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Keep the Keys Clean on ICFs

Snap steel tracks on top of insulated concrete forms to protect the interlocking keys and stiffen the walls while pouring concrete.

By Mike Guertin

When doing multiple-level insulated-concrete-form (ICF) pours, you need to keep the locking keys free of concrete. One simple way to protect the top edges of the ICFs is to snap on steel stud track. While the available track sizes may not match the ICF panel width perfectly, the edges can be squeezed in a little to clamp onto the forms.

In addition to keeping the keys clean, the track also stiffens and straightens the top of the ICF walls. Just overlap track sections by 18 in. to 24 in. and the walls will be easier to line and brace straight.

IG – @mike_guertin

mikeguertin.com


More from FineHomebuilding.com:

  • Placing Concrete in an ICF Foundation
  • A Foundation Like a Cooler
  • Wide Mudsill for an ICF Foundation

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Previous: Placing Concrete in the ICF Foundation Next: Wide Mudsill for ICF Foundation

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View Comments

  1. User avater
    PearlGWilson | Nov 03, 2018 01:39am | #1

    Good job. keep sharing like this!

  2. [email protected] | Sep 27, 2020 01:11pm | #2

    I like the idea of using steel stud track instead of the tape some ICF vendors offer to keep the ICF locking keys (or lugs -- or in castle-speak, little "merlons" and "crenelations" ) clean when doing multi-levels.

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