CEH ConCoreSystem
Starts At Foundation
We Build Better...Starting With The Foundation...We Form a Monolithic Structure With NO COLD JOINTS!
Using shallow frost footing technology we minimize excavation. We can
also add soil to raise the foundation and floor level if additional height or
flooding is an issue!
2” thick rigid EPS
foam is placed 4’
out around the
exterior perimeter
to ward off any
advancement of
frost, per code.
A minimum of 12”
of soil is backfilled
atop the foam
with proper
grading away
from the
foundation for
drainage.
ICF construction began with building foundations and quickly spread to
building basements, and more recently, above grade construction. We can
build homes with basements but we urge you to consider the many
benefits and savings of one level living!
Once the grade is determined and level to within 1/2” the OnePour forms
are assembled and placed close to their final positioning
Inside corners are formed, leveled, and staked first while the outside
corner is attached after the rebar is set in place and tied down, but before
stacking ICF’s, naturally!
Straight pieces are then added from corners, working towards the center of
each wall, leveling and staking each section as you go and before adding
another. It takes a couple of houses to become proficient! CAUTION
remember to spray release before installing rebar because you don’t want
to get “release” on the rebar!
Once footing forms are secured, RE CHECK for Square and Level, then
you’re ready to begin stacking the ICF foam blocks. With experience a
crew can begin stacking before footings are completely assembled!
Stacking ICF blocks is fast, easy, and rewarding, as progress is fast. This
is a job that can even be done by or with the assistance of the
homeowner(s)!
Preassembled steel window and door frames are set in place at appropriate
heights. With proper planning minimal ICF block waste and cutting is
required. Independent, standard scaffold will need to be set up to complete
the final stacking of ICF block, placing the remaining horizontal rebar, the
vertical rebar, and finally, to carry the weight of the person pumping the
concrete into walls. The proper mix of concrete and slump is important and
only external vibrating is required if the concrete is placed properly.
Prior to pouring/placing the concrete, walls must be braced and
secured using our proprietary vertical bracing which is then
backbraced into the soil. Re check plumb walls and recalculate the
volume of concrete needed BEFORE ordering the concrete to
minimize anxious moments and consult your checklist to be sure
you have everything on hand and ready.
This is the OLD way everyone else does it, which results in a “cold
joint” that is simply dismissed as unimportant by the contractor! They
also need more scaffold bracing which gets secured into your finished
concrete floor. The process and finished product is NOT as strong and
professional as OURS!
Traditional footings
require a crew to
lumber form the
footings, lay rebar in
unreliable positions,
wait for separate costly
concrete delivery, and
unreliable placement of
rebar stems, only to
produce walls with
potential cold joint
problems!
We install the footing
forms and securely tie
down the rebar, in their
correct positions, prior
to starting the ICF
stacking process, and
without the hassles and
concern of vertical
rebar.
We use preassembled, STEEL window and door frames, instead of wood
or plastic, to resist moisture, mold, mildew, insects, floods and fires and
provide the strongest attachment for windows and doors
The competition uses wood window and door bucks that will NOT withstand
mold, insects, fires and floods. Imagine the extra cost to replace this framing
should they fail for any number of reasons?
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The beveled water repelling footings look professional and YOU will be
proud of the job, especially after receiving praise by inspectors and
onlookers, which there are sure to be many! Your reputation will spread
quickly!
Our vertical bracing is notched at the bottom and simply rests on the
footing forms and is loosely screwed into the plastic ICF ties, to permit
inevitable settling of the foam blocks, then braced back and staked into
ground as shown a few photos earlier.
In as little as 6 hours after the pour the footing forms can be stripped,
cleaned, and easily stored, awaiting their next use. Take care of your
equipment, it’s expensive, but it'll last for hundreds of uses and they’ll
pay for themselves quickly, certainly within the first 20 jobs!
After removing the footing forms, no earlier than 6 hours after pouring the
walls, a water proof membrane is applied over the footing to protect it from
any possible moisture problems
Once the shell is complete, we are ready to work on the roof, windows,
doors, plumbing, and floors under the best weather protection and in the
shortest time possible, which the other trades will certainly appreciate!
4”-5” rigid EPS insulating foam ceiling panels are framed in steel C channel
and shored from underneath and await the rebar and concrete phases.
Vertical rebar extending 3-4 feet up from the walls 2’ on center is bent
back towards the peak to help secure the wall and roof sections
A grid of rebar covers the entire roof and overhang to give it strength
once concrete is placed
The overhang is braced and shored in a variety of ways before adding
rebar and placing the concrete
Even the most elaborate of roofs can be done in concrete and can be
finished in a colore choice of rolled on UV protection, usually white, over
a bermuda style (below), or rubber shingles or tiles are glued and
mechanically fastened for a more secure yet traditional appearance
The sheetrock, foam, and concrete roof system has no leaks and drafts
and results in increased energy efficiency, strength, and super quiet
noise reduction.
This “Bermuda” style concrete roof was finished and sealed in a rolled
on white poly elastomer to best reflect the southern sun and heat.
Our fewer bracing has raised eyebrows among inspectors but since
we keep shifting weight off the walls, which results in less
movement and fewer adjustments, we get plumb, square, and
perfect, professional looking walls...every time! A job everyone will
be proud of!
Environmentalists will really appreciate
our rubber shingles that are molded
from recycled automobile tires, tires that
continue to overcrowd our landfills. They
are completely recycled into 5 different
components and chemically treated to
reproduce rubber. The shingles last far
longer than the best asphalt or metal
shingles and add appeal to our homes
Copyright © 2009 ConcreteEnergyHomes, LLC
Disaster Resistant and Zero Energy
Homes to Last Forever!
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ConCoreSystem derives its name from the “Concrete Core”
inside ICF foam blocks. We choose to eliminate basements
and crawl spaces using shallow frost protected footing
technology which results in a floating slab, similar to slab-
on-grade, only better! Independent scaffolding allows us to
use fewer and simpler vertical braces to keep the wet
concrete wall plumb because no human weight exerts force
on the wall to cause “out-of-plumb” problems. We use steel
window and door framing and absolutely NO WOOD,
anywhere! We can build faster and with better results which
ultimately leads to $aving$.
Our proprietary metal reusable ICF footing forms truly are
the foundation of our system because they allow placement
of concrete in “One Pour” which forms a single stronger
footing/wall structure, without the usual weaker “cold joint”,
with many more benefits and $aving$ opportunities through
out the construction process.
Please view this short 2 minute animated video which
demonstrates the concept. The corners are installed first,
then straight sections are added working towards the middle
of each side, plumbing, squaring, and staking each section
as you proceed, and spraying a release agent. Once the
rebar is tied down, the ICF stacking begins. Please note:
Any brand and width ICF forms can be used with our footing
forms, and as the video demonstrates, the ICF corners are
also installed first working towards the final center pieces on
each side. If the length of walls is planned properly based on
the particular ICF form, there will be minimal cutting and
waste. Unlike minimum code requirements, we put horizontal
rebar in every course, 16” apart, and as a last step vertically
every 2’ apart.
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