Finally found a salesman for nudura, figuring out the price difference and pros and cons between icf and precast concrete walls. Really enjoy your videos on these basements.
Here is something you will like. With ICF construction you are setting up the molds for the concrete, insulating the house and you are ready to frame the inside all in one step and nothing to remove. Set back and enjoy the low HVAC power bills forever. What's not to love. For my 2000 square foot home, my past 12-month average was $13 per month HVAC cost.
That "chemical" you referred to is called Plasticizer. I've poured hundreds of yds of concrete with that in it. To get good strong concrete, you never want to have the plant mix it past say a 4 or 'maybe' 5 slump. If you want to pour it a bit runnier though, because you don't want to bust your butt dragging it around doing flatwork, you have the plant bring it to a nice 6 or 7 with plasticizer. That way you still get nice, strong concrete that doesn't crack in all the wrong places. I can't tell you how many crews I've seen who have had the truck just dump water into the mix (after he gets to the job and especially during the summer time) to 'loosen' it up. If you are around and see a driveway or sidewalk or whatever all cracked and beat up, rest assured that crew had the truck add a bunch of water to the mix. Bad, bad news. And btw, if it's summer time and you want more time to finish have them add 'retarder'. This is the proper way to do flatwork so you don't get called back to tear crappy work out and have to redo it on your own dime. edit: I know this video isn't showing 'flatwork'. I just used that as my example cause that's what I did.
Pure poetry in motion, quite the dance on Pour Day it is. Exciting and nerve-wracking, honest exhaustion at the end of "THE DAY". I can relate, on my house pour, we started at 6:AM with the pumper truck setup and finished at dark: 30 washing out the pumper truck. AND no blowouts, yea. Loved the show, you guys have fun at work and it shows, you have a great team. Question: Do many customers install a SAFE ROOM in addition to the ICF outer walls? My SAFE ROOM is disguised as a bathroom, the steel door is a giveaway.
Every time I see an ICF video it makes me reconsider building an ICF house, its not a common practice here where I live on the West Coast of British Columbia, I want to build a small house 24'x34', I like the idea of energy efficiency.
@@MrDaplatapus I would be very interested to keep in touch with you about your experience. We are planning to move to the Island once we sell in Coquitlam. I hope to build at a point and info about suppliers etc. would be invaluable!
I also am considering building ICF. I have watched Mikes videos for years and when I contacted NUDURA the guy I was talking too suggested I watch Dirt Perfect and a few others for tips and tricks
Can you put threaded anchors on top before the concrete sets? I would think that secures a 2x8 sill in place best. Maybe the next video shows a tie in? Nice video, Mike. Thanks!
great vid we have to poker the concrete over here uk most walls are done cause we use forms only got that system in the ground looks good time saver were still blockwork out the ground interesting thanks
I wish we had seen more of the adjusting the walls with the braces. That's the part of the process that scares me. You set up the braces to be able to adjust them and get the wall level and plumb, would def like to see more details regarding that process. Cool video though! Highly considering going ICF here in Florida.
Once again - Love the ICF videos Learn something with each one. Really looking forward to my build (need to retire first). Any chance on a video of the Garage footing's. Curious to see how the Poured (I'm assuming not ICF) footing/stem walls of the garage are attached to the ICF Walls & pad placement. I realize this was shoot in September, maybe with the next ICF. I'll keep watching til then . . .
DONT TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE WOM- oh sorry. Read the thumbnail jumped to conclusions. Man that guy handled his hose well! So how long until you start on worksalotmanor?
Great choice on forms, I'll use nothing but Nudura from now on! Curious, why would you use the brick ledge? It kinda defeats the purpose of using ICF's. It creates a massive thermal bridge to the concrete core. Just make your footing a little wider and lay block put brick on that it's a little more expensive up front but saves for the life of the building. With a concrete building that should be a long time!
massive?? A bit over the top, wouldn't even be 5% of that whole wall surface area that would be touching the brick ledge.. Then you could create a thermal break of the exposed concrete with a heavy duty rigid foam/plastic before pouring driveway over it.
Nicely done. Definitely difference in the way we pour walls. I understand why you pour in lifts but does that give you problems on really hot days? Pretty sure it is super that the concrete plant is adding to mix, if so you have right at 30 minutes before it goes back to the slump it originally was. Curious if that gave ya any problems. I didnt see you guys vibrate much this time. Did I miss it or did you not need to? There is quite a difference between icfs and aluminum forms. Liked your video and learned a few things as well.
If you pour that tall of a wall in one lift it has a real good chance of blowing out especially with ICF forms. I can see how you can do it with metal or plywood forms, then use a pencil vibrator to make it flow around the rebar. They also sometimes ad fly ash for flowability also reduces the amount of cement needed.
@@briangardiner1015 yeah I would never try that with icfs. We do pour ours to the top but they are aluminum and pins and ties are double checked every time. Have had great luck of not using a vibrator. We usually pour around a 5.5 to 6 inch slump and works very well. I like the idea of icfs for homeowners and certain other jobs. Very rare to see one in my area though.
math time when I poured ICF with Mike back in the day I ran 6 to 7 slump depending on the walls we were pouring. Never stiffer than 6 though. Our supplier uses what they call a “wall mix”. It’s round aggregate that has exceptional flow rate compared to traditional crushed stone.
@@CaptainKleeman yep, pea gravel mix it also has higher compression strength than crushed stone. Only issue I've ever heard was with a smooth surface the cement doesn't bond to it as well as crushed stone. My opinion I doubt that makes much difference. If they arent adding super plastisizer to your mix it is something you might be interested in. You dont lose strength and you can gain 3 inches of slump during a pour. It is expensive about 4$ a yard here but it could help you in certain instances.
