ICF vs Lumber House Construction

I’ve been looking at alternatives to stick-built construction for the workshop I’m planning, and I’ve been horrendously frustrated by two things:

1. The lack of approximate pricing information from vendors of products from ICFs to SIPs to whatever else.

1. The lack of valid engineering information. I want to do a living roof. This is heavy, and I’m in earthquake country. I’ve gotten some great numbers from wood marketing councils and various lumber suppliers on standard 1 hour fire rated wall assemblies (I’m building close to a property line), and what sort of shear and compression strengths those wall assemblies give. I’ve sent questions to various SIP manufacturers and gotten “check with your local building officials”. Uh, guys, I’m gonna have enough problems convincing them that the living roof is a solid technology, and now you want me to go to bat for your products, too? Yeesh.

So, sorry, no good info here, but I’m interested in hearing what others come up with!

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/

Several years ago I built my basement using Reward Wall ICFs. I don’t remember how much the forms cost, but prices have surely changed since.

You can pretty easily figure the cost of the actual wall – ICF, concrete, reinforcing steel. You have to think about how you plan on finishing the inside and outside of the wall. Depending on what you put on the outside of the house, it can be pretty expensive!

A hidden cost I’ve encountered is how you can’t use a lot of traditional building material intended for 2×6 construction. All door and window openings require custom jamb extensions ($$$$).

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