Common Misconceptions of 1st Time ICF Builders
July 7th, 2009 | Common Troubleshooting | Bracing, Building Envelope, Common Troubleshooting, Darryl U, Green Building, John, Training
There are a lot of misconceptions that continue to float around about how “easy” ICFs are to build with. This creates the misconception that you don’t need any training or construction skill sets to build with ICFs.
Sounds simple, you just pick up these 5.5 lb giant “Legos”, stack them together, slap down some rebar, start filling them with concrete and Waa Laa…you have yourself the perfect structural wall for your building envelope, right?
WRONG!
This notion has caused more incorrect and costly mistakes during ICF installations than is necessary. Most if not all of these problems are avoidable if you have the necessary information and support from the ICF manufacturer, or are working with an ICF distributor that has a good reputation and support structure in place. Whether you are building a single family residential project or a large scale commercial building such as a theater or multistory building, when incorporating ICFs many of the same considerations need to be taken into account. Here are the main areas of consideration.
Capabilities and Skill Sets
As with any other construction trade, having the necessary skills such as carpentry skills, concrete forming skills and general overall knowledge of the construction process are critical to the success of the project. Do you need to be an expert..no. But one would need to have the understanding of the reasons for doing proper methods of things like bracing, alignment, rebar placements, windows and doors bucks, concrete slump etc.
Pre-Planning
Making sure the appropriate materials, equipment and crew size are coordinated and in place is one of the biggest factors in the successful completion of an ICF project. If you do a good job of pre-construction planning and anticipating the sequence and preparing for it, your project will go much smoother. Too often the advice of the ICF professional is ignored causing mistakes and inefficiency.
Some of the most common mistakes made in pre-planning are:
1. Not building rough opening bucks in advance
2. Not having the correct tools and equipment coordinated and available prior to the start of the project
a. Adequate Number of cordless drills
b. Glue, hooks, starter tracks
c. Rebar should be pre-ordered for proper lengths and fabricated for corners, etc OR Proper rebar cutting and bending tools should be on-site
d. Embed plates need to be determined and fabricated
e. Using the correct type of screw fasteners for bracing and temporary forming elements.
“It is best to use torx, star, or driver head screws-they don’t strip out like Phillips head. If the bracing system will attach to the slab you will need 3/16” x 1 ¾ tap con,” Darryl recommends…see below to meet Darryl
3. Not developing and implementing an efficient bracing strategy-Some of the first time installers will use lumber to brace with.
It should be noted many first time installers will use lumber to brace with. The amount of lumber and time to construct with lumber can and will take more time and material than expected and it is not recommended.
Using a Trained Installer or On-site Trainer
Darryl
While the perception is that this adds to the cost, in actuality the money spent for this support mechanism is well spent as a trainer help you to avoid costly mistakes. They will teach you a successful method for constructing high quality insulating concrete form walls helping you to avoid trial and error, which ultimately leads to a shorter learning curve. Once a qualified contractor has been trained they are usually very well positioned for future projects and will be much more efficient as they go forward without picking up bad habits from not knowing any better.
A combination of skill sets such as layout, carpentry and concrete forming/placement experience are ideal but not necessary if you take the advice and direction of a qualified ICF professional– we’ll bring Darryl U. to you (Short for Ulrich or University, whichever you prefer) Plus, once yo are flying solo on a project, you’re still not alone as our phone lines are always open for any questions.
So hopefully it’s apparent, building with insulated concrete forms is not for a hobbyist looking for something new to do. Nor the weekend builder wanting to expand their skill set. Sure the hobbyist and weekend warrior could both be trained into being a fine installer, however we are one of the few companies that will refuse selling direct to a customer, that has never had any experience before and is refusing training.
REMEMBER we are looking out for our customers’ best interests, as well as their clients, and we are trying to do our best to manage expectations of the customer. As in all other building products, the maximum benefits will not be realized if not installed properly. By working through the pre-planning we assure you every structure will meet your expectations of building a sustainable, green, energy-efficient residential or commercial structure.
What size/type of job would it take to get Darryl U to us in ND, MN ?
There is never a job too big or too small for Darryl U.
Darryl is a great trainer! We used him on our first job and would highly recommend to anyone considering their first project, or a difficult project. You pay for what you get!