ICF's.....How to get started? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

tgeb · 03-30-2009, 09:03 PM

I have been doing some serious thinking about ICF's as another product I can offer my builders.

I already do all of the footings and other concrete work on the additions that I excavate for, and most of the footings on any new home foundations I dig out. It seems like a logical move for me to offer do the foundation walls with ICF's.

I have done some research and keep running into dead ends, I can't find a local supplier of any of the "bigger" brands. I have called all my usual suppliers of steel and other form material and no one knew much, if anything about ICF's.

Any ideas on who to contact in Maryland/DC suburbs?

I think ICF's would be an easy sell here, some of my GC's are LEED certified and seem very interested when I mention this as an option. I Do Not want some other contractor getting this piece of my pie, if the builders want to build with ICF's.

I am open to all advice, suggestions, or pit falls to watch out for.

Thanks.

Chris Johnson · 03-30-2009, 09:33 PM

Start off by working or helping on a few projects. You already have the concrete figured out, add some carpentry skills and pick up the tricks of the trade and you could be good to go.

To start off from ground zero you would spend 50k, you probably own some of what you need to get started, things you won't have are ICF Bracing, 100 pcs is a good start, figure $ 250.00 a piece. Add 5k of scaf planks, a trailer to haul it around another 2k.

Rebar bender, manual is $ 150.00, gets old really quick, electric start at 2k, heavy duty 4k and up.

Vibrator $ 500 - 750

Laser $ 800 - 3k

and on and on

Biggest thing is the learning curve, once you become 'the master of your domain' they're great, not a heavy lifting job, pretty easy actually, but it's knowing how to get from point A to point B, much like anything else and be proficient at it.

Let me look around here and see who is local to you.

**joasis** · 03-31-2009, 05:12 AM

If you get a good lead, and it falls after my kid is out of school, I could give you a hand if you lad your first project. Nice vacation trip to head up and build something.

tgeb · 03-31-2009, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the offer J, I will take you up on that if I have the work.

I am still having trouble trying to pin down a local source for supplies. I talked to a guy today that built his own house with Quadlock forms. I looked at the brochure he had and was not too impressed. He liked them but his was a one shot deal.

The place he got his forms is a builder/distributor about 1 hour or so away. Rented him the braces also, I may contact the guy and see what he can do for me. I am apprehensive of the product, the photos in the brochure did not impress me, the walls did not look level or really strait for that matter.

Chris, I already have most of the items on your list, bracing and scaffold planks are all I would need, I have worn out 3 manual rebar cutters over the years, and bought a Hitachi electric cutter/bender a couple years ago. Got my first laser back in the 1980's.

I appreciate your advice.

Were you able to find any suppliers near me?

Chris Johnson · 03-31-2009, 08:31 PM

I emailed you on your web site a Maryland distributor.

Looking at your website I would say one to two jobs and you could have it down pat.

Photo's of ICF work are tough, I see pictures regularly of people saying their contractor did a poor job, but don't know how to photograph them. You want bad pictures? I took some in '05 when I went for a job interview with a guy in Florida, he was happy with the ICF work he was getting...my kids could tell it was ****ty work!!!

Promotional ICF brochures are only suppose to give the reader the OOOH and AHHH effect of what can be built, which is pretty much anything...except cantilever walls. But I should rephrase that, they can be done for a price, which unless it was my house it is normally cost prohibitive.

tgeb · 03-31-2009, 08:44 PM

Thanks, I got the email.

I'll give him a call.

rbsremodeling · 03-31-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgeb

Thanks, I got the email.

I'll give him a call.

I called him already I got an exclusive for the area.

tgeb · 03-31-2009, 09:02 PM

Cool, can you make me a good deal on some form blocks??

But I am not coming down to your neighborhood to make the pick up!

B.K · 04-29-2009, 06:10 PM

Here are some helpful links, to get some information on some distributors in your area.

nurdura.com
integraspec.com
arxxbuild.com

Just a few links to get on your way.

ICF's have taken off like wild-fire around here.

In Canada, you can take a approved course on ICF's. I don't know if its offered in Maryland, but maybe worth checking out, could give you a hand up on some other guys.

-Bill

tgeb · 04-29-2009, 07:39 PM

Thanks BK, I will look into those.

Locally there does not seem to be a lot of interest in the ICF's. There is one company I have found that actually does claim to stock some product.

They carry Eco-Block, which have to be assembled on site.

They are no cheaper than the block that are pre-assembled, so I don't see the value of using their product. Other than the shipping may be less.

Another guy has Quad-Lock which also needs assembly.

I have been in contact with Build-Block, (thanks Chris for the contacts). I like the looks of their products much better than others I have researched. I may go out and go through the training they have.

I have talked with the builders I work with and I am trying to get them on board with the concept. It would be great to cut my teeth on a couple of crawl space additions with these block, as opposed to jumping in on a large foundation.

ICF construction is definetly a direction I will be taking the business. I just need to do more research and land a few small jobs.

I am compiling some questions......

**joasis** · 04-29-2009, 07:41 PM

I could send you the BuildBlock manual if you want it Tom....or you can come to Oklahoma for some hands on....or for a fee, I will come to you....expenses paid....and I mean I am expensive!

tgeb · 04-29-2009, 08:13 PM

I think I can download the BB Manual from their site.

I can build your fees into the project, no problem.

Well, that is if I get a full house foundation, I doubt the budget would handle it on a crawl space with 50' of wall, 2 blocks high.

**joasis** · 04-30-2009, 05:08 AM

Don't expect a lot from the training.

If you actually need a little help, if my schedule would permit it, I am there.