Replies

1. 
   Peter_Torkelson | Jun 15, 1999 01:37pm | #1

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   I have spent the last two years building a traditionaly frame house. It looks alright, and is nice to live it now, when its new. But I see a lifetime of maintanence, and stair climbing (its three stories high) ahead of me. Has anyone had success with insulated concrete forms?

   Next time I want to build a house that will never sag, succomb to vapor barrier failure or be eaten away by pests.

   Does anyone have thoughts or experience on building a house that will last a lifetime with minimal maintanence?

2. 
   Guest_ | Jun 15, 1999 02:29pm | #2

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   Dream on!

   Or move to MI.

   Blue

3. 
   Keith_Utter | Jun 15, 1999 02:37pm | #3

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   Peter,

   What your looking for is "sustainable buildings". You may find the most info in the "green building" arena. I live in an ICF home that I designed and built myself and I incorporated many sustainable features such as 2' overhangs, colored concrete floors, metal roofing and so on. To be honest when I was in the design phase I wasn't really aware of "sustainability" as it's refered to today. I just wanted things to last on my home and relied on my experience with buildings in our area and my thirst for knowledge to come up with the details that would avoid the problems I had encountered for others. I have had few problems, but nothing that major and will soon be designing my next and most likely last home that I will build for myself.

   Here in the historic northeast we can observe structures over 200 years old and I guess many sustainable features are there for the taking.

   I might add that many of these features are at little to no added cost to a building. As a young builder these are lessons for you to learn and learning from others is the best way.

   Hope this helps, good luck.

4. 
   Guest_ | Jun 18, 1999 10:10pm | #4

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   Have you thought of a steel frame home with icynene foam insulation, metal or concrete roof shingles and brick/stone veneer ?

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 19, 1999 07:47pm | #5

   *There are houses in europe that have been standing for hundreds of years. See if you can find out how they're built.Ed. Williams

5. 
   Hopefully_Wiser | Jun 27, 1999 07:41am | #6

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   I've used a couple of the ICF's and find that the only practical type when taking into account the labor needed to brace and pour, is the Thermo Form system sold by the AFM Corporation companies. These are the same people that produce R-Control Panels. These are the only ICF's that you can pour a full 8' lift and vibrate the concrete to ensure consolidation. Also the bracing is very minimal ( similar to conventional forms). You use a conventional mix ( no 3/8 " aggregate) and you can pour as fast as in a conventional form. The R-value is R-25 and it comes in an 8" wall or custom widths. No special engineering review is needed as it is not a post and beam system like so many of the other systems.

6. 
   Guest_ | Jun 27, 1999 07:56am | #7

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   Peter, have you thought about a masoleum?

   BB

7. 
   Ron_Budgell | Jun 29, 1999 05:45am | #8

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   Hey, hopefully,
   Can you tell us more about these forms?
   I'm interested in ICF and have built a couple and have wondered a bit what's happening down in there when pouring a 5" slump mix without vibrating it. I have poured 10' high walls with Blue Maxx.
   How do you get your walls straight without bracing? (My customers approve of straight) Can you pour your full wall height in one pour? (We usually go around three times.) How much steel goes into these walls?
   I think I'll go look for their web site.

8. 
   Peter_Torkelson | Jun 29, 1999 05:45am | #9

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   Reflections of a young home builder who just dropped $75K on a 'normal' house and learned a few lessions in the process. Are there others who feel the same way?