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Using polystyrene decking forms, the crew lays out the framing for the first floor, which tops the garage walls and foundation.


Bob Vila

Building an Addition for an Elderly Parent Project


ICF Building System for Foundation, Floors, and Walls (BV0222)


The big story on this project is how fast the footings, foundation, slab, first floor, and walls have gone up at this Norwell, concrete addition. In just seven days the entire structure except for the roof system has been framed up and poured in place thanks to an innovative insulated concrete form (ICF) system from ReddiForm. Bob learns how the forms have a webbed structure for strength, are lightweight, and can snap together in any direction so there is very little waste of construction materials or time when framing up the house. For added strength, steel rebar is inserted into the foam cells through no-tie rebar chairs that clip onto the top of the forms. Once the side walls are in place and braced with an integral brace and scaffolding system, the upper floor is laid out using a ten-inch-deep foam decking with grooves spaced every two inches to hold the steel rebar in place. Pex tubing for the radiant-floor heating is clipped onto the deck using a foam stapler. Reinforcing mesh is laid on top before the pour. ReddiForms are stackable and frame the soaring gable-end wall with cut-outs for the clerestory windows that will provide the solar boost for the home’s energy-saving system. The foam is cut to adapt to any shape required, including the angled peak where the walls meet the roofline. A top plate is pre-drilled for the transition from the concrete wall to the wood roof system. The walls are now ready for interior and exterior finishing, with no need for added insulation or interior framing. The time savings are fantastic.

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Additional Show Information
Concrete, Block, and Slab Foundations
Building with Insulated Concrete Forms
Garage Workshop Foundation and Slab
Versatile Concrete Construction Using ICFs
Radiant Floor Heating and Cooling Systems
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Building an Addition for an Elderly Parent Episodes
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Show BV0222 Video Clips: View all videos from this project


Building with Polystyrene Forms and Concrete

The project in Norwell, Massachusetts, involves putting an addition on an existing house to create an in-law suite. A lower-level garage is being built with a spacious suite above. The ...
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Building a First-Floor Slab and Walls With Concrete

Bob talks with Ron Ardres from ReddiForm about the construction of the home's concrete-slab floor. To build the floor, the walls were constructed using ReddiForm expanded polystyrene foam forms. The ...
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Integrating Radiant Heat in a Concrete Floor

The PEX tubing is set in the concrete and will circulate hot water used to heat the addition. Jason McKinnon of Viega North America reviews the features of PEX tubing. ...
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Pouring the Concrete for the First Floor Slab and Walls

Once the PEX tubing is in place, the concrete is poured. Using ReddiForm blocks lets the crew pour the lower walls and the slab all at once. The side walls ...
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Pouring the Upper-Story Walls

Bob talks with Todd LaBarge of LaBarge Engineering, the contractor on the project, about the concrete pour. The process is a very fast-moving one, with the first-floor walls put ...
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Big Energy Savings with Concrete Construction

Bob talks with Jim Niehoff of the Portland Cement Association about building homes using concrete. For builders, constructing homes with concrete can save a lot of time and give homeowners ...
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Floors, Stairs & Elevators
• Howard Brickman Consulting (Norwell, MA) - General contracting and project management

Insulation
• Eagle Mountain/Radiantmax - Insul-Tarp under-slab reflective, insulative, water-and-vapor barrier

Masonry & Faux Stone
• LaBarge Engineering & Contracting - ICF construction and engineering services
• Portland Cement Association - Cement for slab, walls, and floor

Plumbing & Septic Systems
• TJ’s Plumbing and Heating - Radiant floor heating installation
• Viega - PEX tubing for radiant floor heating

Structural & Framing
• Fab-Form Industries - Fab-Form stay-in-place footing and drainage forms
• ReddiForm Inc. - ReddiForm polystyrene, snap-together insulated forms for ICF construction
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