Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

jmgilday

Nov 22, 2002, 10:57 PM

Post #1 of 14 (2941 views)

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Insulated Concrete Forms

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We're giving some thought to bringing ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) into Mexico. The advantages to home construction in speed and cost are stunning. Initially, we are looking at an Expanded Polystyrene producer outside of Guadalajara to produce the panels and a recycler of PET plastics to produce the webbing that holds the two panels together.

This is the Canadian producer that we think would be an excellent partner

http://www.quadlock.com

My belief is that if we could show the potential for 400 homes (avg 1500 sq ft) to be constructed using this material, we could convince a manufacturer to 'tool up'. The source materials are abundent (EPS and non-virgin PET plastics) in Mexico and there are several banks willing to get on board with seed capital. Jalisco and Nayarit are huge markets and god knows the need is there.

Get back to me with any and all (constructive) ideas, I will be back in PV shortly and will be willing to host a development conference.

It never hurts to say "What if..."

John Gilday

jmgilday@waterfund.org

Isreal and Kathy

Nov 23, 2002, 7:56 AM

Post #2 of 14 (2672 views)

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Re: [jmgilday] Insulated Concrete Forms

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Hi John,

Our last post has disappeared, so here it is again.

How do floors and roofs/ceilings work with these forms? Are they built at the same time or after the walls?

Also, your company has a dump truck parked in Pitllal near Aceros Ocotlan. Would it be possible to use it to take the mountain of debris left over from the hurricane to the dump 7 km away?

Kathy and Isreal

jmgilday

Nov 23, 2002, 8:29 AM

Post #3 of 14 (2661 views)

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Re: [Isreal and Kathy] Insulated Concrete Forms

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Kathy,

Thanks for reposting, I saw your previous post but didn't respond in time.

You are absolutly welcome to the truck. Contact kathy@waterfund.org and she will coordinate a time the driver can meet you.

If you get all your neighbors together with gloves and pitchforks we can load up the trucks, haul it to the dump and have time to show you around the project site (I seem to remember something about volunteering)

The ICF system has a structural concrete core that allows ledger plates to be cast in place allowing standard truss, Losa or I-Beam floor and roof construction. We've done 20 foot clear span in the States with no problem so, unless you are planning on recreating the Sistine Chapel, this system will be great for you.

Another plus is the effective R-rating of this material is in the 30-45 range, highly effective insulation. With double pane windows you can cut your cooling costs by more than half - muy importante'

When I return in December, I'm possibly going to host a conference of interested builders and homeowners, If we get enough interest and the whole thing pencils out, theres no reason we can't have dies in country and panels being blown by March.

23 people are interested... anyone else?

John

Senor Kirk

Nov 23, 2002, 6:06 PM

Post #4 of 14 (2644 views)

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Clean up crew

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Kathy and Isreal,

We live in Boca de Tomatlan, about 30 km south of Vallarta. The damage done here was nothing comared to you, we were blessed. Please count me, the wife and two strapping 20-something sons in on whatever date you decide to do your dump runs. The resources in Vallarta are plentiful compared to other regions, but all us expatriates have to stick together.

(This post was edited by jenniferrose on Nov 24, 2002, 5:23 PM)

jmgilday

Nov 24, 2002, 1:31 PM

Post #5 of 14 (2621 views)

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Isreal and Kathy

Nov 24, 2002, 5:50 PM

Post #6 of 14 (2608 views)

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Re: [jmgilday] Clean up crew

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We just finished 3 loads to the dump and Kathy showed us your building - pretty impressive. Heartbreaking to see all those children lining up for food, but they seem so happy and laughing.

Since you are the resident guru on concrete, perhaps you can answer a question. Our old house is located very close to a hillside and everytime it rains hard we get perspiration on the inside of our concrete stem wall and the brick work above it. Not a lot of water, and it comes from no one place in particular. Worst in the bathroom and kitchen areas but present in the dining area too.

