| VERMONT INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS 1-866-883-6767 Questions |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Amvic ICF Building System Q - Is Amvic ICF Insulating Foam Forms only used to build basements? A - No! While many of our customers choose to build only their basements/foundations from Amvic ICF Insulating Foam Forms, many other customers build their entire houses from the product. Q - Why should I use Amvic ICF Insulating Foam Forms (versus older, traditional building methods)? A - Numerous reasons. Amvic ICF Insulating Foam Forms build a stronger structure, offer built-in insulating value of R-30+, withstand hurricane-force winds, have a 3+ hour fire rating, offer sound reduction value, are impervious to insects, don't support mold growth, and help save trees. Furthermore, you should expect to recoup some of your investment every month in the form of energy savings (30-50% energy savings is not uncommon), plus save money on your mortgage (check with your insurance company). Q - What are Amvic ICF Insulating Foam Forms made of? A - The body of the product is made from Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), while the reinforcing webs inside are made from strong polypropylene. Q - What does an Amvic House look like when it is finished? A - An AMVIC home looks like any conventional new home on the outside and inside. The window sills are deeper since the walls are thicker. Very few people can tell the difference between ICF construction and other types of construction. Q - How is the exterior of an Amvic ICF Insulating Foam Form home finished? A - With virtually any conventional finish. For example, you can use siding, stucco, or brick. Proper planning should be considered. Check the AMVIC Tech Manual for details. Q - I would like to apply stucco. Is this a problem? A - No problem. Any type of stucco can be applied directly to the EPS Forms. Q - How long do we need to wait after placing the concrete to backfill or put floor and roof systems onto the Amvic ICF Walls? A - You should wait a minimum of seven days and follow guidelines set by your structural engineer. Q - Do Amvic ICF walls sweat? A - No. EPS Foam is a poor conductor of heat and cold. Therefore, water vapor that may be present in the structure will not condense on the walls. Q - Will termites eat the EPS Foam? A - No. Termites do not eat the Amvic Foam. Termites will, however, burrow through the foam to get to wood. Q - We would like to build our house ourselves. Can we buy your system and install it? A - Yes. Based on your comfort level you should be able to install the Amvic ICF Building System by yourself. You should, however, employ an ICF contractor to assist you with the concrete placement activities. Q - Do you have to use special plans for the Amvic ICF System? A - No at all. Conventional house plans can be used. You must simply have the exterior wall thickness increased to show the AMVIC Wall. Q - How tall can you build with the Amvic Building System? A - A structural engineer should design buildings that are constructed with the AMVIC Building System, but the sky is the limit. Q - Can the concrete being placed in the Amvic Forms be mechanically vibrated? A - Yes. Amvic Forms are engineered to withstand the rigors of internal vibration. Amvic recommends the use of internal vibration at all times. 'Patting' or 'tapping' the exterior of the forms is not an effective method of concrete vibration. Q - Why are the ties of the Amvic Building System made of plastic and not metal? A - Today's plastics offer strength, durability and lower thermal conductivity than metals, so plastic was chosen as the best way to create the leading ICF System. Q - When the blocks are stacked, what holds them together? A - The Amvic ICF Insulated Concrete Forms are designed with an interlocking waffle pattern area on the top and bottom of each block. The blocks are quickly stacked similar to stacking children's plastic building blocks. Each row (course) of blocks is set on top of the previous course and pressed into place, so that they interlock. And, of course, the blocks must have reinforcing rod (rebar) put into place within the blocks, and the blocks must be properly braced, before concrete is poured (as indicated in the Installation Manual). Q - What are the dimensions of the 6" Amvic ICF Insulated Concrete Forms A - The 6" Straignt Block sections measure approximately 48" long by 11" wide, and are 16" tall when assembled. The 6" Corner Block pieces measure approximately 26 1/2" long by 14 1/2" wide (at the widest part of the corner), and are 16" tall when assembled. The blocks are designed in such a way as to interlock approximately 1 1/8", making for a very strong design. Q - Do the Amvic forms give off any gasses? A - No. The Amvic forms are inert, non-toxic and do not "off gas". Q - Why is The Amvic ICF building system better? A - The AMVIC System is a "2005" Model, whereas most other ICFs on the market have had some shortcomings. AMVIC ICF Forms are designed to perform at a level unmatched in the ICF Industry. |
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