@@mathtime4578 ICF's really are a good option for homebuilders because before it was concrete block or poured walls with aluminum forms, which is what is still used in your area from what it sounds like. I think it just depends on how it is done in a certain area. And some are slower to use the newer methods then others. There isn't anything wrong with that though.
Good informative ICF video again.. nice to see all the little steps involved that dont really get talked about, especially how to level it properly. Speaking of steps, 1 wrong step on your bracing walkway could be your last... why no handrail, and only a 10" maybe walkway. The walkway boards didnt look secured to the bracing either.
Hey there, love the videos and the knowledge. I've been binging on these videos all winter because I am going to be building an ICF home this spring. It's going to be a 28 x 42 with a walkout basement and a loft. I noticed though that you don't use a needle vibrator, just a solid one at specific spots during the pour. What are your thoughts on vibrating these pours/forms? Some say it's essential and others say it can cause blowouts. I just want to make sure I do it right. You wouldn't be interested in coming to the U.P. of Michigan for a job soon eh?? lol
How wide is your footer with 8in thick walls plus foam? How deep? Thanks man love this channel! Also what’s the slope on your basement to drain water out? Do you use French drains? This is awesome stuff. Interesting possibilities here. Me and my dad are about to do this I think! Can we hire you as our consultant lol? How can I do the cement roof/ first floor? Are there ICF beams
i loved the view at about 9:00 with the dozer up on the hill behind the building. Then a bit later we saw that cool time lapse, and I'm guessing that camera was somewhere on the dozer? The house builds are always interesting. It surprised me that those walls needed three truck loads to fill. That would have come to some dollars I'm thinking. Convenient and fast, but probably not a whole lot cheaper. I've never seem this sort of construction outside of your videos Mike. One more wee point... As I type this you have a 500:1 like/dislike ratio. That is unusually good, and really quite impressive.
I have seen some manufacturers of ICF say to remove LEGO Block numbs on the Top Coarse of ICF Blocks to have a smooth surface to attach the structure’s framing (Sill Plate)... ah, you just mentioned it at the end. So are you saying there at the end, The General Contractor on that build just did not desire for you to spend the necessary time to remove the Inter-Locking Nubs, he wanted your bid to be the lowest price possible?
Dirt Perfect Now would that be acceptable in all jurisdictions under the building code??? I would think most jurisdictions WOULD require the top of the Foundation to be solid flat, cleanly finished. I’m not saying you did anything incorrect, and obviously Code in the area it was built, it was acceptable. I live and work in Metropolitan SoCal and the Code and Inspectors are not Lenient at all. Thank You for taking your time to answer and for being reasonable in your answer! I like how you operate, like how you do quality work and you’ve got a great attitude!
Hi this is Danny with Kennedy Electric from Atlanta Georgia. How do you install electrical outlets in this insulating concrete forms, do you frame wood walls inside or what. Thanks for the videos and keep them coming.
I really appreciate your informative videos about this subject. What is your opinion about a DIY set up of the forms and then having a pro do the pour?
What were the dimensions of this basement? You responsed to another comment that you are willing to consult, do you mean you will work with an owner to help them reduce labor costs by assembling the walls themselves? Do you do multiple levels with ICF, meaning basement to rafters? Do you do ICF roofs?
60 x 34 and will help answer any questions I can email me and yes footer to rafter is what I like it do have not poured a icf roof but have done a few icf floors
Dirt Perfect Thx, I subbed you to keep you essentially in my contacts because we are in IN also and plan to buy some land in a year or two but a bit further North than you most likely, up in the Brown or Monroe county areas. I'm strongly considering ICF and it will be good having a contact here who can at a minimum consult on the design and build or be able to do some referrals since I assume we will most likely be out of your build area.
Normally, I have to be watching Victoria’s Secret fashion show to pay much attention to someone on a catwalk... but I have to admit, I hit pause and ogled what was being displayed more often here than I ever remember doing it there. Tell me Mike; was it because it is just that interesting? Or, am I just getting old?
ADexcavating Brian is right, 9 times out of ten we pump, it always seems there is that one random corner we can’t reach with a truck, not to mention we can run a truck out faster through a pump than down a chute. There have been jobs that we have run two trucks out at the same time, down each side, but that takes more manpower, I guess the short answer is pumps are easier.
Mike nice job on the pour. We're pouring one this Monday. I'm gonna try and get some video footage. Do you guys vibrate? We have had good luck with a pencil vibrator in and out quick. Check out some of my videos. Bondo 👍
Just curious, is it absolutely necessary to use the pump truck? I’m doing an icf wall in about a month and the truck should be able to reach all the walls with the chute
Are the metal adjusters to straighten out the wall expensive? We are about to build a house in the us Virgin island and need to do it the most cost effective way. Thanks
@@DirtPerfect on your next pour you should write jimmy hoffa is buried herein one corner and it another jason works a lot is buried here ... in another capt kleemans final resting place ..... and finally SOT metalworks is enturned here lol then call hoover and leave him a "tip" lol
Blackdog Tractor/Excavator he and I worked together for 5 years pouring ICF for Mike before we both went our separate ways. Hell of a guy. Hard worker and always had my back.
@@CaptainKleeman I could see where you and he would click. I'm sure the jobsite would be a lot of fun. Keep up the good work on the vids brother. Btw, I too was a paid FF, I retired after 39 years of service last December. Now I dig holes and dish out stupid puns for a living.
Blackdog Tractor/Excavator congratulations on your retirement! I have to believe you were also paid for the last 39 years to dish out puns at the station as well! I hope so anyway.
This might be the video he was talking about: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C58s18wu16w.html Next: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7oluXhJk1mE.html