Insulated Concrete Form (icf)

[Mr Rex]

My apologies for the delay in response. December has started with a bang after a pitiful November. The insulated concrete forms were originally developed in Arizona (at least the ones I first researched +/- 10 years ago after being approached by a guy that held the local franchise/protected area for the product. I was still a Licensed GC at the time although working for an architectural firm at the time as a Field Rep/Inspector to pay the bills. I was approached by a former GC that had the local right to this product, but he also was working at another job to pay the bills but yet thought this stuff was the best stuff since peanut butter. 1 guy that didn't make it as a GC selling majic to another former GC. Things that make you go Hmmm? Long story short, Termites and Carpenter ants bore through this stuff like dryrotted wood. They don't eat it, they just pass through leaving a honeycomb effect behind. The product started in Arizona, New Mexico etc. super dry climates that don't have termites etc anyway. Moved to areas with higher humidity and the little 6 legged griiters love it. EIFS has similar history along the coast. Second biggest problem with EIFS in these areas (after moisture encapulation) is/was insect damage. It's my understanding that newer versions of this product have been treated with borate, a very effective, low environmental impact product. However I remain skeptical, simply beacause the market does not typically support atypical construction materials and techniques until the processes/technologies and/or materials are proven superior and most importantly, cheaper than the alternatives. As example, we have gone from Masonite(that failed) to Vinyl(that buckles and puckers in the sun)to Cement Fiber Siding that carries a 50 year material warranty if installed acccording to specs. I have yet to see more than 25% of these installations that would meet these prorated warranty requirements. Given a choice, I would recommend Cement Fiber Siding. Of course you can apply this directly over the Insulated Concrete Forms. In Arizona or New Mexico, might last for ever.