Fuel Stablizer that works

jerry

jerry

Guest
A Material supply question.....I understand one of the local building suppliers sells Smartblock(ICF block). Has anyone used it and can tell me where to buy it and how it compares with Rastra.Foxblock(my new favorite) or Performwall?
 
Roberto

Roberto

Guest
jerry said:
A Material supply question.....I understand one of the local building suppliers sells Smartblock(ICF block). Has anyone used it and can tell me where to buy it and how it compares with Rastra.Foxblock(my new favorite) or Performwall?
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My lovely home for sale in Penasco is constructed from Rasta block. 12 thick walls, great insulation. Here's your chance Jerry.
 
C

Cortez2

Guest
Jerry,
I'm a contractor in the states, we use and have built multi million dollar projects with ICF block, the problem with the mexican block and rastra for that matter is the center web go thru from side to side, making security and punch through a problem.
Fox block recently bought a icf company called Polysteel made in Jerome Idaho, Polysteel is the best easiest icf to install. It has steel inserts that go side to side at 6 inch centers giving you a 1.5 inch steel stud at 6 inchs on center to attach drywall or paneling on the inside and stucco, brick, or stone to the outside. Polysteel has a 2.5 inch foam panel on each side and you fill the middle with concrete. The block are available for inside concrete dimensions of 6 inch, 8 inch, and 12 inch.
There are other ICF block that have Plastic inserts instead of steel such as Fox Blox but we have found that these types of block have many more blowouts when filling them with concrete. We are distributors for Fox and Polysteel if you need any help or questions answered let me know
 
jerry

jerry

Guest
Thanks...the other issue is availability in mexico...perform Wall is easy to get and crews without any special equipment can build with it
Cortez2 said:
Jerry,
I'm a contractor in the states, we use and have built multi million dollar projects with ICF block, the problem with the mexican block and rastra for that matter is the center web go thru from side to side, making security and punch through a problem.
Fox block recently bought a icf company called Polysteel made in Jerome Idaho, Polysteel is the best easiest icf to install. It has steel inserts that go side to side at 6 inch centers giving you a 1.5 inch steel stud at 6 inchs on center to attach drywall or paneling on the inside and stucco, brick, or stone to the outside. Polysteel has a 2.5 inch foam panel on each side and you fill the middle with concrete. The block are available for inside concrete dimensions of 6 inch, 8 inch, and 12 inch.
There are other ICF block that have Plastic inserts instead of steel such as Fox Blox but we have found that these types of block have many more blowouts when filling them with concrete. We are distributors for Fox and Polysteel if you need any help or questions answered let me know
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PintoPoint

PintoPoint

Guest
Jerry,
I built my house in Cholla Bay using Fox Block and it was easy to install. I was planning on becoming a rep for Polysteel for Sonora Mx. and even went to there training in New Mexico for a week. When it came time to build Polysteel was a lot more expensive. In regards to the ties, Fox Block uses a plastic tie that cuts easily for installation with only one blowout (my fault not the blocks). I can't imagine cutting all the steel ties I had to cut if using Polysteel. I have trained two crews down there to install the block they pick it up very quickly. Foxblock has a training manual in Spanish. I had my ICF imported from the US. I remember the day well when two 53' trailers showed up in Cholla Bay.

Rick,
Cholla Bay
 
C

Cortez2

Guest
PintoPoint,
We cut polysteel and fox with sawzalls with metal blades, cuts just like butter. Who did the import for you I need His number.
Jerry,
Block-Mex has ICFs in stock in town they are on the right side of the main highway as you come into town their website is http://www.blockmex.com.mx/blockmex/polymex.asp, their icfs are solid poly with no inserts.
 
PintoPoint

PintoPoint

Guest
Cortez,
I loved the polysteel product it was just a lot more expensive. It went from 15 to 25 per block. They also have a plastic tie version now. We did a lot of curved walls so we cut tons of ties. I will have to look up my paperwork to find the importer. I will try and get it to you tomorrow.

