Are ICF Web Ties STRONG Enough?

If you are building an ICF home, you are probably wondering, are the ICF web ties strong enough? Are the adequate to hold the blocks together during the concrete pour, and are the strong enough to attach to after the pour. ICF home construction comes with its own set of challenges, but you can be prepared for them. While I wish the ICF web ties were designed differently, there are things you can do to make the current design work for you. Insulated concrete forms have too many advantages to let the web tie design flaws get in the way.
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[@squeekhobby4571]

Awesome tips. This is gold can’t find everywhere. Thanks for bringing this up

[@Challenged1]

You're Welcome!!!

[@brixtondamian2638]

a trick : watch movies at Flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies these days.

[@amoszahir7346]

@Brixton Damian Definitely, been using Flixzone} for since december myself =)

[@toddwikel3849]

@@Challenged1 do you have a contact email?

[@theconstitutionalist5617]

Treat icf like a concrete or block house and it’s not so bad. It’s not a stick frame. Drill into concrete. It’s more labor and money but again your working with insulated concrete

[@clintonboyer1217]

There is one stud finder that will work with ICF s. Quite a simple solution, yet I just came across it myself. It works with magnetism on finding the Sheetrock screws. Mark more than one / plumb-bob ...

[@Challenged1]

That's a good thing to know. Thanks

[@CelBloxICF]

Any stud finder will work with CelBlox ICF because we have steel web pins.

[@mikestronach4762]

After 20 years of ICF. Ties are fine. Good work such as straight level square and plumb are the issue. Most DIU have issues with that or consolidation due to lack of vibration. The idea you can do any concrete work with little or no experience is a complete lie

[@Challenged1]

I would agree with most of what you said. I still stand by the statement that most ties are inadequate. Your forms may not blow out, but you'll have issues with everything that connects to the ties.

[@PamP3277]

It sounds like you have been working with some poor quality ICF web ties. CelBlox® web ties meet quality control standards that address all of your issues. They are tested to insure that nails and screws don't break the web, no matter where they are placed (including edges). The minimum melting temperature of CelBlox® webs/ties is 350°F, so there is no danger of a hot screw melting them. The webs are 15" long, and CelBlox® panels are 16" high, they are placed 6" apart, and their placement is clearly marked on the outside of the panel for easy location. The screw pullout strength is guaranteed to be a minimum of 180lbs, more than enough to hold up any siding or other fixture. You should give them a try next time you have an ICF build.

[@CelBloxICF]

The webs are actually placed 8" apart to give you an easy 16" on center stud placement. Our webs are also detectable with a stud finder because they are pinned in with metal.

[@johnwhite2576]

Super foam has very robust ties.

[@NDcompetitiveshooter]

Great tips. Congrats on building your home

[@dr.faisalalizafar3066]

What do you think of iCCF blocks like the "Perfect Blocks"

[@Challenged1]

I have no experience with them, so no opinion either.

[@petertate8465]

You mention the water vapor that comes out of the concrete for months after the pour. Is it necessary to protect the sheetrock from this at the time you hang it?

[@Challenged1]

I would delay hanging it if you can, and use several dehumidifiers.

[@RJM1011]

I wanted to use Build Blocks in the UK but they are not in the UK so I am planning on using Nudura. Both Build Blocks and Nudura have excellent training online and courses. But my Nudura course was cancelled in 2020 because of the Corona problems and lock down here.

[@markcluff7104]

Ty

[@Clark-Mills]

This is the problem I'm having... I'm contemplating hanging horizontal timber weatherboards (lap siding) on vertical cavity battens with the cavity battens attached to the ICF furring strips. The only half-pie shot I have at this is with the BB attachment points in the BuildBlock blocks.

[@Challenged1]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I hate that it takes more material and more steps to do, but you'll get good attachment points that way.

[@johnwhite2576]

You will also achieve a great rain screen gap, something that’s useful even with ICF wall.

[@pablopicaro7649]

some of the oldest blocks ~20y ago had Galvanized steel strips instead of plastic

[@davidwooten3430]

What if you put your furring strips up before the pour. You could make screws long enough to be supported by the concrete itself. If I am not mistaken you have to put wall supports up to support the pour itself beforehand anyway.

[@Challenged1]

That's definitely an option as long as the walls are being supported from the inside of the house.

[@toddwikel3849]

Jason, do you have a contact email?

[@Robert-mp4mb]

Have been meaning to ask this question for sometime - this video seemed like the right opportunity... 😊 We built (12 yrs ago) our two story home w/ walkout basement, and three car detached garage, all with PolySteel Blocks from footer to foam sealed roof. Our Polysteel blocks have full steel webbing, while the blocks I see now have plastic. Was there a problem with steel? We LOVE our ICF home for all the reasons you describe in your videos. Thanks!

[@Challenged1]

I have no idea. Maybe some manufacturers will see this and comment.

[@CelBloxICF]

CelBlox ICF's use steel at all connection points between the webs and ties.

[@jfarrar231]

@@CelBloxICF what is your contact info? Do you service Indiana? I'm looking to build March 2022. Thanks.

[@jamesc7383]

Did you consider Nudura ICF blocks? Thanks for sharing.

[@Challenged1]

I didn't as they don't have sales reps that cover Kansas. The nudura blocks don't have a web design that I like either. I do like the 8' lengths of each piece and the 2-5/8" thickness of the foam which corelates to the standard 2x12 size for a 6" block.

[@cliff7634]

@@Challenged1 On build blocks 6" web spacing doesn't allow you to get 16o.c. that a normal contractor works with. So they will have a harder time attaching things to your walls and they complain about it. Build blocks also take more time for most of the job to put up and put together. So besides what you have to manually put together you have to handle 3 times the material to put up your building which also makes more chances of leak points. Build blocks studs (plastic webs) don't go all the way from top to bottom of the block and the studs don't lock together with the block on top of it to stop floating, compression or raising the blocks. Nudura solves all of these things and more. Both will have 4hr fire rating, 450+lb pull out and so on. Both have many positives.

[@debnelson8127]

I may have asked this in another video, but I’m considering ICF and worried about termites and ant damage. Does the stick and peel on the outside replace chemical termite protection? I’ve heard you use treated wood up against it, but I live in a high termite activity area and they will build bridges over treated lumber to get to untreated. Termites don’t like paint so...maybe I can discourage them further by using treated lumber against the foam and painting wood framing close to those. I’d like to avoid toxic chemicals as much as possible.

[@Challenged1]

I don't know a lot on the termite side of this. When I was reading my buildblock icf manual, I know they talked about it, but I really don't recall what they said.

[@clintonboyer1217]

I’ve seen designs with metal going in on installation but didn’t contact all the way thru for heat reasons I would guess. Second way I’ve seen it is no openings (siding, etc) between below grade and above grades. Third is missing foam cut about 8” removed. I’m not thrilled with any of these and I’m no expert on the subject either.

[@PamP3277]

A good ICF build will be impermeable to termites.

[@ironfist7789]

termites can burrow under the foundation and come up any penetrations and hit the wood inner walls so be aware of that (if not protected). We are considering getting borax treatment on the inner studs which is low toxicity

[@av1204]

is there a video of your home finished?

[@Challenged1]

Not at this time. So far, I have sprinkled pictures of the building process, which include pictures of the house, throughout my videos.