Not all that bad, just annoying.

Any ideas??

Bless you and all the good you and Waterfund.org does, we're not rich but we will certainly donate time.

Isreal and Kathy

jmgilday

Nov 24, 2002, 8:22 PM

Post #7 of 14 (2612 views)

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Re: [Isreal and Kathy] Clean up crew

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Thanks for the kind words, glad we could help

re: water thru concrete

not sure, but it sounds more like condensation than leakage. Since both bathroom and kitchen have water sources, and the general humidity is, by definition of rain, high... I'd look more into insulation of your stem wall

Also, keep a watch out for mold. There are a number of strains that flourish in warm, damp climates ... and thats PV to a T

jmgilday

Dec 4, 2002, 8:44 PM

Post #8 of 14 (2594 views)

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Re: [jmgilday] Insulated Concrete Forms

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Hi all,

Sorry for the delay in getting a new post up.

There are two companies that have shown interest in tooling up a production facility in Mexico for the manufacture of ICF.

Anyone interested in using, marketing or being part of this effort... please email me and we will send you all necessary info for the presentation (in the Puerto Vallarta City Hall).

We still are looking for 28 homes or other buildings that are possible candidates for this style of construction.

Heres an informative site....

http://www.forms.org/

Thanks for all the input.

John

tomgibbs

Dec 14, 2002, 9:57 PM

Post #9 of 14 (2545 views)

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Re: [jmgilday] Insulated Concrete Forms

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The insulating foam makes excellent termite runs (less of a problem in the north).

jmgilday

Dec 14, 2002, 11:56 PM

Post #10 of 14 (2539 views)

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Re: [tomgibbs] Insulated Concrete Forms

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Very true Tom, in fact the manufacturers have engineered a special insert that allows a full width concrete section that interrupts the termite's path once they leave the ground. It's only an inch or so in heigth, but sufficient to totally stop any little critters that think they can access the house via the foam block !

John

ranchhand1024

Dec 28, 2002, 1:18 PM

Post #11 of 14 (2509 views)

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Re: [jmgilday] Insulated Concrete Forms

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Re: concrete forms. Are these the sheets of poly encased by a 4" grid of steel wire much in use in the Yucatan? Looks like a neat product that I've never seen in the States.

jmgilday

Dec 28, 2002, 1:47 PM

Post #12 of 14 (2500 views)

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What is ICF

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Thats a different product

This is a product made out of two sheets of 16" x 48" x 2" thick EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) a high density version of Sytrofoam.

These sheets are joined in the field by a plastic webbing that forms a 6" space between the sheets that is filled w/ concrete.

Assembly is simple and walls a built by simply stacking the hollow blocks.

Our plans at this point has a plastics recycler in Guadalajara making the webbing material and we're still looking for someone to form the EPS sheets.

For more info

http://www.compuconcal.com/icf/caicf.html

www.quadlock.com

http://www.eco-block.com/

http://www.icfhomes.com/

(This post was edited by jmgilday on Dec 28, 2002, 1:50 PM)

annainbc

Dec 31, 2002, 2:41 PM

Post #13 of 14 (2478 views)

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Re: [jmgilday] Insulated Concrete Forms

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We are planning construction near Rincon de Guayabitos in Fall of 2003, please forward any info on to me if possible

Thanks

jmgilday

Jan 11, 2003, 11:23 PM

Post #14 of 14 (2459 views)

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Re: [annainbc] Insulated Concrete Forms

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Hi friends,

It's just come to my attention that I put Quadlock as the suggested partner in bringing ICF's into Mexico.

Alzheimers is a terrible thing! While Quadlock makes an excellent product, it was an incorrect link...

I meant to link my post to www.eco-block.com - another excellent manufacturer and one that I have had a lot of contact with over the past couple of years.

Frankly, either firm would do right by this project, but Eco is the firm I've been talking to.

I've way too few brain cells to keep all the names straight !

best always

John