HOW-TO
ICF Swimming Pools
ICFs have been used from swimming pools since the very beginning of the industry. This pool was poured with panelized ICF sections in June 1970. These before-and-after shots of a pool built with NUDURA ICFs demonstrate how easily ICFs can create curved and radiused...
Geocomposite Drainage for ICF Foundations
by Dwight Walker I wrote an article in the ICF Builder Magazine back in 2006 which outlined the history, benefits, and protection systems that were employed at that time which delivered dampproofing and wall waterproofing protection for ICF foundations. (See Dimpled...
Pump Safety for ICF Laborers and Placing Crew
by Christi Collins Following few basic safety guidelines will ensure you and your crew stay out of harm’s way on pour day. Truck-mounted boom pumps are by far the most common way to fill ICF walls and footings. They’re efficient, effective, and affordable. The average...
Turnbuckle Bracing: A Market Comparison
In the mid-to-late 1990s, a product was introduced that revolutionized the ICF industry. Turnbuckle bracing gave installers the ability to make slight adjustments to the wall after it was filled with concrete. No longer did installers have to struggle with assembling...
Window Bucks
For many years, ICF contractors faced a simple choice when it came to window bucks: wood or vinyl. But over the past five years, a number of companies have developed systems specifically designed for ICFs that offer unique advantages. Today, building owners can choose...
Building Your Business With Bracing
Turnbuckle braces not only helps keep your walls straight and plumb, but they can also play a major role in improving company profitability and help win bids on larger projects. The importance of a good ICF wall bracing system cannot be overstated. “A wall alignment...
Better Faster Footings
The vast majority of ICF foundations are poured using a two stage method. But, by coupling an innovative fabric form with adjustable supports, it’s now possible to pour footings that are level and square at the same time as the first few courses. Besides eliminating a...
Concrete Consolidation
Internal ‘pencil’ vibrators consolidate concrete extremely well, especially when used by an experienced operator. Good concrete consolidation is essential. Lack of consolidation can cause voids, rock pockets, honeycombing, and poor bonding with the rebar. In extreme...
Vertical ICFs
This style of ICF eliminates form compression and float, reduces bracing requirements, and may make it easier for concrete contractors to transition to foam forming. In recent years, a new style of ICF has been steadily gaining popularity. While the majority of...
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