Hey, Any Of You Home Contruction Guys Out There

[Rastus]

ICF= Insulated Concrete Forms  its the sytrofoam blocks/ panels you then pore mix into.

here in a nut shell are thier pros and cons..

pros,

great insulation ( everything from termal, to noise)

fast build times for simple structures(4 corner/6 corner houses)

lower labor rates with experanced crews( crews that are not use to them will cost you way more)

They can offer strom protection( for more money of corse)

cons

hard to modify latter down the road( in all aspects,)

higher cost for materials.

limiting design options. ( generally fixed diametions and simple angles only, stuff can be made to order or cut and sealled on site, but its $$$$$$$$$$)

some systems have limited siding/ int fisnihing options.

small mistakes like misted  ties, wires/ pluming in the wrong place all of which must be installed pre pore cost big bucks to fix.(see the pro above about exp crews)

just for the record I've built 6 homes with ICF, every thing from a 1200 sqft 6 corner, to a 6500 sqft monster that was very complex( should have stick built that)

I'm shooting for about a 1/2 monster.  My dad was a house contractor when I was a toddler, got out of it into heavy construction, but he helped kinfolks build homes and I was there with him.   I was admonished to always check, double check, then wait and come back a day later an check again all of the drains, pipe penetrations, etc in a slab...as well as to make certain everything was square, not just that the sides were the right length....and a few other things.  I'll have a lot to learn and relearn in this process but planning saves a lot of $$$$'s and sometimes saves quite a bit of time.  Saving $$$'s will be where it's at.

Modification later in life will be a big zero.  I like the noise proof...that is really cool.  A friend lived a few years in the ICF house below me and quiet is where it's at...also, if this project moves forward this year and I build where I want to the wife won't hear me shooting out the back door.

So...what about steel instead of wood for ceilings and rafters?  I don't know a good manufacturer.  All I've seen are a few adds and some of the junk they use in office walls.  Back 25 years ago or so I was told if you wanted to make a span with steel that a wood 2x6 would make you need to use a steel 2x8 and so on...the steel products would deflect more than the wood.  Who to use, what's a good brand/model?  I'll need to ferret those costs too.  I don't want to use wood for the ceiling and rafters and I do want the ceiling joists/trusses tied into the concrete walls for a little extra protection from tornados.  Extra width for insulation would be great...I'll want 12" in the ceiling with the vented roof/rafters.

Timothy, I'm on top of a hill right now and we routinely get 70 mph winds with thunderstorms here just north of Tulsa.  Last week we hit 85-90 mph.  My current home is brick and stick construction and we don't have any problems.  If I get what I'd like, the location is remote so I am not too worried about the revolution finding me.  Too few people to trouble with there won't be enough to loot and too far off the beaten path to be an issue....they'll lose interest before finding me.

[Rastus]

Here is a link you might find helpful.
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Thanks for the information.  Now I can start scrawling and plotting.

I will be adding for high winds and earthquakes.  OKC experienced 50 earthquakes in 3-1/2 months this year...the normal amount in a year is fewer than that.  I picked up earthquake insurance a month ago....you never know.

[TAB]

I'd like to know where you can buy mix for $65/ yd   its ~ $200/ yd in CA.

[TAB]

Modification later in life will be a big zero.  I like the noise proof...that is really cool.  A friend lived a few years in the ICF house below me and quiet is where it's at...also, if this project moves forward this year and I build where I want to the wife won't hear me shooting out the back door.

I just said inuslated, the windows and doors are where most of the noise comes from anyways.  True comm'l quality windows is what you want to keep things quit inside.  When I say modification later, I'm not talking about major remodels, I'm talking about dumb things like, I want a cable outlet here, a plug here and etc.

ICF are alot like SEP, great for the builder, but not so great to live in.



One of the good things about ICF, is for the most part, they can be installed by some one that is realtivly unskilled, but can read and fallow instructions( you would be amazed at how many people can not do that)


As too the steal raftors and the like,  They are actually weaker then properly done wood trusses, they also cost alot more.  With the proper storm ties, all the correct nails and other fasners. you will be fine.  One thing I would highly recomend is having the ceilings supported by the walls and independent of the truss system.  That way you have less chance of cracks forming.

If you are going to dig out for a basement anyways, i'd look into a prefabed concreate storm shelter.  The modern prefab stuff is very good, its even out they make bank vualts.

[Rastus]

Do you have a recommendation on xenon windows....who makes good ones?  I need a good manufacturer recommendation even if I don't move forward on the move to fix the windows I now have with bad seals. 

I was afraid the steel was still going to be weaker.  I have looked into some Lite Deck supported concrete floors and concrete roof material.  This may be the way I go....I need to get with somebody who designs concrete stuff.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

I've heard basements are the cheapest square footage to build in a house. 

If I were building I'd have a basement bigger than the house.  That extended basement area would made a wonderful 'Man Cave".  Gun room, work shop, safe room, den, space for all hobbies...probably no indoor range due to ventilation and damage to walls.

Might even manage a 'secret passage' to the cave.  Small kitchen with refrigeration and wet bar.

Hmmm...wonder if we can get M'ette to move the corner to this cave?

[TAB]

I've heard basements are the cheapest square footage to build in a house.  If I were building I'd have a basement bigger than the house.  That extended basement area would made a wonderful 'Man Cave".  Gun room, work shop, safe room, den, space for all hobbies...probably no indoor range due to ventilation and damage to walls.

Might even manage a 'secret passage' to the cave.  Small kitchen with refrigeration and wet bar.

Hmmm...wonder if we can get M'ette to move the corner to this cave?

thats going to depend on a lot of factors, generally they are the cheapest remodel sqft you can add, they are not cheap to build.

[Ranger Dave]

Rastus, the last I heard concrete was going about $100 to $110 a yard. Winter 2008 when we built the barn concrete was $90 a yard.
Dave

[Pathfinder]

I've heard basements are the cheapest square footage to build in a house. 

If I were building I'd have a basement bigger than the house.  That extended basement area would made a wonderful 'Man Cave".  Gun room, work shop, safe room, den, space for all hobbies...probably no indoor range due to ventilation and damage to walls.

Might even manage a 'secret passage' to the cave.  Small kitchen with refrigeration and wet bar.

Hmmm...wonder if we can get M'ette to move the corner to this cave?

Don't forget a toilet, and a stripper pole.   

Good idea, tho, build the basement larger than the house, all underground. Put in a storm shelter/cellar with a door in the back to the man cave. I like that idea!!!!

Rastus, you gonna get this house built or just sit around jawing about it all day?

We want a construction porn thread too!!

[TAB]

Don't forget a toilet,

Trust me, you don't want a san pump.