ICF render problem.

ghoeky

I know these posts are a bit old now, but i built an ICF <SNIP> house in Cork 3 years ago and now I have serious problems with the recomended <SNIP> render that was used.
Basically its coming away from the wall mainly at the plint level all the way around the house but also at some joints at pvc soffit level, I also have some water ingress around some windows.
I am now chasing the supplier of the <SNIP> plaster who has been at the house to see the problem, and took a sample away to send to Germany for tests.
Has anyone else had problems with the render on ICF houses, and to anyone building an ICF do your homework first, although we have a beautifull and warm house now, it has some serious issues now, and many a time, I said I should have gone with blocks or timber frame.

muffler

Moved the above to anew thread.

ghoeky

Cheers Im new to all this

Moggaman

i built an icf and rendered it in <SNIP>...never again
*1 - the guy from the north selling it is the greatest cowboy of all time
*2 the <SNIP> product has to be applied 4mm thickness, then the yellow grid is worked into it, then another 4mm of <SNIP> and finally the coloured finish which is about 2 mm thick. the reason its coming off in my opinion is cause the plasterer took a shortcut...wasn,t an english guy that applied it for you by any chance cause dont get me started on him. to fix it you could strip the plinth, pin in a stainless steel mesh and plaster with a sand cement render. steel will give it a key.......

ghoeky

Hi Moggaman, thanks for your reply, can you tell me a bit more about your story?
1. What ICF system did you use was it <SNIP> like mine?
2. What problems did you have with the render is it falling off the wall at plint level do you have water ingress around windows?
3. What support if any did you get from <SNIP> Ireland ?
4. What solution did you use to fix the problems ?

You said you had problems with the contractor, well i could`nt fault mine he did a good job and did what <SNIP> told him to, but <SNIP> gave me two renders also, the base coat was a WDP 070, and top coat was SK-K acrylic, the problem seems to be the base coat which <SNIP> specified and I think was totaly unsuitable for the job, when it gets damp which it is at plint level mainly it just starts to crumble away.
<SNIP> came down to Cork to see the problem and wont answer the phone or email since then, which in my view is an admission of guilt. Even <SNIP> dont want to know.
Anyway, I was thinking of sand and cement all around the plint like you said can you tell me if thats what you did,
kind regards.

muffler

Right guys I have tidied this thread up to remove business names and especially the private individual's name that was mentioned.

Please read the forum charter before posting again.

You may carry this on by PM if you wish.

I have built an ICF house and i decided to use the "standard" sand/cement render and have had (so far) no problems at all.


One thing I did notice with ICF is that the polystyrene is not UV stable, the UV causes the surface to turn to dust, could it be that the surface dust was not scrubbed off before applying the render. I scrubbed the walls before applying a layer of expanded metal and getting the plasterer to throw on a scud coat.

ghoeky

No, the problem is definitely a damp one and the fact that the product used for the base coat was not suitable for the jod. The problem is mainly around the plint where damp is rising for the most part the walls are sound, for the moment which is why i am keen to repair it to stop it progressing

Builderfromhell

The type of proprietary plaster used below plinth and the type of insulation used below plinth should not be the same as above plinth. Sorry can't give more info. at this time, but you can see how the insulation at ground level can be damp for most of the year.

Moggaman

same guy i dealt with.....from the north....believe me...you will get nowhere....redo the plinth with a sand cement render over a ss mesh. only problem with that is that your plinth will be outside your wall cause the icf render is only 10mm thick and you will need a 20mm render for sand cement.......

How about looking at cement particle board*, It's like plasterboard but made with cement.

Just get strips of it and stick them onto the plinth and then put on a standard top coat of plaster.

* I'm not sure of the correct name, it's often used as firestop within buildings.

galwaytt

Deleted User wrote: »

How about looking at cement particle board*, It's like plasterboard but made with cement.

Just get strips of it and stick them onto the plinth and then put on a standard top coat of plaster.

* I'm not sure of the correct name, it's often used as firestop within buildings.

Cementitious Board is another name for it. Try Tegral Bluclad(they do have several...), Knauf Aquapanel, Durock (from Greenspan)

BarneyMc

Deleted User wrote: »

I have built an ICF house and i decided to use the "standard" sand/cement render and have had (so far) no problems at all.

I didn't know this was possible with ICF. Is this also the case with external insulation (non ICF)?

BarneyMc

BarneyMc wrote: »

I didn't know this was possible with ICF. Is this also the case with external insulation (non ICF)?

Best ask the manufacturers, with ICF the suppliers said it was OK to use standard sand cement mix.

ghoeky

What ICF system did you use donalbaker ?

sinnerboy

Answer by pm only please

galwaytt

BarneyMc wrote: »

I didn't know this was possible with ICF. Is this also the case with external insulation (non ICF)?

Me neither........

Deleted User wrote: »

Best ask the manufacturers, with ICF the suppliers said it was OK to use standard sand cement mix.

...mmm, I'd be double-checking that if it were me........we have a small extension on at the moment (not ICF) and I asked the contractor: he says std sand/cement won't work. I'm assuming he knows what he's talking about.

ghoeky

ghoeky wrote: »

What ICF system did you use donalbaker ?

Follow the "self-build website!" link in my sig