I'll argue that ICF walls + "stick" roof is still a "stick" house.

I dunno. The wolf might be able to blow the roof off, but he still can't get at the piglets, can he?

Posted By jonr on 31 Mar 2014 10:10 AM
I'll argue that ICF walls + "stick" roof is still a "stick" house.

I did this mistake. You are absolutly right.

Trxr, I have a ton of pictures on my blog of the same set up:

http://icftfsystemshome.blogspot.com/

Posted By jdebree on 30 Mar 2014 02:11 PM
Termites will get into ICF, and it has been documented that the will tunnel all the way to the wooden roof structure (if you have one). No, they won't hurt the ICF, but they still can get to the wood, and you'll never see them. My ICF basement has two barriers, and we have an annual termite contract.

That is true but it is also highly overstated. 100% of all new wood frame homes in Arizona have rigid EPS foam exterior and it is not a problem on the wood framed homes, so an ICF home is even less likely. I've seen termites attack wood frame homes with rigid foam exterior and have yet to see the foam damaged. It is always the wood members that are damaged. The EPS foam provides no nutritional value, it's the wood that provides food for the termites. 

Can termites damage the EPS in an ICF home? Yes, but the probabilities are very low and if you use proper sealing techniques, it would be less than .01%

Also, if you don't have a wood truss roof, or wood windows, there is nothing of food value for termites. They would die or need to find a different area to gather food. They would move next door and eat away at the neighbors stick built home

I actually had termite damage in my blocks- before I used them. I made the mistake of stacking them in a shady, woodsy area. They were still on the cardboard skids, and the termites tunneled in to them as much as an inch during the month they sat there. The cardboard was easy food; not sure why they tunneled in to the foam. I find it very unlikely that termites would tunnel through 12' of foam to reach my roof, since there is wood all over the place in my woods. I still take precautions, though.

i have tracked my energy cost for several years
house is in jensen beach FL.
sorry the type spacing is off from the cut and paste.
insuldeckflorida at aol dot com


2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

jan 77 91 93 82 91
feb 66 62 96 124 107
mar 68 57 77 111 130 82
apr 60 77 79 83 0
may 75 72 76 76 83 163
jun 52 97 late 138 82 152
jul 124 126 233 149 103 114
aug 84 115 135 151 162 111
sept 134 121 143 148 145 138
oct 98 87 109 139 167 123
nov 79 72 62 85 157 118
dec 129 65 71 85 96 91


2 2 2 3 3 3 adults residing

"3500 sf living space, single car garage with loft"
"3 bedrooms, sun room, 3 baths, 2 offices, 3 lofts, storage attics"
"2 - 2 ton a/c units, electric strip heaters"
kitchen all electric
"all walls 6"" core icf"
"all roofs 10"" insuldeck with 3"" concrete slabs"
hot tub added 6/1/2013

home owners insurance 1789.00/year
hurricane/flood coverage not included/needed

2011 and 2012 were very mild winters

do you need any more reasons to use icfs?

Obviously a wood framed truss design would be the weakest point in the structure. If you design your roof system utilizing metal SIP you would increase your wind load capacity, along with possible cost savings in labor etc.....

Cost of stick roof area 1350 sf

3.500 for trusses and design.
2.000 for 1/2 plywood
4.000 installation

3.000 for shingles
2.000 for installation

6.000 for soft-fit

20.500 total.

v.s.

concrete roof
---------------------
11.000 for comslab.
3.000 for concrete
3.000 for rebar
5.000 for installation
I don't have a price for waterproofing.
1000+1000 There will be extra engineering design and 2 visits cost.

24.000 total

But there will be lots of benefits for concrete slab.

1 - no need for city inspection. you only need your engineer's sign.
2 - no uplift problem.
3 - you can build a deck on it.
4 - installing and maintenance is more easy for solar panels.
5 - no rotten top plate, no rusted pins.
6 - It will be strong enough for zombi attacks, If you install steel window coverings.

disadvantages

1 - It will be ugly.

no need to be ugly...
it can be hipped or gabled, flat or shed... traditional or contemporary...
concrete can be shaped to look like shingles or bermuda steps...
or what ever finish you like applied after...
all of it wind-indestructable...
and it wont look anywhere near as ugly as a wood framed roof after a tornado or hurricane...
private email me if you want pics...
insuldeckflorida at aol dot com
;-)))))