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ICF House going cheap - Opinions

  • 02-05-2013 11:59am
    #1
    Duncan31
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 74 ✭✭


    There is a part finished ICF house going cheap locally. Work stopped in 2006 approx. The house is built, roofed, windows in and rendered externally so is weather tight. There is nothing done inside.
    I dont know anything of this type of structure so Im looking for opinions on that type of build. My main concern is in relation to certification of the structure. Given the route that this property has come to market (Bank repossession), there is no certification being offered. Now I have chased up the engineers who got planning permission and they tell me that the company who supplied and build the ICF structure are no longer in business. Seeing as the banks were involved, there must be a certifying engineer somewhere but they are not known at this time.
    My question is - Is it possible to have such a build inspected and certified by an Engineer as being structurally sound at this stage? If not, Im thinking the building is worthless and not suitable for mortgage in future etc.
    Is is lunacy to even consider this type of build seeing as I know nothing of the quality of work that went into it. I figure ICF could be troublesome if water started to get inside the external render?


Comments

  • #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 31,118 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I built using an ICF system, but my external render was the standard sand/cement type so therefore is breathable, I know that many ICF companies were recommending renders that were made of rubberised impervious types of render so I don't know how they would hold up if water got behind them.

    I suppose it depends on whether the render has been damaged or not. I have had no issues with damp of any kind over the six years we've been in the house.

    The only way to check would be to cut a small hole in the internal side of the ICF and see if the concrete core is free of moisture, I think that it is unlikely to be a problem.

    It may be worth looking up the original distributor of the ICF system for the system certification.

    edit: just did a quick google and most of the ICF system suppliers are still out there, you just need to know which one it is.


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