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OK, so this topic got wiped off the sheet!
Someone was talking about ICF’s and termites! Who’s had experiance or information concerning this problem.
Is there any type of ICF (Polystyrene, expanded foam ???) that resists termites?
So what have you?
Listeners write in about removing masonry chimneys and ask about blocked ridge vents, deal-breakers with fixer-uppers, and flashing ledgers that are spaced from the wall.
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Replies
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Rastra makes a concrete and polystyrene mix that reportedly resists termites. You can obtain more information from their web site: http://www.rastra.com.
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Barry,
My project is currently on hold due to weather, but I'm using Diamond Snap-Forms made by AFM corp to form my basement walls for an addition. I chose this product because it allows for a full thickness (10" in my case) flat panel wall and because the EPS foam is treated with boric acid to ward off termites and carpenter ants. I don't know if this is 100% effective but it can't hurt. Termites and ants will not infest EPS unless they have a reason to; they need a food source (wood) and water. They will use the foam to get there if both are nearby. I have removed EPS that had been infested with termites but the surrounding area was also moisture and termite damaged.
Jerry
*Gary. I had posted the remark. ICF are fine, but termites remain a problem wit exterior foam. See the October 1998 issue of the Journal Of L:ight Construction re: termite damage.GeneL.
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Since there are quite a few new homes in our area
built with ICF walls we've had plans designed with
them also.Seems that a thin sheet metal baffle,
put between 2 lifts of the stay-in-place foam
forms, should deter any termites that may show up
from advancing up
*Gene, I'm on the second story of my ICF home construction. When I read your post, I was very concerned so I tried to find that article from JLC and couldn't. Guess I need to order the back issue. I was so concerned that I contacted my mfg and was sent a note as follows: I always recommend that although ICF's have no food source themselves for termites the mites can go through the foam looking for food, consequently one should always treat the soil for termites. The code says you build out of non- treated wood in certain areas you should not go below grade or within 6 inches of the soil with the slab. With the way you are constructing your house ie. steel and concrete, you are perfectly within code to do exactly what you are doing.Alex, because I'm such an over-doer, I'm interested in knowing more about the metal baffle. Would you explain in more detail how it's done. Of course since my first floor walls are already poured, I may not be able to do it and will have to depend on treating the soil. I have about 9" of clean rock below my floating slab floor. (Haven't poured the floor yet.)Thanks.Linda
*I'm midway through a home in North Carolina (asheville) that uses ICF's for the foundation walls. Termites are a problem here, Terninex required me to expose at least 8 inches of the poured wall above grade at the top of the foundation for an inspection area. How I handled this was to use a plywood blade in my circular saw set to 30 degrees and cut a bevel at the 8 inch level. I then chipped the foam away from the pour and used morter to fill in the grooves in the pour (Blue Maxx forms.) I then waterproofed the wall with a membrane layer and used Acrylic "Stucco" above grade for the finish. The bervel detail looks sharp and satisfied Terminex.
*WE have been using ICF's in the area for a while.Single story homes, daylight basements and office buildings here in the valley and in garages, homes and three story buildings at the coast. I have been in some of our older buildings and some built by others and seen very little if any termite evidence. It is hard for me to imagine that the little critters would go past or dig through a water proofing membrane or stucco, however I guess any creature will try to get into the porus material if left alone to the elements. Has anyone seen evidence of the creatures going through(not around) protective barriers? With the idea of installing a steal plate in one of the lifts I could see a problem with getting the panels to interlock with them in place.
*Dont know if this will help, but Howard Garrett (the "doctor of dirt" at [email protected]) suggests that to repel termites, backfill around structures with sandblasting sand. Apparently, the little fellows don't like it much.
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The Journal of Light Construction article on termites and buried foam was in the October 1998 issue. There was also an article on termite treatments in the June 1997 issue, and a letter on termites by Mike Tobin, (President of AFM Corporation) in the January 1999 issue. All of these are worth looking at if you're concerned about termites in ICF. JLC has a website at http://www.jlconline.com
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Paul
I am in the planning stage of using ICF for a cabin also in the Asheville area. The eight inch cut you describe sounds logical for a home with conventional (edible) walls but would this have been necessary if the upper floor were ICF? It seems like a lot of extra effort (and loss of insulation) if the exterior does not provide anything nourishing for termites until you reach the roof framing. I am tentatively planning on stone veneer and synthetic stucco for exterior surfaces. Thanks for any insight you can contribute on this senario.
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OK, so this topic got wiped off the sheet!
Someone was talking about ICF's and termites! Who's had experiance or information concerning this problem.
Is there any type of ICF (Polystyrene, expanded foam ???) that resists termites?
So what have you?