Insulated Concrete Formwork

caps locked

Anyone built a house with This product lately?Would love to hear some pros and cons on it as im deciding between it and blocks

sydthebeat

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055093177&highlight=icf

ircoha

Some disjointed thoughts thereon:

in addition to the ones listed in the link above
http://www.m2ireland.com/
the current list of ICF runners and riders include:
irish based: http://www.kore-icf.com/contact-details.php
http://www.integraspec.com/general.htm
http://www.nudura.com/Content.cfm?C=619&SC=1&SCM=0&MI=646&L1M=646

The classic icf external finish is an acrylic render for whom there are a ltd number of certified contractor/products here in 26 counties and it is also quite expensive.

I dont like the acrylic render finish as it offers no physical protection to the underlying outer layer of insulation.

Anything I have read about external insulation raises concerns about vandalism of this sort of finish.

However some of the suppliers, for example nudura, offer a brick ledge 'thingy'for using a outer brick or brick slip finish.
The process is moving along all the time, for example, nudura uses a Type II ESP with a density of 16kg/m3 and 67mm each side whereas kore uses a 25kg/m3 ESP, with 75mm each side so witha 150 concrete core the wall is 300 wide pre inner slabbing and outer render.

U need to get the U values for each urself

In most cases u need access for a concrete pump so this can be tricky for some sites.

Some systems have full length 'plastic' inserts running vertically which can be used to fix the inner PB or more insulation and for outer brick ties if going that route, others are not full length and are a PITA.
nudura is imperial, kore is metric in terms of sizing and to reduce waste u are best designing ur build based on the std sizes.

The setup is important in terms of the accuracy, 'squareness' and 'levelness' of the foundations, something not common here.

The one thing I find a bit ropey is doing A shaped gables at 2nd stoery level, in money terms I think the hipped roof is cheaper to do.

The system addresses cold bridging at opes in an easy to do and easy to see fashion.
U need to plan your services fairly well but once u do this it works very well.


IMO, when compared with insulated cavity wall or TF, ICF wins every time; it is much easier to have serious quality control and u see what state the insulation is at.

Would be good if anyone else knows of any other supplier.

fanzhiyidan

There is a company in Kerry manufacturing ICF systems, had a look at their factory earlier in the week. Seems pretty good. www.thermohouse.ie
has anyone had any dealings with them?
their window and door systems look particularly good on an airtightness basis.
would also be interested to see what kind of quotations people are getting for ICF systems.