Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 06, 2008 12:40 pm Hi Everyone!
We are planning on building a large house (2 Storey) in Adelaide (Port Adelaide Enfield). Going to demolish and rebuild, was first looking at going concrete tilt up panels then i forgot about the insulation aspect, that you have to fill the interior with either wood or steel frame. then i did some hunting online and found Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) and it had all the properties i am after >Strength >Double Insulation >Ease of install >Sound Deadening >Fire Resistant >Bomb proof Our block is quite deep (15.5x45m) approx 700sqm We had a specific list of things we wanted and simply couldnt find a home design that came close, we wanted: 2 bedrooms downstairs/2 upstairs, walk in pantry, 2.5 bathrooms and large home theatre setup. has anyone built with ICF before? i know theres a few companies out there in Oz and i want to hopefully get most of my supplies Aussie made; which i found ZEGO blocks which is very similar to Eco-Block made from the same stuff. -Nathan icf 2Aug 06, 2008 12:57 pm Hi Firefox
Have a look at thermacell icf, I am using them when building in the new year. Our Architect has used them frequently and loves them. They will also help insulate with Canberras hot and cold seasons. Website www.thermacell.com.au Hope this helps Cheers Michael He wants a dream home theatre - she wants a dream kitchen! Re: ICF Plan 3Aug 06, 2008 1:12 pm thanks Michael,
their website had alot of questions that i wanted answered about the blocks, and i like their design how it doesn't require assembly with little black tabs and cable ties (like Eco-Blocks) and yes Canberra and Adelaide have quite similar weather, hot dry summers and cool (actually FREEZING) winters i am in canberra this week to do further research on the ICF's in Gordon atm, when you spoke to your Architect did they show you any houses under construction? have you seen the blocks yet? -Nathan Re: FireFox (ICF Construction) 4Aug 06, 2008 1:14 pm Nathan There's several suppliers of ICF. - Thermacell - Zego - Insulbrick - Formcraft - Ecoblock - Polyform that's a few I can think of. It's a fantastic product for all the reasons you mention, however it comes with some challenges. The biggest challenge is finding builders/designers/engineers who understand how it works. For instance, Thermacell have been supplying it for 20 years or so, yet they were only able to provide me with 2 builders (neither of whom proved suitable) and no designers. You will also have to decide on which manufacturer you wish to use before you get design and engineering done as they are all different thicknesses and therefore different structurally. There are two sorts of product. One sort is actually pre-formed blocks which build like lego, the other is bits of polystyrene you make into blocks with plastic connectors, then build them like lego. Some manufacturers make both sorts, some make only one. Some manufacturers claim to make both sorts, but they only make one and distribute another manufacturers product alongside it..... Both need to be filled with steel rebars once they are assembled, and then have concrete poured into them. The rebars will be placed according to engineers design, and the concrete has to be very specific on slump, size of aggregate etc. The sort made with plastic connectors is considered to be stronger as you them get a continuous wall of concrete, rather than a mesh of concrete broken up by polystyrene. Both are shedloads better than timber frame and brick for strength, insulation etc, but it is a unique product and as such brings its own challenges. We haven't started building yet, still going through engineering which takes forever. Hope to have a start Sept/Oct..... Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: ICF Plan 5Aug 06, 2008 1:20 pm thanks simon,
so your going with Thermacell? i can see that the plastic connectors would be alot stronger as yes its a solid wall than the other option, its a shame there isnt more builders out there for this product, its hasnt been out long like you said. are you going double storey? -Nathan 2nd-Fix | Blog Building with Desyn Homes previously with the insolvent [url=https://www.facebook.com/7NewsAdelaide/videos/1162546323776021/]Endeavour Homes[/url] Re: ICF Plan 6Aug 06, 2008 2:44 pm FireFox thanks simon, so your going with Thermacell? i can see that the plastic connectors would be alot stronger as yes its a solid wall than the other option, its a shame there isnt more builders out there for this product, its hasnt been out long like you said. are you going double storey? -Nathan Nathan We are actually going triple storey! We have a rather challenging block of land which has distant views of the sea and city, however these views are best achieved from the top of a hill on the land. The hill is not stable enough to build on easily, would involve a lot of piers etc, so we are excavating the hill and replacing it with a basement. There will then be one full size ground floor on top of this and a much smaller top floor. The basement will contain the garage and storage. We have not yet finalised our choice of ICF supplier, we are going to get quotes following engineering, and if we choose a supplier with a different sized block, then we will have to be re-engineered! Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes icf 7Aug 06, 2008 3:12 pm Firefox
I have seen quite a few photos of his previous work but nothing in the flesh at the moment unfortunately. I would be hesitant to use if the builder did not have any expertise (as on grand designs last night) have seen the blocks in person and will be using the 200mm blocks. Our house will only be single story and above ground so I feel comfortable with the integrity and the past experiences of my architect. As all things it comes down to who is doing the actual pour of concrete I am worried about. Cheers Michael He wants a dream home theatre - she wants a dream kitchen! Re: ICF Plan 8Aug 06, 2008 3:36 pm I've seen a display of another one, similar to Thermacell, but made of straw (?) pressed with cement, it's called Durisol.
Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: ICF Plan 9Aug 06, 2008 3:56 pm TDD
wow looks like you still have alot of headaches to go! at least your going to have a basement which will be handy, and 3x storeys! woah i was planning on going 2x plus an attic for storage.. ive rang ZEGO and Thermacell today, both very easy to talk to, gave me lots of information and offered to even come down with the truck and show us how to put it together, as i am going to do some of it myself; as i work for free and don't eat much Paddy yeah i think the 200mm is the way to go its not required for big jobs but its just a bit thicker, and better for insulation/sound proofing,i missed out on grand designs last night i should check abc on the net and see if they have it on podcast.. from the videos i have watched the pouring in the most important after preparation; because if theres a blow out and its pumped too quickly or too much water it can all go bad; i still need to hunt around for a supplier that has done a home before too. -Nathan 2nd-Fix | Blog Building with Desyn Homes previously with the insolvent [url=https://www.facebook.com/7NewsAdelaide/videos/1162546323776021/]Endeavour Homes[/url] Re: ICF Plan 10Aug 06, 2008 5:10 pm Nathan
Zego run 3 hour seminars on how to build with ICF. They cost $50 to attend but its money well spent as everything they teach you applies to any ICF. Even if you don't build with them it's great education. See when their next one in your area is. Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: ICF Plan 11Aug 06, 2008 6:12 pm yeah thanks simon, i am planning on going to the next one in Adelaide, but i can always drop in and do the one in Melbourne or act when its running, since i fly so often!
theres a pretty good instruction from youtube, the whole Eco-Block contruction dvd is on there very informative. have they told you how your going to put your ceiling on? like are you going to have a concrete ceiling/floor for all 3 levels? i am trying to figure out if you need insulation for that too. i am going to run ceiling foam tiles for the cinema, due to noise; made me think of the rest of the house too... would you want to just run pink batts? and are you going to use tiles or colourbond? i think theres reflective insulation for that too.. -Nathan 2nd-Fix | Blog Building with Desyn Homes previously with the insolvent [url=https://www.facebook.com/7NewsAdelaide/videos/1162546323776021/]Endeavour Homes[/url] Re: ICF Plan 12Aug 16, 2008 9:48 pm Hi,
Just wondering if any of you might know if you can fix an exterior cladding to an icf system? I am looking at some kind of timber battens in between glazing as a kind of feature and to break up the solid render finish. I am sure you could use some dynabolt system to fix it, but i figure this could effect the waterproofing membrane. Any thoughts? Or possibly a glue? (that hopefully wouldnt react with any polystyrene?!). Anyway, i will email some manufacturers, but figured someone might already know. Re: ICF Plan 13Aug 17, 2008 5:10 am Nathan Have a look at the eco house in Ada st Adelaide on the 13th Sept 06.
http://www.solarhouseday.com/h_location.shtml It's owned and designed by an eco architect and he has used foam and concrete on the new sections walls. And also have a look at Timbercrete as a potential product. Australian made too. http://www.timbercrete.com.au Steve Re: ICF Plan 14Sep 20, 2008 2:28 am The Dynamic Duo Zego run 3 hour seminars on how to build with ICF. i went to the last one they had in Adelaide, and i learnt alot; i even convinced the rep to let me take one of the blocks home with me to do further testing! Theres not much ICF building going on in south australia but plenty in the eastern states, as i am in Canberra for 2 more weeks i figured i might go and see if i can get in touch with someone that has built with the product. i am really keen to see how it all looks and the end result. was a little baffled by how they put window frames in, apparently you just silicon them in! - i think ill use steel frames for the lot time to do more research! -Nathan 2nd-Fix | Blog Building with Desyn Homes previously with the insolvent [url=https://www.facebook.com/7NewsAdelaide/videos/1162546323776021/]Endeavour Homes[/url] Re: FireFox (ICF Construction) 15Apr 03, 2009 11:49 am well after months of drawing in cad my wife and i have come up with a decent draft, unfortunatly the house is simply too big and needs work to make it smaller and in the budget range. if anyone is interested: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=15993&p=196272#p196272 feel free to comment -Nathan 2nd-Fix | Blog Building with Desyn Homes previously with the insolvent [url=https://www.facebook.com/7NewsAdelaide/videos/1162546323776021/]Endeavour Homes[/url] Re: FireFox (ICF Construction) 16Apr 19, 2010 2:38 pm I know one of our forum member use form to build his house, let me find his link. http://rlay1.blogspot.com/ It's a amazing big house.. Re: FireFox (ICF Construction) 17Apr 20, 2010 9:19 am Thanks, build.my.dream.home. There is very little information available online from someone that has actually built using ICF. So I am happy to share my experiences for anyone considering ICF. I’ve taken a number of people through the house and I know of at least one person who is interested in building a ‘mini me’ version of my design! Good questions but the best answer will be obtained by visiting (ie: interviewing) a couple of house designers and/or builders and ask them. You may find it challenging to… 2 3191 i thought the flipped plan initially but bec i want narrow pathway from entry to dining (dont like bend), also cannot fit the… 7 17161 5 10409 |