolycrete on 22 Feb 2013 11:51 AM
I referred him to a local installer/builder. Danny Palmer of LaMarra Construction in Norristown, PA. XXX-XXX-XXXX @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ (Phone #s and email addresses are not allowed in forum posts). Now we'll see how long it takes for the administrator to take this down..... ;-)

Actually I meant to quote dmaceld must have misclicked, sorry. I agree with you 100% but I'm having a hard time finding a community where the builder will do ICF, and in the one case where I have I'm sensing the feedback from some folks to be that the pricing is odd. This could signify something being amiss either in experience doing ICF or quality of materials? It's a no brainer for me to go for quality/workmanship over any other factor and the money is not set in stone but where I feel the most comfortable. I looked at the site of your friend Bruce and they look fantastic. But I didn't see anything there that was residential so I didn't see how they could help, and I didn't want to bother anyone with an email over such a small project as mine would be.

Concrete is concrete and EPS is EPS (and EPS as concrete forms is more expensive than plain sheet goods), there's only so low they can go. If the quote is less than the raw material cost you can bet it's not going to be a quote that gets honored- it's a mistake.

Commercial builders will do residential foundations if they're hungry enough. I'm not sure many of the would be comfortable with the usual hand holding and myriad design changes that typically go on for the above-grade portions in residential construction if they are accustomed to working directly with the architects and engineers on commercial projects. A project is a project, no matter how small, but keeping it simple without a lot of discussion and change orders makes it more attractive to contractors that just want to get 'er done. Basements are (usually) straightforward and easy. Whole houses less so.

meddle, my home is 2000 sq ft, inside the walls, plus a 790 sq ft garage. The total cost including $39,000 for the lot, was about $300,000. I, and one hired hand, worked full time on it for the 14 months of construction plus contracting concrete, roof, siding install, excavation, drywall, and HVAC. I don't have much at all for "features" like granite counter tops, window shutters, fancy trim, etc. But, one guy I was talking to, it might have been a cabinet supplier, said my home is what would be called a "jewel box," not much to look at on the outside but has super quality behind the drywall and above the ceiling, places where you don't see it. The builder who worked with me said he'd never seen a house where tile in the kitchen, bathroom, or wherever, didn't show cracks in the grout after about one year. After 4 years there isn't a single crack in my tile work anywhere.

I did build it at the height of the over heated building market, 2007, so that definitely is one factor in the cost. If your 4000 sq ft is one level I think you should be able to build it for $600,000, but that may not include things like solid oak double entry doors, stone flooring, etc. If it's 4000 sq ft on two floors, then I would think you can do what you really want to do and have a show home when you're done.

Based on my experience of one DIY house, the ICF part of the house is only about 20% - 30% of the total investment. Interior walls, finishing, HVAC, windows, doors, exterior trim, etc., are all the same as any frame house. If you can't find a builder you can trust who has experience with ICF, then look for a builder you can trust and who is open minded about alternate construction methods. Attitude, and willingness to do something different, are more important than specific experience. After all, those are the builder's aspects that really control how well he does the job.

Keep pursuing the ICF option. As with everything in life, you won't get everything you want for what you want, but you should be able to get enough to make you very satisfied with the end result.

Posted By dmaceld on 22 Feb 2013 02:26 PM
meddle, my home is 2000 sq ft, inside the walls, plus a 790 sq ft garage. The total cost including $39,000 for the lot, was about $300,000. I, and one hired hand, worked full time on it for the 14 months of construction plus contracting concrete, roof, siding install, excavation, drywall, and HVAC. I don't have much at all for "features" like granite counter tops, window shutters, fancy trim, etc. But, one guy I was talking to, it might have been a cabinet supplier, said my home is what would be called a "jewel box," not much to look at on the outside but has super quality behind the drywall and above the ceiling, places where you don't see it. The builder who worked with me said he'd never seen a house where tile in the kitchen, bathroom, or wherever, didn't show cracks in the grout after about one year. After 4 years there isn't a single crack in my tile work anywhere.

I did build it at the height of the over heated building market, 2007, so that definitely is one factor in the cost. If your 4000 sq ft is one level I think you should be able to build it for $600,000, but that may not include things like solid oak double entry doors, stone flooring, etc. If it's 4000 sq ft on two floors, then I would think you can do what you really want to do and have a show home when you're done.

Based on my experience of one DIY house, the ICF part of the house is only about 20% - 30% of the total investment. Interior walls, finishing, HVAC, windows, doors, exterior trim, etc., are all the same as any frame house. If you can't find a builder you can trust who has experience with ICF, then look for a builder you can trust and who is open minded about alternate construction methods. Attitude, and willingness to do something different, are more important than specific experience. After all, those are the builder's aspects that really control how well he does the job.

Keep pursuing the ICF option. As with everything in life, you won't get everything you want for what you want, but you should be able to get enough to make you very satisfied with the end result.

The 4,000 sqft at $600,000 comes out to $150 per sqft.

According to some the standard price is $50 per sqft so a 4,000 sqft home should only cost $200,000

On your home build, minus the lot cost, it cost $130 per sqft and you did all the work yourself over the course of 14 months.

According to the National Home Builders Association, a custom home costs on average about $125-$150 per sqft.