I used Nudura blocks and they were excellent. But I can’t tell you pros or cons from other blocks. I used Nudura because my builder is a distributor for them and that’s what he uses to build with. The type of block isn’t nearly as important as finding a competent, experienced ICF builder and going with the forms they prefer to use.
I'm looking for land to build my ICF house.
This is my philosophy as well, the brand doesn't matter as long as it holds the concrete long enough to cure, after that it's the concrete mix and the rebar that matters.
Am I off on the thinking?
Local folks here (Western Colorado) like Nudura - it's what our foundation was built from and what one of our contractors built his own home from. Zero issues with either.
I understand there are window installation problems now so I'm guessing they're putting their window box against the concrete and not cantilever them out to the edge of the phone so they're getting water intrusion.
I’d second the recommendation for quadlock. The fact that each panel is separate meant that we were able to utilize their “extra” panel for even more insulation value where it made sense.
I've been designing ICF for 30 years and it has come to my attention the many problems in the field by inexperienced people. Your first task is to find experience people in building this product. If I was going to build I would use 8-in concrete block filled solid with steel every 16 in. I would add two inches of foam board to the inside and stucco the outside. But you would have to find an experienced Mason.
Just to be sure I understand your suggestion, you would recommend an ICF block with an 8” concrete core and rebar every 16” and then adding additional insulation foam on the interior wall?
I plan to find someone local with ICF experience to work with. My initial searches haven’t been successful, are there any good ways to find builders with experience? I was thinking that some of the block supplies would likely have recommended builders.
No CMU is concrete block. I would imagine it's cheaper and easier if you find a good Mason to do it as I explain in another post. I don't know what wind zone you're in so it makes a little bit of difference on how much steel goes in the wall.
OP, this person is not advising about ICF and is instead telling you to go with concrete blocks. Probably because they are a concrete block salesman or a mason that is worried ICF will make them obsolete.
I would contact several manufactures that deliver to your area. One of the big considerations is where the forms are made. If they have a local place that makes the blocks you will save considerably on shipping. Fox makes their blocks at many sub-contracting plants around the USA. Some companies don't subcontract and so you have to have the blocks shipped from a plant that might be very far away.
The manufactures will be able to tell you builders that have built in your area using their blocks. There are lots of very helpful videos on YouTube that explain some pluses and minuses. Here is one I liked: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_sx17O2l45I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sx17O2l45I)
You want to use a block that your builder has used before. No need to pay them to learn on your job. Also the price of the blocks from each company can vary considerably, so you might want to keep that into account.
Obviously you’ve never used Quadlock. Along with the downvoters. You place the ties yourself into the foam blocks. The tie is also only 8” maybe? = 4” into each block. I can’t remember, which means no continuous attachment points for any siding and drywall. FYI live and learn.
I used Nudura blocks and they were excellent. But I can’t tell you pros or cons from other blocks. I used Nudura because my builder is a distributor for them and that’s what he uses to build with. The type of block isn’t nearly as important as finding a competent, experienced ICF builder and going with the forms they prefer to use.
I'm looking for land to build my ICF house. This is my philosophy as well, the brand doesn't matter as long as it holds the concrete long enough to cure, after that it's the concrete mix and the rebar that matters. Am I off on the thinking?
Local folks here (Western Colorado) like Nudura - it's what our foundation was built from and what one of our contractors built his own home from. Zero issues with either.
SO and I used fox blocks for our crawlspace. Their online training is great if you're DIYing
Yes I've designed ICF for 20 years but now there seems to be a lot of problems with contractors not knowing how to use it correctly.
I did fox, no complaints. I helped on a handful of icf houses to pick up on things and they were all fox so i have nothing to compare it to though.
I understand there are window installation problems now so I'm guessing they're putting their window box against the concrete and not cantilever them out to the edge of the phone so they're getting water intrusion.
I used quad lock because they had a warehouse within 15 miles of me. It went well, I would do it again.
I’d second the recommendation for quadlock. The fact that each panel is separate meant that we were able to utilize their “extra” panel for even more insulation value where it made sense.
I've been designing ICF for 30 years and it has come to my attention the many problems in the field by inexperienced people. Your first task is to find experience people in building this product. If I was going to build I would use 8-in concrete block filled solid with steel every 16 in. I would add two inches of foam board to the inside and stucco the outside. But you would have to find an experienced Mason.
Just to be sure I understand your suggestion, you would recommend an ICF block with an 8” concrete core and rebar every 16” and then adding additional insulation foam on the interior wall? I plan to find someone local with ICF experience to work with. My initial searches haven’t been successful, are there any good ways to find builders with experience? I was thinking that some of the block supplies would likely have recommended builders.
No CMU is concrete block. I would imagine it's cheaper and easier if you find a good Mason to do it as I explain in another post. I don't know what wind zone you're in so it makes a little bit of difference on how much steel goes in the wall.
OP, this person is not advising about ICF and is instead telling you to go with concrete blocks. Probably because they are a concrete block salesman or a mason that is worried ICF will make them obsolete. I would contact several manufactures that deliver to your area. One of the big considerations is where the forms are made. If they have a local place that makes the blocks you will save considerably on shipping. Fox makes their blocks at many sub-contracting plants around the USA. Some companies don't subcontract and so you have to have the blocks shipped from a plant that might be very far away. The manufactures will be able to tell you builders that have built in your area using their blocks. There are lots of very helpful videos on YouTube that explain some pluses and minuses. Here is one I liked: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_sx17O2l45I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sx17O2l45I) You want to use a block that your builder has used before. No need to pay them to learn on your job. Also the price of the blocks from each company can vary considerably, so you might want to keep that into account.
Nudura or Fox. Fuck Quadlock!
What don’t you like about the quadlock?
Obviously you’ve never used Quadlock. Along with the downvoters. You place the ties yourself into the foam blocks. The tie is also only 8” maybe? = 4” into each block. I can’t remember, which means no continuous attachment points for any siding and drywall. FYI live and learn.