» by Glen Klassen | Uncategorized | Thu, 19 May 2011
Beginning of each year from January through April is when we plant our seeds for the year by displaying our product for the market in trade shows. I have participated in these trade shows for 17 years now in the ICF industry and it has always been the same old thing but this year was notably different. Coast to coast we witnessed an interesting shift. Each show we were in, we would listen to the contractors to understand what they needed. These same contractors have all used multiple brands of ICF’s and have settled on the one they felt was the best. It is very evident that three brands were most commonly named and considered the best in the industry. Not surprising was the fact that all of these were 4’ long and had ties at 8” on center which has become the industry standard.
This team I have joined has been in the industry long enough (add us up and we have over 200 years experience!) that a lot of the contractors know us. Out of courtesy, these contractors have been stopping at our booths to say hi and end up asking why we think we are better. We would just smile and without really comparing, just list the facts: all of our corners have two ties on the short end to eliminate rotation during concrete placement, our blocks are reversible which allows for one corner does all, our ties are a full 1 ½” wide, same as wood or metal studs (industry standard), and they touch each other vertically allowing attachment at any point in the wall, etc. In other words we just plain had fun as the contractors would finish our sentences and then call other contractors into our booth to explain the benefits. I have never had a year as fun as I’m having right now and to be honest we are just getting going. It is exciting for a company that listens to the contractor again. Our R & D list is getting as long as it was in the old Blue Maxx era and I can’t wait to share what’s on it. I have also been on many installs this year and have seen the maturity in this growing ICF industry.
The top three ICF’s have created a strong industry that has withstood several recessions and yet continues to grow. Whatever brand of ICF you are using; believe in it, install it with excellence and the jobs will continue to come to you.
Glen
» by Glen Klassen | Uncategorized | Thu, 3 March 2011
I was a believer in using truss wire when installing other ICF’s but now that I’m using the Fox Blocks ICF I have been convinced by contractors that it is not necessary.
1994 I started to install ICF’s full time and after several hundred successful jobs was told I should try using truss wire in the walls. The truss wire helped and I was sold on the benefit it gave me to help straighten walls after concrete placement. I installed several different ICF brands and the truss wire installed in the second and top rows helped keep the walls straight so we inserted it into every training program we developed. In the ICF’s of that era I would not install a job without truss wire.
2010 I joined the Fox Blocks team specifically because this new ICF has everything I have been asking for and more. I’ve been caught smiling a lot lately as I find new benefits that had not occurred to me prior to using this new ICF. A few months back several different contractors were telling me that they had stopped using truss wire with Fox Blocks because it is not necessary. I was skeptical so along with a few of my colleagues we started to experiment on the jobs we worked on as well as asking select contractors to join us on this experiment. To our surprise we came to realize that the truss wire did not make much difference with the Fox Blocks.
The 2” long interlock of the Fox Block gives incredible holding power in all directions and to my surprise eliminates the need for truss wire. For this reason we have decided to eliminate it from our product offering which will save $$$ on your jobs. Just think of the added benefits you gain over your competitors when you do not need the added cost of truss wire due to the design of this new Fox Block ICF. Not using the truss wire will also give you better concrete flow and lower man hour rates.
Keep watching in the months to come for new products our R&D team has been testing and perfecting. These really are exciting days in the ICF industry!
Glen
» by Glen Klassen | Uncategorized | Tue, 8 February 2011
I had a call this week from a contractor who wanted to know if there was an easy way to build a two foot jog into a wall. This brought back flashbacks of when I used to attempt to interlock corners thinking the strength of the interlock was going to hold things together during concrete placement.
One of my life lessons came from a time when I worked for a very large cement and concrete company which in fact was the largest cement producer world wide at the time. This was a major shift for me because I’m a licensed wood guy. What I learned was that in spite of being in the cement and concrete business for generations they were constantly learning. I remember contests to see who could create the highest strength concrete in the shortest time and I was amazed what they would experiment with to achieve unbelievably high numbers. New products come to us constantly within this industry such as concrete that can now be pervious, water proof, self consolidating, high slump etc. The lesson I took with me was that you may have the best way to do things today but they are not sustainable and if you don’t continue research and development you will be passed by those who do.
When I left my cement/concrete supplier job I joined a company called Blue Maxx and had the privilege to work along side a legend in the ICF industry. In spite of his reputation he would constantly tell me that he was not all that good and that his success came from the contractors who were doing the work. Simply put, contractors would tell him of how they build and he would listen. The lesson I took with me from him was that things change and when a contractor has an idea I need to listen because it may be the next great idea.
So how would I do a two foot jog? I have a choice to spend a long time cutting and fitting that corner to look good or spend a short time just creating a common seam and strapping it. Bottom line, the day after concrete placement both methods will look great but the one that takes shorter time is more profitable. I learned this from contractors who are building their ICF jobs from each corner to a center point in the wall and creating a common seam which they strap prior to concrete. Now, If it takes me more than a few minutes to attempt to make block coursing work I will not hesitate to create a common seam if it makes sense for the job.
Remember, at the end of your job you need to make a profit. Work smart, control your man hour rate and you will join the many ICF crews that have become profitable in our industry.
Glen
» by Glen Klassen | Uncategorized | Sat, 8 January 2011
Whenever possible I head out for an early morning walk with two objectives, to let my wife think I’m walking for my health and to get to the Starbucks that is 10 minutes from my home. Health experts agree that we need to walk 30 minutes each day for our health so I walk really slow. It’s already fall and just above freezing temperature so as I head out for my 6 am walk I can see my warm breath in the cool air. This puts a smile on my face as I think of all the conventional concrete guys who will soon realize how much better they will be to use ICF’s for their jobs. In cold or hot weather ICF’s hug the concrete and protect it from the outside temperatures. I make a mental note to start promoting this to the conventional guys.
I can remember being in Cave Creek AZ. where a condo complex was being built and temperatures were 112F at 7:00am. ICF’s were used to help keep the buildings cool but it also protected the concrete as it cured. That morning the Architect was contemplating using wood frame for a different project he was designing so I asked him how these ICF buildings were performing in the hot weather. He started to explain how amazed he was that even before the utilities are hooked up all the workers headed inside them at break time because they stayed cool on those hot days. I just smiled as he realized what he had just said. The next building he designed was ICF.
Anyways, here I am up north thinking it will soon be -40F and I’m still living here. If anyone is actually reading this I would encourage you to come and experience -40F with me. The thrill of attempting to run to your car before freezing to death only to find that it will not start because you forgot to plug it in. This is one reason we love the north, with these thoughts my heart is up to about 90 BPM as if I just walked 30 minutes! Some day, if I can think of it, I’ll let you know the other reason.