Advice on Studio construction materials-ICF?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:00 pm

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on Studio construction using ICF..
(INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS). my plan is to build an addition on to the back of my house and I'm considering using ICF construction for the walls & ceiling. My plan is to build 4 complete walls right beside (very close but NOT physically attached) my house. There would be a doorway connecting it to the house. Does anyone have any advice regarding using this material? It seems to me the big advantage cement has in the construction is mass... and because the Styrofoam form is part of the wall construction, there're no need to add insulation, i'd just add gyp rock to the inside walls to finish it, and siding to the outside to finish it on the outside. I'm really wanting this to be soundproof (as much as possible with out it costing a ton of money) I've spoken to a company that supplies the ICF.. (QUADLOCK.com) and they also have a roof construction called QUAD DECK. I'm thinking about making the entire room using these products... the room would have at least one outside (non opening) window as well as a second door leading int my back yard. the plan is to build a studio about 8 ft. (height) x 12 ft.(width) x 18 ft (length). Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:31 pm

Reeks of spam.
Read the stickies.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:32 pm

Greener,

I'm completely offended that you think my posted question is spam!..!! I included the website in my question because i thought it might be useful to explain what ICF construction is... GEEZ!! just do a search on ICF construction on the web if you like.. you don't have to go to their website!! i have absolutely no affiliation with this company, but included it for anyone's edification about what i was asking... ( I was under the impression on this forum that "details" were greatly appreciated in any questions posted...!!!!!) So i give some details... and WHAM Suddenly I'm Spam... I did a search of ICF construction on this forum before I posted this question and found nothing!! so... I wasn't sure people would even what the heck i was talking about.. So greener... next time maybe just send an email if you're not sure!!...

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:00 pm

You read like YellYo.

Anyways, read the stickies. People will need more info about things like proximity to neighbours, an accurate budget, how noise proof you want it.
Plus something tells me acoustics inside a concrete sarcophagus would suck.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:30 pm

So ...just so i understand you Greener, you have absolutely no experience working with ICF whatsover... Correct? (or any kind of concrete construction for that matter...) To answer your question, sound proofing of this Studio is extremely important... neighbours house is less that 15 feet away... in terms of budget, that's currently what i'm trying to figure out...

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:03 pm

Unless we've spoken before how would you know what my experience is?
And when I say "something tells me" how do you know that something isn't a fundamental understanding of building structures and a concrete wall reinforced with Mecano and plastic is going to suck, but you're right. I'm just guessing.
I do have a nose for marketing and you, friend, reek like a vocal booth in a box.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:58 pm

I don't have any direct experience with this particular product. I do know of someone who built a residence with a similier product/method. What they had to deal with was interior moisture because the house was so air tight . This was last year, and the issue was worked out, how I was not privy to that.

Just a thing to ask questions about to your contractor and how do they plan to deal with this, if it effects your structure.

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:59 pm

thanks for the info.. Can I ask you a couple of questions? Was the moisture due to poor ventilation or was it a leak?... also what part of the country was it built in (climate?) and what time(s) of year did the issues of moisture occur...
Any info you can pass along would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again!

Brette

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:57 pm

What they had to deal with was interior moisture because the house was so air tight .

Read my Location

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:30 am

thanks for the info... I'll definitely ask the question... Airtight is good for sound proofing though... thanks again!

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:09 am

This thread got off on the wrong foot. I didn't read any of it as spam. Just a point of note: the people who can answer your question best are often busy, being that they work for a living. Just have to be a bit patient.

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:20 am

Regarding moisture: You live on the wet coast. Ventilation will be a major consideration.

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:43 am

Thanks Hueseph! for the advice on being patient... LOL.. wet coast is right!!... but I wouldn't live anywhere else... I'm actually in Sunny Tsawwassen... where we get on average 20% less rain than the rest of Greater Vancouver...-i'm not sure i believe that stat.. but that's what 've heard.. Wink

In the research i've done so far, ventilation is a definte must... because it's so airtight...
Hopefully someone can shed some light on the benefits/pitfalls of using ICF construction... from a mass perspective it seems like it'd be a good soundproofing solution... thanks again!

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:19 am

BTW, there's a beautiful studio in White Rock. Don't know if you've been there. It's called Rock Beach.

http://www.rockbeachrecording.com/home.html

I could only dream of stepping into a studio like that.

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:10 pm

OMG!!! What a beautiful studio!!!! Wow!!! well.. my studio.. will not look anything like that!!!...lol..

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