Skip to Content

Monopour Side Support System Advantages

See how the ICF Monopour compares to traditional plywood forming 12 advantages that save time, cost, and headaches on your foundation.

1. Accurate

As panels are factory manufactured out of the rain, true accuracy is achieved. The Fastfoot® footing membrane adapts to uneven ground using drill adjustable side supports.

2. Fast

Pouring the wall and footing at the same time saves significant time.

When forming and pouring the footing first, one requires:

  1. Layout footing forms: day 1 or 2;
  2. Inspection: day 3;
  3. Pouring: day 4;
  4. Stripping: day 5, ready to layout wall forms;
  5. As the footing is never perfectly level, nor are the rebar uprights in the correct position, day 6 is adjusting rebar and shimming wall forms.

With the MP system the footings are a 'bi-product' of the panels, so you start on day 7 from the get-go.

3. Cost Effective

With the ICF monopour, the footing is formed automatically from the aligned insulated concrete form wall panel.

This means the costs of forming, pouring and stripping the footing are eliminated.

Haron Douglas, Vancouver based cost consultant estimates savings of +/- 35% over plywood formed walls with an insulated 2x6 stud wall.

4. No Cold Joint

The biggest weakness in any foundation is the joint between the wall and the footing. This cold joint allows moisture to enter inside the foundation. It also is structurally weak.

When the foundation is poured monolithically there is no cold joint, no danger of moisture ingress, and a much stronger foundation wall and footing.

5. Drawing Inconsistencies Eliminated

With the ICF Monopour a 3D model of the foundation is produced which allows the builder, architect and engineer to 'see' any inconsistencies in the foundation structure.

It is always much less expensive to correct inconsistencies 'on paper' rather than work them out on the job site.

6. Stable Pricing

As MP panels are factory manufactured, your contract price stays the same.

We've removed uncertainty from the riskiest part of your project, your foundation.

7. Insulated Bucks

The perimeter of all door and window openings are faced with insulated bucks.

The bucks provide R24 insulation as well as continuous attachment points along the outside edges and 8" on centre along the face.

8. Helix® Reinforcing

Helix® micro rebars replace all background steel reinforcing. For more information on Helix®, click here.

Advantages:

  • Minimize cracking;
  • Reduce reinforcing cost 15 to 20%;
  • Eliminated rebar installation costs;
  • Eliminate rebar location errors;
  • Prevent concrete segregation around rebar;
  • Increase first crack strength by 40%;
  • Achieve equivalent bending moment to rebar while increasing shear strength approximately 30%;

9. Eliminate Stud Wall + Insulation

The drywall is attached directly to the ICF plastic webs. Therefore the mold which occurs between the stud framing and concrete is eliminated.

Labour and material costs for the stud wall and insulation are eliminated.

10. Dry Basement

The Fastfoot® footing membrane prevents ground moisture wicking into the concrete footing.

Click on the image below for a video and information on rising damp.

11. Warm Basement

Nudura® ICF provides an effective R-24 thermal value. There is no thermal bridging with the continuous EPS insulation.

2x4 wood studs and batt insulation provide an effective R-value of R-13 because of thermal bridging through the studs. A 2x6 wall provides an effective thermal value of R-15.

12. Eliminate Site Waste

Factory manufacturing eliminates all site waste.