For ICF Builders - Question About Bracing

GreginAlaska

If you are building the walls from ICF, how important is the type of bracing? I see there are a number of pre-manufactured units out there, mono-brace, panel jack, giraffe etc etc.

It seems to me you would need to have a good bracing system to get a good straight wall. Where I live, I haven't seen a straight piece of wood in at least 20 years, do you recommend using, or NOT using wood bracing?

Thanks in advance

joasis

I guess it all depends on what you are going to be doing...are you going to build ICF's as a new trade, or doing a DIY project? Also, a factor will be wall height....short walls can be braced with wood easily, taller walls would definitely be better with adjustable steel.

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GreginAlaska

First I am going to be building my own place. If i like doing it, and people like what I have done, I was thinking of building ICF walls as a trade. I certainly want to promote steel reinforced concrete homes, I think they are the way to go in this day of spiraling energy costs, natural disasters etc.

The walls will be 9 feet tall except for a tower that will rise to 22 feet.

joasis

I would not suggest you buy steel bracing, but many ICF suppliers will rent you a bracing system. 22 feet up and you will need it.

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concretemasonry

The most important things about ICF homes are th proper placement of the concrete and the bracing of the walls. If you have a problem with the bracing, you have a very expensive, permanent mistake. A wood butcher can always find a bigger hammer to fix a mistake, but the only guy I know that can fix a major bracing problem is a house mover, and he does it himself without equipment.

Proper placement (not pouring the soup used in most poured walls) is very crital in basements using the ICF system. Since the forms are not removed, you never see the mistakes (corners, base, under windows, cold joints) that can be patched IF the forms are removed. These problems can lead to leaks that are very, very costly to repair. Above grade, the placement is not as important because the worse ICF wall is still many times stronger than a wood frame wall.

Any one can stack up interlocking foam lego blocks, but it takes experience to build an ICF.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

GreginAlaska

Problem is nobody up here has it for rent. (that I can find anyways) Most people have just used it for foundations, I've only seen a couple where they did the whole wall, I took a close look at one and it wasn't straight at all. Maybe I'll find somebody down there who will lease it to me and then I'll ship it back, if not, I just might be the first one on the block with a set of ICF braces. I am going to do my best to do this right, if that means buying a set of braces, oh well. Hmm...Maybe I should start an ICF tools rental business, might be a good thing if the housing market ever bounces back.

Thanks I'll keep all that in mind. Maybe, since I will have to get my experience on my own, I'll build a couple of small training walls , so to speak.

joasis

My braces are made from 11 gauge "c" purlin material, with 1-1/2 inch square tubing and a turnbuckle. I have 60 of them, and they run from 14 to 20 feet. I do not scaffold off the braces, although that would be great. We roll a scaffold inside the walls. Good luck.

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GreginAlaska

So you made your own? That's an idea I should have thought of.

Chris Johnson

Greg, who is the supplier of the forms? How many different suppliers are local in Alaska? I ask because someone must have bracing available to rent, you are not the first nor last ICF house going in up there. Others have had to brace somehow.

Wood is not the greatest to use, but if you are stuck with it I recommend a form lock every 3-4 courses and also the use of electricians strut attached horizontally to keep the wall straight.

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Chris

GreginAlaska

The supplier is a company called "Spenard Builders Supply" and they don't have the braces or know where to get them. They sell the Quad-Lock brand. I might be in luck though, I had emailed Superior Alignment Systems and they emailed me back (ya, on Easter! that's dedication) today and said they had shipped some to Alaska. They are going to check their files and let me know who it is they sent them to. I also found out that a company up here is a dealer for a system called "Giraffe", don't know if they rent them or not, I'll be finding that out tomorrow. I've only ran across one other type of ICF up here, Anvic Systems. I'm liking Quad-Lock for the 4.25 inch thick panels.

Thanks for the tips Chris.

Chris Johnson

Form Tech has a dealer in Alaska, same company we have here in Northern California. If he is not yet listed, look under Eco-Block, he was their distributor and then recently changed ships. His first name was Chad, can't recall his last name, if you can't locate it, let me know and I will dig it out for you.

Caution using blocks that require assembly, errors can be costly. Try and find a manufactured assembled block and save both labor and headaches.

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Chris

GreginAlaska

Hi Chris, thanks for the tip. I did find the giraffe brand of braces for rent at a place called "Polar Supply". They also sell the Amvic system of ICF, they quoted out about 9K more than the Quad-Lock. I'm still in the considering stage.

Topnotchconcret

I would contact other ICF Companies and see if they are willing to give you a break on using their block as a way of promoting their block. They may even send bracing cheaper and you could end up being a distributor.

72chevy4x4

I just attended a Quad-Lock training seminar and was fairly impressed with the system. I had looked into Fox Blocks and others of a similar nature who sell block systems. The Quad-Lock is very versatile and sturdy. With the longer 4' panels, it would seem to be easier to keep the course from racking, all though that is not from experience or from the rep. They make a nice flooring system that can clearspan up to 35' which looks like the conrete beams you've seen on semi-trailers being delivered to a commercial site (but are then filled with concrete).

joasis

A lot of the designs are sound....it comes down to bracing and blowout potential. I like the vertical ICF panels, but I am sticking with BuildBlock, simply because I know what I am doing with them, and I know what to expect.

I have a home show this weekend, and BB is splitting the booth with me...maybe I will sell a few new ICF projects for the coming months.

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GreginAlaska

I finally got the walls up on it. Used Logix ICF and wood bracing. heh

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joasis

More pictures, and it looks good.

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mics_54

I doubt you'll get much technical help from SBS. I use Logix blocks supplied by my cement plant. As far as bracing, I've never used any but I've only used them for short walls (4 courses) Seems like metal framing componants would be about the least costly materials for reusable bracing.

GreginAlaska

Thanks Joasis, here is a few more.

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GreginAlaska

and a few more

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