Ray guys like you who just hand over a blank check to the ICF companies and say "do me any way you like" are what give ICF's a bad name.    The country of Iceland went broke because their banks financed housing loans in the US and the carte blanche mentality to building houses just doesn't work anymore.

When I started building my place in 2009 neighboring houses were $200-250K.    Now foreclosures in the area are selling for $60-90K.    I was in no mood to hand over thousands of dollars to ICF companies.    When I started the project the situation was "can't lose" no matter what you do.    Pay a couple of thousand for ICF blocks done right, no problem.   You're ahead anyway.   Now it's a "can't win" situation.   Pay the ICF companies you lose.   Buy ICF leftovers on craigslist and mix-match and pay for labor to help you lose.  

Posted By ICFHybrid on 17 May 2012 08:52 AM

But, since the block manufacturers now extend the strips completely from the top to the bottom

My ARXX block strips from late 2011 didn't go all the way from top to bottom. There is about a 1" gap with only foam at each horizontal joint. I am not convinced that any compression is coming from there.

Did you measure before and after pour to see if your blocks compressed at all? I've only used nudura and I can say that there is no compression in those blocks. Jack, do you know if the furring strips extend all the way through the block?

Well Nudura may not compress but it does try to close on you and bite you when you try to cut it. Ha ha.

Seriously, we usually run horizontal cuts though a table saw or if you have a nice band saw you can skip a step and run the 8' block through once cutting both sides at the same time. There is not even the implication of a wave - perfect cut every time. Interesting, however, is that you make these cuts ALWAYS before you even open the block. So, despite the fact that the block is not smart enough to close on you on its own accord it's never open when you cut it anyway.

Another interesting point is that since its reversible you can use both 8' sections. This thread is a bit crazy to say the least. It was and adventure to travel a bit and have some fun and that has value but no money was saved here. Regards.

Posted By jacktca on 17 May 2012 04:10 PM
Sawyer asks: Will you provide further description, in your opinion, why "Integraspec blows"?

I thought I covered my grievances in a post on the first page of this topic. In a nutshell IntegraSpec blocks turned out to be extremely time consuming. The wall made with Reward went up in 1 hour. The remaining three walls made with IntegraSpec took about 5-6 days. Granted, there were no windows and doors on the Reward wall. But the job would have taken 1 at most 2 days with Reward blocks.

You mentioned Nudura and Arxx. Arxx look more or less like Reward blocks. Nudura blocks fold and I would hate to have a block fold on me while I'm cutting. Unless of course you just want to build full complete walls then cut the windows/doors out with a sawzall after the walls are up. If I were to do ICF construction as a job not do-it-yourself then that would be the method I would use.

As IntegraSpec has loose web they will take slightly longer than a fixed web block. On the other hand, with complex rebar detail that needs to be tied and with complicated house/building plans, they are often much quicker because you can work with one side open and you can cut one panel and not have to deal with the whole block.
And regardless of what your consultant says, Intergraspec and most blocks with solid interlocking webs will not compress. Height adjustment should have been done at the bottom but if it hasn't been done or something is out of wack due to operator failure and you are not comfortable with free hand cutting, stack the blocks, screw a straight 2x below the line and let the cutting instrument rest on the 2x. To do this afterwards makes no cents and will cost dollars.

Did you measure before and after pour to see if your blocks compressed at all?

I wasn't expecting compression, but we set the wall at the correct height and that's what we got, ergo no compression.