by Pieter VanderWerf & Christina Neamtu

So what makes a good ICF system?  What guidelines should you use when choosing a particular system?  How can you make sure that you choose the system that's right for you?  Choosing the appropriate ICF system can seem like a daunting task if you're a homeowner, but it's actually less of a burden than you might guess. 

That's because, if you are the homeowner, you shouldn't be choosing the system anyways- the best party to make that choice is the contractor.  Why? The contractor and his crew will be the ones working with the product on a day-to-day basis.  An experienced contractor is familiar with and prefers to work with a particular product; choosing a different product for him can result in a costly learning curve, which includes the mistakes, time, and money it takes to master a new system.  

So, as a homeowner, your decision should be based on what contractor you select.  Pick a good one, and let them choose the system.  It'll mean a lot less headaches down the road for everyone involved.

Now if you're a contractor, the responsibility of choosing the system does come down to you.  If it's your first ICF project, there's a lot to consider.  What criteria should you look for? 

The most crucial characteristics of ICF systems change so quickly that quantifying and comparing them can be difficult.  For example, geographic availability, service level, R-value, dimension consistency, and price are criteria that are difficult to pin down and may not be uniform depending on the situation.

But don't give up hope-here are some things that will help you get through your first ICF project:    

1. Find the systems that have good local technical support.  You'll have a lot of questions when you start out, so you'll definitely want a system that can guide you to the answers.  Find a system that has a nearby distributor who visits job sites, has really good manuals, and phone support.
2. For each of these, contact local contractors who have used the product.  Better yet, visit their job sites to see the products in action.  You'll be glad you did.
3. Get a second opinion.  Maybe a third.  Check out ICF Talk and the product descriptions in this site to find out what other users are saying, and always remember to ask lots of questions.

Your first ICF project will be a challenge, but with the right resources and support, it will also be a very rewarding experience.  Let us know how it goes.    We wish you the best of luck with your new project! 

Do you have more questions about this topic?  Or would you like to share your experience and advice?  Join the discussion at ICF Talk.

SOURCE: P. VanderWerf, S. Feige, P. Chammas, L. Lemay.  Insulating Concrete Forms.  NY: McGraw-Hill, 1997.