RichS

As usual the more I read the more uncertain I become over which system to use. I had originally dismissed Polarwall because I didn't think it looked robust enough to do the job. I have worked on some fairly decent sized civil engineering projects and seen 18mm plywood shuttering burst under pressure, but according to all the videos and testimonials Polarwall takes it no problem. I contacted Alan as the web site wouldn't let me download and he responded very rapidly, which has got to be a good omen. I think I will send him my drawings and see what he comes up with, nothing ventured etc.

+1 on the Estwing, but probably only worth it if you are really going to be doing some serious nailing.

Ok, I will throw two more names into the hat. I have been looking at Beco Wallform and also ICF Tech made by the Lichfield group. At the moment I am favouring the Lichfield system, very good U values!!

Hi all, new kid on the block here, seeking advice from those who know Hopefully I will shortly be receiving my planning permission, fingers crossed!. It's taken me 18 months+ to get to this stage and numerous changes to the drawings. However I am quite happy with what we have ended up with. So this is likely to be the first of many questions. I will be doing the majority of the works myself and had anticipated building off traditional type foundations. However I know the ground is not good and accordingly I thought I may end up with a reinforced ground beam and worse case scenario that to be sat on piles. Then I start reading more and more about passive slabs. I can see a number of advantages to this system, not least being the vastly reduced amount of spoil to be removed from site, and the cost saving involved. So the question I would like an answer to is "Is a passive slab suitable for soft ground conditions". Everything I have read so far seems to indicate that they are, subject to SE confirmation. Can anyone confirm (or refute) this?? The second part of the question, my footprint is approx. 128m sq, 45m sq of this is garage. What happens with the garage area??. I would imagine that you simply increase the thickness of the slab in that area, i.e. 100mm for house, 200mm for garage, all plus steel of course. Is that assumption correct?. I should add that I intend to build using ICF, I haven't yet determined who's system it will be, still trying to work out all the pro's and cons. Thanks

Hi, new member here. I am just awaiting my planning consent and I also am intending building in ICF. Do you mind if I ask why you have chosen Durisol over the more polystyrene based systems that seem to have a better U value for the same section block?? Thanks