HOW-TO
Installing Utilities After the Drywall
Virtually any amount of wire could be installed -or retrofit- in the roomy chases made by Solcraft. Many contractors not familiar with ICF construction may believe that it’s more difficult than traditional stick-frame building. In truth, it’s actually easier to work...
Waterproofing Commercial ICF Jobs
by Dan Calabrese As ICFs grow in popularity for commercial projects, particularly for foundation work, contractors face the crucial challenge of making sure they are adequately waterproofed. Waterproofing is usually associated with basements, which have not always...
Disaster Resistant Finishes
A range of ICF-friendly finishes exist that are reasonably priced, easy to apply, and look great, while withstanding nearly every threat imaginable. In standing up to Mother Nature’s worst—hurricanes, tornadoes, and fire—the exterior finish is almost as important as...
Wet-Setting the First Course
On any ICF project, getting the first course of forms square, level and plumb is absolutely critical. This can be accomplished using one of two methods. The first, and most common method, is to “dry-set” the first courses. Here, the contractor...
ICF Floors Have Arrived!
At one time, the decision to build an energy efficient home or to use “green building” technologies was driven by the consumer. They would often drag their chosen designer and contractor into using products and materials they had no interest in using—and quite often...
The Ease of ICFs
Lightweight ICFs can reduce worker fatigue on any jobsite. Older and smaller workers especially benefit. Is the biggest advantage of building with ICFs the most overlooked? And if so, could that be because it’s the simplest and most obvious?Most of the discussion...
Fear No Design
An Introduction to Insulated Concrete Forms for Designers Like many professionals in the design field, you’ve probably heard something about insulating concrete forms, or ICFs.They are becoming extremely popular for green building, contributing up to 26 points toward...
Building Big Walls
Wall Bracing and Consolidation Tips When wall heights reach more than 20 feet, bracing and consolidation become more critical—and more difficult. Years ago, only a few specialty contractors had to deal with this challenge. But as ICFs become more common—especially in...
Underslab Barriers & ICFs
A number of waterproofing and drainage products are specifically formulated for ICFs, and will help ensure below-grade jobs stay dry. For below-grade walls, the most effective solution is a waterproofing membrane—either a spray-applied water-based system or a...
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