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Getting ready to start construction of an ICF home. Any advice? Also, going to use in floor radiant heat in stained and stamped and colored concrete floors. Last thing – want to build a Masonry Heater (Russian Fireplace) – would like plans or advice on cast in place rather than brick and mortar.
Thanks.
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Replies
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Use the Breaktime search function to look for ICF. Reciently, there was a lengthy discussion called "ICF Any experiences? good, bad, etc" that ended not more than a month ago. Some very important points were brought up. I'd call it "must read info" for someone in your position.
*Jerry I think that you could use a cast in place ,but the fire box would have to be lined with fire brick. I could be wrong but I don't think that concrete can hold up to exessive heat . Hot slag from a cuting torch will pit concrete . Don
*Not sure there is a "cast in place" one but you can buy a precast model which is assembled on site. With these you can use a variety of exterior finishes: brick, stone, stucco etc. I have one made by Norbert Senf (the HeatKit) that I recommend highly. You can find out more at the Masonry Heater association, I think its at http://www.mha.org; there are a number of makers.I heat my 1500 sq. ft home in Vermont on three cords of wood: the most comfortable heat I've ever had. Only backup is a directvent propane heater for extreme (say 20 below) cold and when we travel. You might not need the radiant floor depending on house size and layout. It was expensive to put in but is paying for itself pretty fast at this seasons energy prices.
*The masonry heater website is http://www.mha-net.org/
*What ever you do, make sure that whoever is installing your ICF wall system knows what their doing. Don't assume that just because someone is an ICF distributor, that they know how to put up the walls.Check references and make sure you check other homes they've built. Take it from someone who's in the middle of ICF home hell - walls having been cut down because they were out of plumb by 3 inches, a wall with a large one inch bulge, window bucks that were in the wrong part of the house, which I caught the day before the walls were to be poured - enough said.Find a professional in your part of the country to put up the ICF walls. Go with a flat wall system like Integraspec or Amvic. Check out ICFWeb.com for information.
*Check out http://www.tempcast.com/wood/woodplan.html.I think this is probably thje stove I am going to go with.Frank
*I certainly agree with Tom! My experience hasn't been as bad, but don't assume that the distributor/installer/etc. knows whats he's doing (or at least that he'll do it properly). Once the concrete sets its kind of hard to straigthen the wall. I got ICF walls (Blue Max) and radient heated floors in concrete. The walls are mostly okay (I haven't done the drywall yet so we'll see) but one bows about 1" or so. As a result I've have to built sort of a parallel wall using shims. At least the whole thing wasn't so bad as to stop the masons in their tracks.The main floor (which cost a fortune is antoher story). It is uneven +/- 1/4" (i.e. 1/2" overall) and will have to be refinished - at my cost. Not bad for $50,000 worth of work (for the floor).The main lesson is, unfortunately, that many builders look upon a homeowner contracting his own house is a 'one shot deal'. Pity professionalism doesn't factor in to the equation. Try and write a quality penalty hold back into the contract. I should have.
*Frank-Dont know if you are totally settled on a heater but I would take a look at the Heat-Kit. I looked at almost every masonry heater available and was most impressed with Norbert Senf's research and attention to detail. I've heard some negatives on the actual heat output of the TempCast, although admittedly I have never spoken to someone who actually has lived with one.By the way I saw your other post re: insulation and I would highly recommend the wet-blown cellulose. I balked at the price difference at first but now am very glad I used it. A good installer is key however.Good luck with your house!
*Hotsawdust,Thanks for your post. I will look into the Heat-Kit stove.I really am thinking about polyurethane foam, though I need to read more about this and may end up with wet blown cellulose.Frank
*Frank-My concern with the foam would be trapping moisture inside the walls. Due to certain aspects of my construction (read: NO MONEY) I had typar siding over rough board sheathing for over a year (longer in some areas.) The wet blown cellulose got wet several times again, and while I wouldnt recommend this practice it dries out again quickly with no apparent degradation. This may start another argument about "breathing walls" etc but I'd rather have something that allows the structure to dry out when it does get wet.
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Getting ready to start construction of an ICF home. Any advice? Also, going to use in floor radiant heat in stained and stamped and colored concrete floors. Last thing - want to build a Masonry Heater (Russian Fireplace) - would like plans or advice on cast in place rather than brick and mortar.
Thanks.