Jerry,
The block-mex blocks have no ties just foam. This concerned me.



Rick
Cholla Bay
 
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jerry

jerry

Guest
We and many of the other owners used Performwall at Santo Tomas.It held up well in the earthquake last year.The only cracks i saw were on houses that just used regular block on the parapets. It gets so damn windy down here it helps to work with bigger,rastra type blocks.One of the beach front houses built by a builder from Cabora used undersized rebar(#3) and i question it's lifespan on those live dunes.
 
C

Cortez2

Guest
Jerry,
The Performwall, Rastra, and the Block-Mex units are basically a Post and beam construction with foam in between. The Fox, Polysteel, Reward, Eco Block, and Arxx block create a solid concrete wall with no foam in between, this
makes for a much stronger structural wall. Poly steel has a new Youtube video out of a car crashing into a wall at 90 mph with no signs of damage. As far as live sand dunes and crack elimination, I would start with a structural Slab on monolithic footings with the icf units on top of it.
This type of construction allows "float" on top of the sand with no cracking. As far as bigger blocks the normal size ICF is 2' x 4' and are tied together with zip ties for plastic inserts, or carolina clippers for steel inserts as in Polysteel as you place them, once tied together they are very windproof.
Most ICFs are engineered with #5 rebar horizontal and vertical, unless the wall is over 10' high. Never used #3 bar.
 
PintoPoint

PintoPoint

Guest
Cortez,
Block-Mex does make a ICF Block but it has no ties. I would think it would blow out pretty easily. I had Foxblock blocks up in heavy winds with no problems. We did have them glued well and rebar tie in place. We also changed to process somewhat to accomodate local methods. We placed 4x4 vertical on the inside and wired throught the block to 2x4's on the outside. This allows us to use guywires to adjust the walls to vertical.

Rick
Cholla Bay
 
jerry

jerry

Guest
Rick at Border products in Tucson they rent out leveling forms to guys building with Fox block...looked pretty slick way to keep everything level...
PintoPoint said:
Cortez,
Block-Mex does make a ICF Block but it has no ties. I would think it would blow out pretty easily. I had Foxblock blocks up in heavy winds with no problems. We did have them glued well and rebar tie in place. We also changed to process somewhat to accomodate local methods. We placed 4x4 vertical on the inside and wired throught the block to 2x4's on the outside. This allows us to use guywires to adjust the walls to vertical.

Rick
Cholla Bay
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jerry

jerry

Guest
Being a door/cabinet guy the thing we hated about performwall was bucking doors/windows and mounting cabinets.We figured some workarounds that the block you sell deals with well. Mikey Block in Tucson makes a good system too.Plus Dave that owns it is one of the great wildmen of all time...When the company owner keeps a bottle of high end booze in a wire cut out block next to his desk you just have to like him...
Cortez2 said:
Jerry,
The Performwall, Rastra, and the Block-Mex units are basically a Post and beam construction with foam in between. The Fox, Polysteel, Reward, Eco Block, and Arxx block create a solid concrete wall with no foam in between, this
makes for a much stronger structural wall. Poly steel has a new Youtube video out of a car crashing into a wall at 90 mph with no signs of damage. As far as live sand dunes and crack elimination, I would start with a structural Slab on monolithic footings with the icf units on top of it.
This type of construction allows "float" on top of the sand with no cracking. As far as bigger blocks the normal size ICF is 2' x 4' and are tied together with zip ties for plastic inserts, or carolina clippers for steel inserts as in Polysteel as you place them, once tied together they are very windproof.
Most ICFs are engineered with #5 rebar horizontal and vertical, unless the wall is over 10' high. Never used #3 bar.
Click to expand...
 
PintoPoint

PintoPoint

Guest
Jerry,
The levers are great but I was a slow builder so I could have purchased them for the price of the rental. My place is over 5000 sq feet so I would have needed a lot. The worker down there are very smart at figuring out how to do things with very little tools. I was down and involved with every block that was placed because a mistake is hard to fix.

Rick
Cholla Bay
 
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